Transformational Times
Words of Hope, Character & Resilience from our Virtual Community
Friday, July 16, 2021
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In This Special Asian American and Pacific Islander Issue: |
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Director's Corner
Perspectives/Opinions
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Three designs that Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya created for the "We Are More" installation, now displayed around Boston. To learn more about the project, visit this Instagram page.
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Poetry Corner
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Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib: IF LIFE IS AS SHORT AS OUR ANCESTORS INSIST IT IS, WHY ISN’T EVERYTHING I WANT ALREADY AT MY FEET
Your Turn
Announcements & Resources
- Congratulations to Bill Wong
- Submit a speaker proposal to the Kern Institute Event Advisory Committee
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Transformational Times Essay Contest
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Call for Transformational Times Editorial Board Members
- Residents and Fellows: Join the Kern Institute GME Pillar
- RFP for GME Connectedness/Wellbeing Program
- Kern National Network News & Events
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Director's Corner
Lessons from The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: Moving To and Through Cultural Competence in Healthcare
by Adina Kalet, MD, MPH
Reading this week’s contributions from our MCW medical students with Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) backgrounds, Dr. Kalet is reminded of how she learned and taught culture competence in medicine, how far we have come, and what is left to do …
When, in 1997, American essayist and reporter Anne Fadiman, published The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures, she could not have known how profoundly her award-winning work would impact medical education. Considered by some to be among the best narrative nonfiction books of the twentieth century, it reads like a novel. The book tells the story of Lia Lee, the American-born child of Laotian Hmong refugees, Nao Kao Lee and Foua Yang. Lia develops a severe form of epilepsy as an infant. In alternating chapters from the points of view of Lia’s family and the health care professionals in Merced, California, we experience the culture clash and deepening void as they try—and sometimes spectacularly fail—to save Lia’s life.
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Perspective/Opinion
How To Support Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Patients
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By James F. Wu (吴简凡), MD (he/him/他)
Co-Authors: Neurofourier, MD, New York, NY, and Yuemei (Amy) Zhang, MD, University of Washington
Dr. Wu discusses how AAPI people are facing a wave of discrimination and shares that physicians need to be sensitive to patients’ experience of racism and educate themselves on how to best offer support…
I felt a complex wave of emotions as I prepared to enter the room of my next patient. I was excited yet nervous for the opportunity to finally take care of an Asian patient.
“Hi, I’m James Wu, a Chinese American fourth-year medical student working with Dr. B to help take care of you today,” I said.
I could see the slightly surprised expression at my intentional inclusion of “Chinese American,” which quickly turned into a smile as she responded with, “Thanks for sharing, I’m actually Hmong American.”
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Perspective/Opinion
Health Advancement for Asian/Pacific Islanders Through Education (HAPPIE)
By Mingqian (Ming) Lin, 林鸣谦 (Chinese), MS
Mr. Lin, MCW rising M2, recounts his personal journey towards inner harmony and acceptance as an Asian American identifying as LGBTQ+ and the creation of HAAPIE…
As we move past Pride Month, the colors of the rainbow flag still wave strong and proud. For me, the brilliance of these colors not only shine upon the red, white, and blue as an American, but also the red and yellow as a Chinese. For many Asian Americans, this year has not been an easy one as the rise in anti-Asian hate has added just another entry to the long-standing history of prejudices and discrimination against the Asian diasporas in this country. Like many Asian Americans identifying as LGBTQ+, we’ve also had to navigate this third space in our identities—what does it mean to be Asian, what does it mean to be American, and what does it mean to be queer?
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Perspective/Opinion
Growing Up As a Hmong American In Wisconsin
By Kajua Betsy Lor, MD
Dr. Lor shares her experiences growing up as a Hmong American in Wisconsin and building trust as a community to overcome adversity…
I was born and raised in Wisconsin in the Fox Valley – a little city called Neenah, Wisconsin – known for manhole covers and kleenex. The most common question I’ve gotten throughout my life is - ‘Where are you from?” When I answer “Wisconsin” “No, where are you really from?” When I answer “Neenah, Wisconsin”. It’s not enough. “No, that’s not what I meant.”
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Perspective/Opinion
Asians in Healthcare Facing Racism as They Battle COVID-19 on the Frontlines
By Shannon Tai, MD
Dr. Tai shares her personal experiences facing racism during COVID-19 on the frontlines and discusses how we can work together to support the Asian community…
Upon extubation of a COVID-afflicted patient in the ICU, it was nothing short of amazing to see my patient breathe on his own again. It was all the more rewarding that I had contributed in a small way to his treatment and recovery. I held his hand and helped him take solace in this small victory. The next day during morning rounds, he maliciously accused me of giving him the “Chinese virus”. Stunned and unsure how to react, I wondered if I had done something wrong. The ICU RN immediately jumped in and told the patient that his comments were inappropriate.
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Perspective/Opinion
Bridging Worlds
By Iaong Vang, M2
Ms. Vang shares her experience as a daughter of refugee parents from Laos and the challenges they face when seeking care from the world of western medicine…
“He treated me differently last time when I was there by myself. He was mean and said scary words, he wasn’t comforting. But he was so friendly this time…,” my father says in the passenger seat as we drive home from an appointment with his doctor.
My parents fled Laos 34 years ago and settled in Missoula, Montana. According to the United States census, in 2019 Asians counted for only 0.9% of Montana’s population. The Hmong population in Montana used to be relatively large but it was never like that of Milwaukee’s Hmong population. As of today, only about 20-30 families remain.
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Perspective/Opinion
Growing Up Taiwanese, American and An Aspiring Physician
By Joyce H. Lee, MS, M2
Ms. Lee describes what it was like to grow up as both Taiwanese and American and how she learned to appreciate her once conflicted identity…
I was born in Tainan, the Southern capital of Taiwan, or better known as the food and culture capital of the island. I grew up with three languages at home—Mandarin, Taiwanese, and English—thanks to my parents putting me in a Taiwanese day-time school and an American after-school program, both of which I diligently attended. When I moved to Los Angeles at eight years old, I thought that my upbringing would prepare me to fit in with the Americans because I spoke English fluently and understood the American culture. Yet, I was wrong.
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Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib is a poet, essayist, and cultural critic from Columbus, Ohio. He is a poetry editor at Muzzle Magazine, a columnist at MTV News, and a Callaloo creative writing fellow. His first collection of poems, The Crown Ain’t Worth Much is a stunning, breathtaking book of poetry on tragedy and celebration.
IF LIFE IS AS SHORT AS OUR ANCESTORS INSIST IT IS, WHY ISN’T EVERYTHING I WANT ALREADY AT MY FEET
By Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib
if I make it to heaven, I will ask for all of the small pleasures
I could have had on earth. And I’m sure this will upset
the divine order. I am a simple man. I want, mostly,
a year that will not kill me when it is over.
A hot stove and a wooden porch, bent under
the weight of my people. I was born, and it only got worse
from there. In the dead chill of a doctor’s office,
I am told what to cut back on and what to add more of.
None of this sounds like living. I sit in a running
car under a bath of orange light and eat the fried chicken
that I promised my love I would stray from
for the sake of my heart and its blood
labor. Still, there is something about the way a grease
stain begins small and then tiptoes its way along
the fabric of my pants. Here, finally, a country
worth living in. One that falls thick from whatever
it is we love so much that we can’t stop letting it kill us. If we must die, let it be inside here. If we must.
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Although he did not originate it, the first time I heard this was from Len, Sr: Measure once, cut twice. Measure twice, cut once.
- Jules H. Blank, MD, Faculty
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“Know (or find out) the ‘Why’ of every ‘What’. If you cede the authority for your actions to ‘we’ve always done it that way’ or ‘X said to do it / does it this way,’ you will be much less effective, learn less, and eventually find yourself in an untenable situation.”
- Bill Berger, MD, Faculty
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"Recognize when you're no longer being productive and stop studying."
- Anonymous
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Respond to next week's reflection prompt:
If you could compete in any Olympic sport, which would it be?
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Congratulations to Bill Wong!
Bill Wong has been awarded the MCW President’s Diversity & Inclusion Award for his TI2 project work in educating healthcare providers on Hmong LGBTQ+ experiences.
This award is granted to exemplary MCW community members who passionately display efforts of creating an inclusive environment within MCW and in the Greater Milwaukee community. He was nominated by Dr. Kajua Lor from the MCW School of Pharmacy.
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The Kern Institute Event Advisory Committee invites you to
Submit a Speaker Proposal
The Kern Institute is working to transform medical education to better align with the needs of the public on the basis of character, competence, and caring.
Please complete the form below if you have a speaker you would like to propose.
The Event Advisory Committee will review all proposals based on the following criteria:
- The speaker's qualifications
- Timeliness of the topic
- Relevance to the mission
If chosen, a committee member will extend the invitation to the speaker and open the line of communication.
*Please Note: While we greatly appreciate your enthusiasm, please do not initiate correspondence with the speaker directly. This will ensure that expectations are clear and confusion or misunderstandings are averted.
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Transformational Times Essay Contest
Imagining the Future of Medical Education
Transformational Times is holding an essay contest and we want to hear from you.
Create an essay (no more than 250 words) that helps the reader imagine the possible future of medical education.
Choose one of the following prompts:
- Imagine you are in a medical school or residency program that does not yet exist. Describe a perfect day where you learn an important patient care lesson that would not be possible today.
- Describe an amazing learning or teaching moment you have experienced at some point in your life. What lesson did you take away that, if incorporated into medical education, would improve medical school or residency?
- If you were to imagine a medical school or residency program in 2030, what three things would you be most likely to include? And why?
Winners will be awarded a gift card and will be published in an upcoming issue of Transformational Times. Several winners may be selected. Essays are due by July 30, 2021.
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Call for Transformational Times Editorial Board Members
The Transformational Times is seeking MCW students (from all colleges), residents, and fellows to serve as associate editors on the 2021 - 2022 editorial board.
Associate editors take charge of specific sections, including poetry, visuals, or other areas of personal interest. They help with identifying issues of concern to students and trainees and help recruit people to write essays on these topics. Associate editors are also expected to contribute at least one written piece during the course of the year.
The editorial board meets weekly (usually on Tuesday afternoons) and holds occasional retreats; associate editors attend when available. Persons from underrepresented minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and other voices deserving amplification are strongly encouraged to apply.
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RFP for GME Connectedness/Wellbeing Program
The Kern Institute’s GME Pillar and MCWAH are happy to announce a program to increase connectedness and well-being across MCWAH’s GME programs.
Residency and fellowship programs are invited to submit proposals for programming/activities that would enhance connectedness and well-being among GME programs.
Proposals should include at least TWO programs and up to $500 can be requested. A post-activity report is required. Please see the Request for Proposal (RFP) below for details and submit your proposals before August 2, 2021, below.
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KNN Discussion Series
Social Justice, Health Equity and Human Flourishing: Are We all Included?
Over the past year, the disproportionate impact of the pandemic as well as national protests surrounding racial incidents have heightened attention to ongoing disparities—including those within healthcare. What responsibilities do healthcare professionals have to address root causes of health inequity? And what strategies can help dismantle structural barriers to human flourishing that exist across diverse populations?
In this panel discussion—moderated by Chris Stawski, PhD, senior fellow for the Kern Family Foundation—three speakers will share their lived experiences and professional journeys related to those themes. Audience Q&A will follow.
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August 3, 2021
Live Virtual Presentation
4:00 - 5:00 pm CT
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The Transformational Times publishes weekly, delivering stories of hope, character and resilience to our virtual community. |
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Editorial Board: Kathlyn Fletcher, MD, Adina Kalet, MD, Wendy Peltier, MD, Erin Weileder, Scott Lamm, Eileen Peterson, Sarah Torres, & Anna Visser
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