Walking From The Car

The hospital sleeps, as only a few scattered room lights pierce the dawn

The air is still, quiet, and calm.

During this walk from the car, take a few moments, to find those simple pleasures, and natural beauties, that make you say, "man, life is beautiful", and "it’s going to be a great day."

The blades of grass list to and fro, as the nourishing morning dew glistens on each strand,

The trees reach for the sky, proudly showing their lush collection of summer greenage.

The stars begin to dim, as the sun casts out it’s warming rays

And as you walk from the car… realize… that we are lucky my friends

What will come today?  Surgery? Clinic? Rounding? Will you work on a beating heart? Remove a diseased Colon?  Excise that cancer? Take out that gallbladder? Reroute around the stomach?  

Who will show up in clinic today?  That patient you scrubbed in on two weeks ago should be doing well. 

How is everybody on the floor?  I hope they have been eating, walking, gained bowel and bladder function, and have their pain under control.

But as you walk from the car, remember… that we are lucky my friends, for we have been privileged to wear these white coats.

 As you go about your day, remember… that these white coats are a portal to think critically…. To be compassionate…. To save lives…  to be trusted by complete strangers…. And, well, they are a portal to care for others.

So as you walk from the car….  stand tall….. hold your head up high….. keep a smile on your face…. play a joyous song in your heart…. And take the time to say good morning to a complete stranger.

For this is it my friends… this is the big league… we’ve made it… for we are "student doctors"…. And……well…..“it’s going to be a great day.”

Clark Brewer

Class of 2014