Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1240593
Gratitude FIRST, I WANT to say thank you. So many clinicians and their teams are making unique contributions and sacrifices during these times to care for our community. Thank you, and we are humbled watch- ing your commitment. How do we care for you? I spoke to two of our regional experts for advice on tools to incorporate into a clinician's daily practice for self-care and to offer resources to family members who may also looking for ways to be supportive. Kaushal Nanavati, MD, is the Director of Integrative Medicine and Wellness at SUNY Upstate. He stressed several simple practices, including: 1. When faced with uncertainty, go back to basics, includ- ing handwashing, and keep social but from a distance. 2. Look for ways to destress using phone apps like Calm to practice meditation. 3. Stay connected spiritually. Find your peace and calm. Be a thriver not just a survivor. 4. Allay your family's and friends' fears with simple practices: Wash your clothes in hot water when you come home, shower to remove surface contaminants, pay atten- tion to your symptoms and maintain distance at home with any onset. In Core 4 Wellness, Dr. Nanavati offers more ideas for find- ing the right balance during these stressful times. For more information, visit upstate.edu/fmed/pdf/core-four-nanavati.pdf and upstate.edu/hloa/2020/031820-nanavati-interview.php. "During this time of crisis, may we remain calm amidst the chaos, be compassionate with our neighbors, and be practical and prudent," Dr. Nanavati says. "Please listen and share, and be the voice of reason, the beacon of hope and the light that shines so others may know the way." Father David McCa llum, Vice President for Mission Integration and Development at LeMoyne College, is a Jesuit priest who coaches many leadership teams on the relationship between emotional intelligence and leadership. He notes we need to learn to integrate our leadership goals with compassion, awareness and reflection. So much is being written about the relationship between mind and body, and the long-term health impacts of achieving balance. He reminds us how important gratitude is in the midst of this chaos. " Our attention is naturally attracted to the negative experi- ences in our lives, but we have to practice paying attention to the positive," he says. "Gratitude fosters a sense of joy, security and abundance. It connects us to God, the giver of all gifts, and inspires our generosity. It also helps us keep perspective when we tend to be givers, reminding us of the importance of receiving graciously from others." We also discussed how this environment parallels past times when soldiers went off to war and took risks for the greater good. Our clinicians are fighting in a different kind of war but taking the same levels of risk. As family and community members, we must support them in many of the same ways and understand the level of stress they are facing. By the time this issue prints, my hope is that we are on the other side of this pandemic. Those clinicians who have worked on the front lines will be living with the stress of this period for months to come. Take time to practice, as Father McCallum reminds us, the art of self-caring: compassion, awareness, reflection, intention and gratitude. We are all so grateful for the commitment of the clinicians across Central New York. n BY K ATHRYN RUSCITTO M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S C E N T R A l N E W Y O R K ■ 2 0 2 0 0 5