By Gretchen Homan, MD, FAAP
Do you ever think about something you remember from childhood and marvel at how different it seems when you revisit it from adulthood? I remember thinking summer vacation was a 3-month adventure with fun and relaxed schedules in June, July and August. Now, it feels that summer break goes by so quickly and the kids are back in school. I wonder how our kids feel and what it might look like to them when they glance back at some point.
I would say it’s a busy time of year but really every time of year is busy, just for different reasons. So here we go with the back-to-school season. Hopefully kids have had their vaccines and sports physicals and are adjusting to a reasonable bedtime. Sleep is so important! I loved school and I enjoy learning new things everyday now. Being a lifelong learner is essential to being a good pediatrician and finding opportunities to learn and share knowledge is something we do daily.
I had the opportunity to learn from many of you this year about what it’s like to be a pediatrician in different parts of Kansas. There are lots of overlapping themes we all have in common and a seemingly endless number of stressful situations and difficult environments. Thank you for sharing with me and I want you to know how inspired I am by your strength and world class professionalism. Pediatricians in Kansas are caring for increasingly complex patients and doing it with the limited resources within our field.
Your team at KAAP is here for you and I am energized and hopeful as we look forward to what may come next. Right now might be our best time to regroup and then the start of viral season is expected to come to our offices and hospitals. Reach out and let us know if there are specific needs we can address or if you have questions or areas of interest for KAAP.
Please plan now to join us for the upcoming Progress in Pediatrics October 5th and 6th in Wichita. The evening of October 5th is our welcome party for our new KAAP Executive Director Denise Cyzman and I am so excited for you all to meet her and of course, our CME meeting is on the 6th. See you soon and until then please take care.
