#44 Retreating to Kiawah Island
Over the last weekend, I had the privilege of speaking to the ladies of the Physician Moms Group at their 2022 Annual Symposium held in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. The group was founded by Dr. Hala Sabry in November of 2014, “to bring together women physicians, who are also parents, so that they can collaborate and support each other while sharing their medical expertise in an open forum.” From a small base of 20 women, the group has blossomed into a community of 120,000 online members.
After a year of virtual events, the group planned an in-person event in 2022 at the beautiful resort area of Kiawah Island. The area is located about an hour’s drive south of the airport in Charleston. The facilities there were chosen to cater to physicians with children who could be deposited in an activity-filled day camp. Between the beaches, miles of bike paths, and scenic golf courses, kids and Dads could easily find fun things to do. One doctor mom posted a picture of the alligator she saw at the side of one of the swampy areas!!
The call to submit pitches for lectures was made in March of 2022. The organizers of the event, Hala Sabry, DO, and Nadia Pearson, MD, were looking to get a diverse group of topics and interests represented in the three days of presentations. The physicians attending the symposium come from all different specialties and finding topics that appeal to the majority is surely a tricky proposition. I pitched the topic of my book, Changing How we Think About Difficult Patients, and I was selected from a large group of applicants. The request was to break up my topic into two thirty-minute sessions to help focus attention and to keep the program lively.
The group also allowed the participation of sponsors to help defray the cast of such a large and comprehensive event. Hala mentioned that the sponsors also had to apply and were chosen based on their products, mission, and diversity of representation. Many of the sponsors were either female physician-owned companies offering useful cosmetics, coaching, financial planning, disability insurance, and other medical devices. I met several physician entrepreneurs and was impressed with their ingenuity and drive.
The resort itself is isolated and scenic. One would do well to rent a car although there is a resort shuttle available for transport. The conference was held at the West Conference Center which was a spacious and well-equipped facility. The speaking set-up and audio-visual support folks engaged by the conference organizers were very accommodating and efficient. I could see the huge monitor of my presentation slides without having to don my reading glasses. 😊
I am happy to report that the recently agonizing process of airport car rental went pretty well on my arrival to Charleston Airport. I met up with another conference attendee, a neurologist and mother of two, and I gave her a ride along to the resort. The place is spread out and just a little confusing for first timers. Fortunately, we are fast learners.
I was scheduled to speak on Thursday and Friday mornings. I followed the first day keynote speaker who was Tracy Sanson, MD. Tracy is an emergency physician, mom, educator and general badass. Her talk, Poland Experience: The Power of One, recounted her experiences working at a refugee camp and medical facility at the Ukraine border during the first month of the war there. Mainly, she introduced us, with pictures, to the diverse group of physicians, nurses, medics, and volunteers that she met while volunteering at the facility.
Tracy introduces herself as a storyteller and she paints a compelling portrait of the scant provisions at the Polish border aide station. As the news cycle moves on to the next big event, we need to remember the people. I hope that Tracy will write down all of her stories and recollections so that we never forget the hardships and brutality endured by the Ukrainian people.
I shook off some nerves and really enjoyed presenting to the group of live, some masked, and unmasked listeners. The previous year of virtual events and masked audiences removed the facial expressions and some interactions between the audience and the speaker. I found it so helpful to watch folks in the audience nodding in agreement and solidarity with my statements and stories. To crack a little joke or sarcastic quip and to hear the laughter (or not) is truly magical.
I retreated to a corner of the exhibit room to sign and sell some of the books that I brought along with me. Several ladies came to me to tell me how much they enjoyed my presentation and to share some stories with me. My aim is speaking at the event was to meet physicians who were involved in coaching and teaching other physicians. I want my beleaguered colleagues to realize that they can choose better thoughts about those challenging interactions that occur with patients and their families. Several folks told me, “You were speaking to ME!”
I met so many lovely and engaging physicians in all stages of parenting, practicing, and surviving as physician mothers. The chances to meet for early morning Yoga sessions on the beach, family walks, and grown-up refreshments, were available for people to pick and choose as they were able. I heard a lot of laughter and banter of easy camaraderie around the tables and in the hallways.
I managed to find the beach for a while before a delightful cocktail hour and buffet dinner presented by one of the sponsors. The kids had their own movie projected while they munched on their fries and chicken tenders. I also met several super-cool dads. It was a jam-packed first day of lectures, demonstrations, and activities.
On day two, I was scheduled to give the second half of my presentation. In that talk, I emphasize the frequent thought “errors” that physicians have about some of their patients. I suggest that awareness is the first step in making a change. I also suggest several tools and questions to pose that can prompt us to kinder and more useful thoughts. I know some of my lines were well received by the ripples of laughter that I heard.
Following me was the one and only Jen Arnold, MD. She is a neonatologist, educator, mom, reality TV star and advocate. As a person diagnosed with a rare type of dwarfism called Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Type Strudwick, Jen has had to overcome many personal and professional struggles to attain her professional and personal goals. She and her husband Bill Klein, have been the stars of the TLC’s “The Little Couple.” My description here does not do justice to the force of nature that this woman truly is. If anyone has an opportunity to hear her speak, run to the venue.
Jen spoke with candor and humor in response to any and all questions that were posed to her. She covered her medical school application process, her personal medical issues, practicing as a neonatologist, meeting her husband, and adopting her two children. My description here does not do the lady justice. She is truly inspiring.
I had to leave the conference early, but I read numerous glowing reports on the rest of the program and the evening activities. I left feeling energized and excited about our profession and specifically, about our lady colleagues. We are a beautiful, interesting, engaging, and endearing group of ladies. I recommend that interested readers look into the Physicians Mom Group and check out its blog and educational programs. Finding a like-minded tribe of ladies navigating the struggles of motherhood and the practice of medicine can be uplifting.
The group emphasized for its members that they are not alone and they are loved. I have to say that the vibe felt quite different from the meetings that I attend for the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians. It felt friendly, warm, and squishy. I was sad to leave but my husband and Dolly, the poodle, were thrilled to have me back. I have inserted a picture of Dolly on my lap as I am writing this blogpost. I sincerely hope that the PMG will keep holding their symposia and facilitate the education and well-being of the beautiful and badass members of this group.
