UAMS: Routine and Normal

Cindy Stowe, Pharm.D. Dean

Routine and Normal: My, My How Things Can Change

SomedefinitionsthatI’vebeenthinkingareworthrevisiting (withachuckle)… • Routine–asequenceofactions regularlyfollowed; afixed program • Normal –conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected So, how’s your routine? Is it normal? Ahhh yes, the ‘new normal.' I have clearly wondered what to write about for this issue, and I settled on what we are all dealing with - the ‘new normal’ brought to us by the COVID-19 pandemic; not the logistics of it specifically, but our response that translates from person-to-person that makes us similar and gives us a common language and focus. As an academic, I am comfortable with the rhythm that plays itself out in a dependable yearly pattern, where change is a meticulous process with extended rollout plans – you know, it is routine and normal. For me, Thursday March 12th to Friday, March 13th is where I draw the line; when myday-to-dayactivities ceased to be normal and routine.

This is something that none of us has faced, right? So, early on, some of what provided context for me was a natural disaster – weather related. Then, I was reminded of 9/11, yet this felt differentandmassivelymoredisruptiveforallofhumanity.The activities of daily living that we had always considered ‘normal’ were thrown upside down and have been rapidly changing and calibrating to a ‘new normal’. Work from your office, nowworkremotely;socialdistance,don’tshakehands,don’t touchyourface;telehealth, telemedicine, telepharmacy, telewhat?;oldwordsandphrasesbeingusedtodefinewherewe areinthepandemic–flattenthecurve,prepareforthesurge; and the appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment, of course). N95 or surgical mask or homemade mask...I know that we could all go on about the specific disruptors to our pre-COVID-19 pandemic normal day-to-day routine.

We have had these feelings before, right? I believe we are feeling/coping with loss; collective loss of the normal and routine. In the world in which we live and work, we are doing our best to build a new normal while dealing with the loss of our day-to-day routines – at work, school, in our communities and, at home. For fun, I like to listen to audiobooks and occasionally podcasts. Recently, I started listening to a podcast by Brené Brown called “Unlocking Us”. One particular episode on loss and grieving struck a chord with me. I have been reflecting recently on how I can best lead, while balancing rapid, significant change and coping with the collective feelings of loss that was discussed in this particular podcast. I have been asking myself how can I “show up” to care about and support the people around me, take in and share information, solve problems, andfindtherightpathforward. pharmacy educators, we are transforming how we deliver on our professional responsibilities, mission, and vision. I believe we are clear about why we are doing what we are doing and haveadeepsenseofcaring–wearefindingwaystoconnect and care for each other from a distance. I am so impressed with how our profession has responded - maintaining accessibility to patients while maximizing the safety of the work environment. As pharmacists you are innovating your day-to-day processes and providing expanded or different services to your patients as needs arise.

As we blaze our path forward and deal with our collective and individual losses, be patient with each other and yourself. Avoid the judgement of grief, and how we show up in it. We all dealwithgriefandlossdifferently.Theworstlossisalwaysyour loss–noneedtocompare.Makespaceforourdifferencesand stay focused on our similarities and our connectedness. For those of you who are co-workers, employers, and preceptors of our student pharmacists – THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Your commitment to the College and education ofourstudentsduringthisdifficulttimehasfilledmewithpride and gratitude. No other profession, in my opinion, delivers on this like you do!

As the Spring 2020 Semester is now behind us, join me in congratulating the faculty and staff of the UAMS COP on changing from a didactic face-to-face curriculum to an online delivered curriculum overnight. Congratulate the P1, P2, and P3 students for embracing these efforts and doubling down with a commitment to learning, patience, and grace. These students have risen to the challenge of being educated remotely with all the challenges of close habitation with friends and family and the closeness that apartment living can deliver. Finally, congratulations to the Class of 2020 who have powered to the end of their formal education through this pandemic with rapid-cycle practice changes. The Class of 2020 is forgoing the normal, annual face-to-face celebration of the culmination of the formal professional education journey for a virtual celebration/recognition of this milestone achievement.

The resilience and determination to achieve our mission and vision have been clear to all of us as we chart the safest and most efficient path forward. I am so proud of the students, staff,andfacultyoftheUAMSCOPasweclosethe2019-2020 academicyearin atimesodifferentthan when westarted. I am equally impressed with the response of our profession – the leadership of our alumni and preceptors for modeling excellent accessible patient care for your communities. Stay Healthy and Strong! §

Reference: Unlocking Us – Brené Brown – March 31, 2020 episode: David Kessler and Brené on Grief and Finding Meaning