Inside the Clinic: The Nissan Murano Edition
Hello Dearest Community!
This weekend I was driving along the road, in no great hurry to get where I was going, when a car hurtled by me at racing speed, overtaking on the outside lane. Shocking, I hear you say, and yes, it was! However, what added to my state of shock was that it was another Nissan Murano! As the car sped ahead, I actually thought to myself for a fleeting moment: “Did that driver not see I was also in a Nissan Murano? I mean, really! Don’t we Nissan folk stick together?? Shouldn’t we be kinder to each other??”
Now I get that Nissan Murano owners may not have the same sense of connectedness as, say, owners of Harley Davidsons, who may nod their head in admiration and recognition when they pass each other on the road, but there is no doubt that humans, as social beings, look for connectivity with each other in many ways.
Indeed, humans have many layers of connectivity to other humans. These layers or communities of belonging are fundamental to the human experience, and we can shift in and out of those multiple communities with relative fluidity. We connect in those communities through shared symbols of identity; symbols which generally bring comfort to us when they are expressed and help guide our interaction with others in that community.
Occasionally we realize that others don’t assign the same meaning to those symbols as we do. Because we tend to assume shared meaning, this can bring discomfort, anxiety, confusion or even resentment. It can also be a refreshing and funny surprise.
In short, the symbols of our many communities can be identified in shared objects, words, and actions, and we are always looking out for them in our attempt to feel connected (or, sometimes, assert difference).
There are many newcomers arriving in our wider community – Afghan refugees – who will be desperately looking for symbols that will make them feel connected and feel a sense of community here. Already the actions of many are becoming the symbols of community that will help Afghan refugees feel welcome and cared for. Culmore Clinic, for example, stands ready to help with primary healthcare for any refugee who is settled here and transitioning to Medicaid or Medicare; and our dear partner, Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center is setting up a donation drive this Saturday. If you want to help with that, please click here.
Talking about welcoming folks, this month we welcomed back a long-time volunteer, Mary Jo Frickel who is now our new Clinical Supervisor, supporting Dr. Sneiderman and our providers, as well as Barbara who oversees clinical operations. We are so delighted she agreed to come back and take on this role.
In Mary Jo's own words:
"I am deeply committed to providing the best medical care possible in a caring environment to all who come through the Clinic’s doors. I know your staff to be professional, competent, and, above all, compassionate. It is the type of team I would like to work with."
We also welcome Nini Tran, a new Pharm Tech who will help us with medication distribution from NOVA Scripts Central and Sophia Miller, a new medical social worker who will help our patients address the myriad social determinants of health that can negatively impact a person’s ability to obtain and maintain wellbeing.
Some good news is that we got a grant from Kaiser Permanente to help support a pilot program we are starting in September called, Turning the Curve for Prediabetic and Diabetic Patients. In collaboration with NOVA Scripts Central, our pharmacy partner that provides patients with very low-cost prescription medications, we will be testing an integrated health initiative that will surround prediabetic and diabetic patients with a number of interventions that will encourage life-style changes aimed at positively impacting their health. To help with that is our new Nutritionist, Jenn Lyons who has already jumped in to help patients manage their eating habits.
Understanding that no intervention will be successful if the patient isn’t committed to embracing it, Jenn always asks patients why they want help with nutrition. Here are some of the responses she shared with me:
“I want to eat better to lower my blood pressure.”
“It is hard for me to move around because of pain in my knees and, if I can lose weight, I think it will help.”
“I want to know how to eat better to get off medications.”
Jenn‘s approach is one of building hope and realistic expectation that change can happen with determination and also with an appreciation of the healthy foods that come from the various cultures of our patient population. She sees that in some patient responses after their sessions:
“I think I can make some of the small changes to what I eat without giving up my favorite foods.”
“I now know what eating healthier looks like.”
Hmmm, maybe I should join one of those sessions….
I also want to say adieu and thank you to our amazing summer interns who are returning to school and a full workload: Shea Weingold, Molly Ruttenberg, Andrea Alvarado, and Max Kaye. Thank you for your service to our mission! We’ll miss you!
Have a good week, dearest Colleagues, and remember to look for the symbols that connect us, especially where you think there may not be any!
Warmly,
Anne-Lise