"On this Doctors Day, I celebrate all those who have given of themselves selflessly this past year.

Dear Colleagues,

On this doctor's day, I reflect back on the past year, and then further back on my career.

Medicine is a calling of sacrifice. When your friends are twenty and footloose, you are in the gross anatomy lab on a Friday night. When your family is opening Christmas presents, you are doing surgery on a perforated appy. Charting and refills take the place of a normal dinner at 6:00 with your spouse. Not only do we die younger, but we realize our own mortality in our 20s when we see people dying in front of us. We experience suffering on a daily basis that questions our faith in humanity.

Yet I would not want to do anything different. I have seen the joy in the eyes of new parents. I have comforted the dying patient who has become a friend. I have saved countless lives by catching a cancer early or preventing a heart attack. I am surrounded by peers who give more of themselves than I ever knew was possible. I work with a team that cares so deeply for their patients, that it restores my faith in humankind.

This past year has presented challenges we have never seen before. Many of you have risen up beyond my wildest expectations. You have cared for patients in the blowing wind and freezing rain. You have rounded in nursing homes on New Year's day, even though you haven’t been in a nursing home in 20 years. You have vaccinated seniors in their homes at 7:30 on a Friday night. You have intubated a COVID patient before you yourself had been vaccinated.

So on this Doctors Day, I celebrate all those who have given of themselves selflessly this past year. You have given me so much hope and pride in our team. You are truly my heroes.

With Joy, Love and Thanks,

Pete Barba MD, Marshall Foundation Medical Director