PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

For Patients, For Ourselves

There is no denying it: we are living through a heavy and unsettling time. I see it not only in the headlines, but in the exam room. Many of the forces shaping public life right now are reaching directly into our practices. Patients are delaying care, missing appointments, and avoiding the health system altogether because they do not feel safe. As physicians, we know the consequences of that hesitation can be serious, even life-threatening.

At the same time, I know that physicians are carrying a great deal themselves. The emotional weight of caring for vulnerable patients, navigating moral distress, and practicing medicine in an increasingly strained environment takes a toll. It can be hard to keep showing up for others when the ground feels unsteady beneath our own feet.

That is why supporting physician well-being is essential to me and to SSVMS. All physicians in Sacramento, El Dorado, Yolo, and Placer Counties have access to free, confidential, and anonymous counseling through SSVMS’s Joy of Medicine program. We sponsor up to six sessions with a vetted psychologist, therapist, or coach.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, please know this: you are not alone, and support is available. Taking care of yourself is part of taking care of your patients and your community.

Rick Vitangcol, MD

SSVMS President

SSV MEDICINE MAGAZINE

FEATURED ARTICLE

The Lingering Weight of Words

By Karen Poirier-Brode, MD