The clang of the metal door reverberates for just a moment, as I make my way out the back after a day at the office seeing patients. There is rarely a dull moment in our office, which I still proclaim is one of the few sacred places in my life. As a “sole practitioner” aka “dinosaur”, I am one of few physicians that practices free of the constrictions of hospital or private equity ownership. This has its blessings and tribulations: I get to practice in a manner consistent with the oath I took for this profession, independent of some monolithic organization’s dictates and worship of the profit margin; I also get to experience all the ups and downs of running an office in addition to being a physician. The key to managing the latter is always having the best help. Lately we have been short staffed, as we have been searching for a great front desk person. Thank you to all of you that have been patient with a slower process up there. I am VERY happy to say we are now adding someone we have worked with in the past, that has great experience, a friendly demeanor, and is excited about all of the projects I have in mind for us once we have this COVID thing in the rear view mirror and can open up a little more.

The best part of my day is always talking with you, the patients. You have brought incredible insight into what this physician thing is all about. There are days my last brain cell is set on fire trying to figure out a complicated medical issue, and days my heart is on fire after listening to what’s going on in your lives: the death of a loved one; illness; complex child/parent issues, financial concerns, complex relationship issues, ethical and social dilemmas of all kinds. You definitely keep me on my toes. What never fails to touch me is when after we finish exploring your issues, you inevitably check on me. “How are you doing? Are you still good with the cancer situation? How are your children?” Really? Who gets to be so privileged and so blessed to have people like you? And it doesn’t end with you. My staff is incredible. Every hard thing I have gone through in the past 7 years my staff has lifted me up and through. Sometimes the feelings of thankfulness become so overwhelming.

One of my new favorite things is listening to “Popera”, as I have found it represents and helps me express the gratitude that I feel on a daily basis. “Popera” is a term used to describe a “crossover genre combining elements of pop and classical music”. Some of my favorites are IL DIVO, Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, and even the late great Pavarotti. I will just sit and listen to these amazing voices, singing in Italian or Spanish or English, and sometimes a combination of languages. Sometimes I will “set my life “to their music, remembering happy images of my children growing up or of accomplishing an important task, and it allows me to relive those best of times. When the music turns cloudy, it reassures me that challenges and difficulties are not unique to myself; struggle and hardship is universal. When the vibrato grips my soul, I believe, as the singer must, that I too can find the strength to hit that high note and pull out of my funk. Most of the time I have no idea what they are saying because my Italian and Spanish are nonexistent, but the music and the vocals are so breathtaking and amazing that I realize it doesn’t even matter. They are singing with such emotion, and conviction, that it sounds to me like truth and love, two things that are sometimes in short supply. As we enter this last month of 2020, I feel we will all be singing a collective song of “Time to Say Goodbye” (an absolutely beautiful piece by Andrea Bocelli and Sara Brightman). I wish you health and happiness, with much optimism for the coming New Year!