Dr. Joyner’s Blog: Reflecting on 2024

Dear Friends,

We find ourselves again in the darkest time of the year. The air is crisp and smells of wood fire, but still – it is dark. Where do we find our light?

As 2024 draws to a close, we wish to pause to recognize our community’s bravery, growth, and brightness. Graduate medical education is, at its core, an exercise in humanity. It’s about navigating the high-stakes intensity of clinical training while embracing the vulnerability of learning, teaching, and healing.

There is light in the vulnerability of an intern who, during their first overnight shift, turns to their senior resident and said, “I think I’m starting to figure out how to breathe in the chaos.” There is light when an attending physician quietly brings coffee to their team during a challenging rotation. And there is light in the moments where faculty translate science into narratives that residents carry with them into the next patient encounter.

We find light in acts of kindness or support —a program coordinator who stayed late to help a resident navigate visa or leave paperwork, a visit with a wellness counselor, countless emails exchanged to troubleshoot schedules, coverage for ill colleagues and the simple “thank you” from a patient whose care was made possible by the collaborative effort of a multidisciplinary team.

Where do we find our light? In each other.

To our residents and fellows, your commitment to learning and patient care is unparalleled. You not only deliver exceptional care but also inspire everyone around you.

To our faculty, your dedication to teaching and mentorship is a cornerstone of what makes this community thrive. Your efforts remind us that growth is a team sport.

To the program coordinators, administrators, and support staff—you are the glue that holds it all together. Your behind-the-scenes work is the scaffolding upon which this entire educational structure exists.

At the end of this calendar year, accept our heartfelt “thank you” for your commitment, compassion, and strength. You are the light of this community, and it is a privilege to be on this journey with you now, and in the newness of the year to come.