Dusting off and back in the arena
MIB#001
A little inside my brain update for this first newsletter.
Since October, I’ve been interviewing and waiting to hear back on a job for ED/Co-founder at an abortion access organization. It seemed like the interviews went really well. I was, “in the mix.” Last week, I heard the news that I didn’t get it.
Over the process, I found a sparkle inside of my brain and heart that had been dimmed for a couple of years. I remembered how deeply I care for reproductive medicine and the fight for making it better - it’s BIG. It doesn’t have to be my income-earning job, but there isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t read an article or have a conversation about something reproductive.
A big reason there isn’t a day that goes by is because of Marco Polo. I chat with a friend daily who lives across the country. She’s an OBGYN hospitalist, and we grew a strong bond during the pandemic. On her way to and from work, she would tell me the day’s stories. We’d discuss intense outcomes, and she’d share her view of how the medical world is changing from the inside. From the outside, I would share my views. We watched each other grow, in real-time. It helped me stay connected. Tethered.
As I reflected on my news from last week, I found myself telling B,
“again we can wrap the current models of care (aka broken health system) in technology and deliver it remotely (aka telehealth). at the core of every dysfunctional system are people who care..people who keep coming in and keep putting on a white coat and keep staying up in the middle of the night and keep missing birthdays and recitals and holidays and doing all the things to make sure people have access to healthcare.
a big block hospital is not going away from our lives ever, because they’re are too many lobbyists and too many people used to the pattern of going to the doctor..maybe in a future generation there will be less physical doctoring, but we will always need surgeons.”
Telehealth IS innovation. Doctors providing sci-comm and health education on TikTok and Instagram serve so many bodies - we needed change. What we did in two years with technology (that was on track to take us 10 more years), helped healthcare hurtle through the universe to catch up to the internet and futurists. However, while technology makes “getting access to the doctor” easier, if it’s just a bandaid then is it really generative? This is a question I’m asking a lot after dusting off and getting back in the arena.
Reading, listening, + recs:
Online: This is the article that sparked my questions on telehealth. Since Nov 9th, what’s next has occupied my brain as an abortion activist living in a red state where people still have access to abortion but for how long? Oh, and if you like data, here’s Data on a post-Dobbs world by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina.
Listening: Been listening to wayyyy too much seasonal music, and loving this version of December a lot.
Nightstand: Did you read Lessons in Chemistry yet? Devoured it last week..no pun intended.
Watched: finally spent time with Phil Stutz.
Digs + bits: A woman who makes me laugh really hard launched a new shop, Lu Dale. Curated, with good taste, and laaiid back.
I love that you all are here so early! If you’re a paid subscriber, THANK YOU for your financial support and investment. THANK YOU ALL for your time - I know it’s precious.
Stay grounded. Stay hydrated and nourished. Begin again if you need to. See you next week (🤞🏼).
Becca