By Clay Holderman

In the trough between COVID outbreaks, my mind has been occupied with how to support our workforce in recovering from the traumas inflicted by this pandemic. In debriefing sessions, Schwartz Rounds and personal conversations, clinicians have shared with me their stories.

By Clay Holderman

Timing is everything. Just as we formally launch our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) efforts, a federal order makes it a political hot potato. The memo casts all unconscious bias training or racial sensitivity training as “anti-white” and “un-American”. So what to do? Delay implementation until the political context dies down? Or continue forward and begin the self-examination, the data collection, and the conversations that will propel us forward?

By Clay Holderman

I received the attached letter from a front-line nurse and preceptor named Erin. She sent it to leadership to encourage us and give her perspective on being on the front-line. “I am a part of history and my attitude can make or break the atmosphere for my team around me.” What incredible perspective.

By Clay Holderman

As protests have moved past Presbyterian Hospital daily, I have reflected on what authentic voice I could possibly add to the long-overdue racial equity conversation. I will never understand the perspective of those targeted by a deeply biased system. But I can offer the health outcome lens on what is surely a deeply unequal society.

By Clay Holderman

The desert in Springtime is stunning to me. The monochromatic brown of winter begins to recede and colorful new life somehow reemerges. In spite of all adversity, it always returns. This COVID-19 pandemic will also recede in a time. The isolation of this long winter will be replaced by blossoms of new life. Some early blooms are already visible.

By Clay Holderman

Saturday of Easter weekend is day 30* for New Mexico’s COVID-19 battle. In the Christian tradition, it is that silent Saturday between the defeat of Good Friday and the victory of Easter Sunday. In our state response, I find myself quiet and reflective, and relatively at peace. How could that be in the midst of our biggest healthcare challenge in a century? As I reflect on New Mexico’s preparedness, I am struck by the unity of effort in our healthcare system and in our state.

By Clay Holderman

Like all healthcare leaders, I have found myself in a world I would not have recognized when I wrote my 2020 goals at the end of 2019. As we work around the clock to procure PPE and keep our workforce safe so they can be here for our communities, the weight of the decisions and the pace and intensity of the work can be overwhelming. I stood in my back yard after a call last night and I was mesmerized by a million tiny lights - and I realized - they only appear so bright and beautiful because they are penetrating the darkness.