UAMS SCHOOL OF PHARMACY
Cindy D. Stowe, Pharm.D. Dean and Professor
Social Connection and Meaningful Relationship – the Heart of the Pharmacy Profession
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finding creative ways to stay connected are sought and employed, such as phone call and text check-ins.
Although isolation can be felt regardless of the outside world, our current pandemic situation has heightened our risk for loneliness. We are actively isolating ourselves to decrease the spread of COVID-19 and while at first we thought it was temporary, it has now lingered for more than six months. Without a clear end in sight, I’ve found myself thinking a lot about how to build and maintain social connection during this pandemic, how to care about those around me, and how building meaningful relationships are at the core of our profession as pharmacists.
At the College, much of our efforts have been to stay connected within and between the faculty, staff and students. Maintaining the safety of our students, faculty, and staff, while delivering a high-quality education, has been at the core of our decision-making. Enhancing and improving communication has been an ongoing focus to support functional and caring connections. Where possible, flexible work arrangements have been implemented to allow faculty and staff the ability to work from home. Students are able to live with their families, instead of splitting time between home and school. The level of engagement by students in learning activities has been tremendous, whether synchronously or asynchronously delivered. Additionally, the students are finding creative ways to stay connected through their professional organizations by conducting remote social and professional activities.
t the heart of human nature is connectivity to one another. We learn early in life how to bond with others and do so through our relationships with family, friends and even strangers. This social connection is essential to our wellbeing and without such, leads to isolation.
Social connection is the feeling that you belong or that you feel close to other people. Social connection involves feeling cared for and valued, and forms the basis of interpersonal relationships. Relationships are defined as the way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected, or the state of being connected. Strong social connections are beneficial to us in the moment but also translate over time into health benefits. Moreover, socially supportive actions benefit the giver as well as the receiver. Outward expressions of kindness and caring for others have far-reaching benefits and create a positive feedback loop of wellbeing. Research has shown the benefits of connection, and it has been proposed that social connection be considered a ‘vital sign’ with positive impact on a wide range of health outcomes. Positive benefits from social connection have been seen in obesity, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, not to mention impact on psychological health. So, during the pandemic our efforts to enhance and maintain connection with the most at risk populations is critical. So, what can we do to help others? I believe the first step begins with us. Although it may seem impossible to have meaningful conversations through telecommunication, it can be done and keeping ourselves connected to those who support us is important in maintaining our own sense of wellbeing and belonging. We then need to extend that to others. Community pharmacists have strong social connections and relationships with their patients and often serve as a vital source of care and support for these individuals. Finding ways to reach out and stay connected with these patients are critical during this time of social distancing. When patients cannot come into the pharmacy, 22
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But all of this takes effort, much more than in pre-COVID times. Impromptu social contact is no longer part of our daily lives and so we must be intentional in creating opportunities to connect with those around us. Efforts focused on acts of kindness and compassion are central to building meaningful social connection. Whether in your personal life or your professional life, reach out to others. Be the conduit for kindness and connectivity. By doing so, we not only will we be serving others, but we will be helping ourselves as well. I am providing you some references that you may find helpful and I will leave you with a quote that I think suits the time. “When you are kind to others, it not only changes you, it changes the world.” – Harold Kushner Stay healthy and strong! - Cindy § References Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World. Vivek H. Murthy HarperCollins, New York City Copyright 2020. Martino J, Pegg J, Frates EP. The Connection Prescription: Using the Power of Social Interactions and the Deep Desire for Connectedness to Empower Health and Wellness. Am J Lifestyle Med 2017;11(6):46677. Last accessed on 2020-09-22. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ articles/PMC6125010/pdf/10.1177_1559827615608788.pdf CDC post “Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions”. Last accessed on 2020-09-22. https://www.cdc.gov/ aging/publications/features/lonely-older-adults.html
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THE ARKANSAS PHARMACIST
12/28/20 7:23 PM
