From the desk of:
Wendy Young, Executive Director | (707) 620-0808 | exec@scma.org
Sometimes there are just no words that can define how we feel about what is happening in the world around us. Today is one of those days for me. Pandemic, Covid-19, shelter-in-place, surge, peaceful demonstrations, riots, black lives matter, masks, face shields, reopening, elections, thunderstorms, social media, Netflix, evening news, cancer.... it's all taking its toll. Maybe this wasn't the right time for me to stop partaking in sugars, breads, dairy and alcohol. With this said, I can't even imagine how you are feeling. My heart and prayers for each of you for the challenges you must be facing. If this is feeling overwhelming to you as well, I am here for you. Call me anytime, day or night, on my home phone at (707) 620-0808. We can chat for a moment or the whole day (or night) if that is what we decide to do! Need exercise? Me too. I will come to you and we can go for a walk, hike, bike ride or even kayak. Let's get [safely] outside of the house/office and share some fresh air. We can return home with more clarity and peace of mind and hopefully a renewed spirit to continue for another week or even just another moment. Perhaps after a 'wellness session,' we may hear different words or maybe the words won't hold as much power over our spirit as they do at the moment. It's a lot right now, but we will get through this. Call me: (707) 620-0808. Anytime. Until we are able to see you again, please remember to put your own mask on first!
Wendy Young, Executive Director
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Need face shields? SCMA has about 300 nice quality on hand. I am happy to personally deliver to your office~! (If you prefer, you can pick up in Windsor)
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California Medical Association (CMA) President Peter N. Bretan, Jr., M.D., released the following statement in response to the death of George Floyd and institutionalized racism in America:
"The physicians of the California Medical Association were among the millions of Americans horrified by the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota. The seeming indifference to his suffering before his death is a glaring reminder that institutionalized racism remains endemic to the United States. His senseless death also requires us to confront the epidemic of state-sanctioned violence against people of color. As physicians dedicated to healing, we cannot choose to ignore the consequences of hatred and discrimination because we know they contribute to disparities in health outcomes for communities of color. They also negatively impact every facet of our lives from public safety and criminal justice to economic opportunity and public health.
"We respect and commend the professional ideals of those serving in law enforcement. We also acknowledge the sacrifices of those committed to protecting and serving our communities with honor. But we cannot ignore the systemic problems embedded within our justice system that endanger the lives of Black and Brown communities. We cannot tolerate any culture that cultivates the infliction of racial violence and mistreatment of its people. This means we must also examine the systems and practices of our own medical profession.
"Our profession has its own history of abuses of Black and Brown bodies in the name of advancing medical science. We also understand the unconscious biases and prejudices that codify policies and programs disproportionately harming communities of color. We must do more to eliminate health inequities that undermine our state’s public health and collective well-being.
"Through CMA, we support physicians using their influence to create solutions that disrupt the generations of institutionalized racism that fostered the tragic circumstances we are currently witnessing in our country. Many CMA physicians already work in partnership with health care and community leaders to formulate and execute programs aimed at addressing racial and ethnic inequities. Together, we can do even more to achieve our goal of health equity and truthfully represent the values of compassion and humanism that define our noble profession."
