FROM THE PRESIDENT by VALERIE F . BRIONES-PRYOR , MD , MHA , SFHM , FACP
Answering the Call
Mabuhay *! If you have been following my articles , then you already know much about my love for running . For those who are just catching up , well , I love to run . Running , among other things , balances my life as a physician and mom .
However , I didn ’ t grow up an athlete , and I could never run a full mile without stopping until I met my husband over 20 years ago . When I first started running , I got hurt a lot . After I ran my first half-marathon and could barely walk due to knee pain and shin splints , I thought that I was not cut out to be a runner . At that race though , I passed ( and was passed ) by runners and walkers wearing purple jerseys . Those purple-jersey people were smiling , having a wonderful time and had a lot of support on and off the course . It was hard to believe we were running the same race based on the look on my face compared to theirs . I soon found out they were part of TEAM in Training with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society . After my shin splints and knee pain subsided and I could eventually run normally , I signed up to run my first marathon with
TEAM in Training .
Though I initially joined TEAM in Training to help me run my first marathon , I quickly learned it was not just about the running . We were all there for the mission , which was to find a cure for blood cancers . As a physician , I understood the importance of this cause , and it gave me a purpose in getting up to run those early morning miles . As a new runner , I now had a coach who gave me a plan that included running , stretching , cross training and troubleshooting when I started to have aches and pains . Most importantly , I developed lifelong relationships with my fellow runners who were also there for the mission . I crossed that finish line not just for me , but for all my patients and loved ones who ’ ve battled blood cancers . I went on to volunteer as a mentor and then Run Coach for TEAM in Training for several seasons , not just to share my run story , but also to share the stories of cancer survivors and how our commitment to the mission helped save lives .
I look back at my time with TEAM in Training and wonder how I was able to volunteer so much time to mentoring , coaching and running , especially with growing demands on my time . In full transparency , I initially struggled when writing this article because I am very protective of my free time , and volunteering is low on my list of priorities . Nowadays , I politely decline when asked if I can volunteer for most things that are not related to family , work or church . However , I realized that there is a difference between volunteering and being called to serve . My time with TEAM in Training , though I did volunteer my time , never felt like work , and I felt that I was making a difference . I felt I was called to be a part of that team , to provide guidance to new runners while working towards a shared mission . Similarly , the time I give to my church now is due to a call to serve and share my gift of music with others . It ’ s my way of bringing joy , healing and peace to others who may need it , while also filling my own soul .
To continue with transparency , my call to serve with the Greater Louisville Medical Society took me awhile as well . For many years , I was a member in name only , but was not engaged and definitely not volunteering for anything . I finally answered the call when a good friend asked if I would be interested in serving as an officer . At the time , I wanted to say no and looked at it as another ask of my time . However , after talking with folks about why GLMS was important in the community , I said yes .
As physicians , we inherently want to help people , though we usually identify those people as patients . What intrigued me about GLMS is the focus on physicians , the well-being of physicians and holistically supporting physicians . If the well-being of our physicians in our community is not cared for , then how can we , as physicians , care for the people in our community ? As someone who tries very hard to find the right balance such that my plate is not over-full or my cup is not completely empty , GLMS ’ mission resonated with me .
So , here I am , serving as your GLMS President , working with my fellow officers and Board members to provide ways to support the physicians in our community , regardless of their employer , their specialty or where they are in their career . Being called to serve isn ’ t meant to overload your plate nor dry out your cup , it should fill your soul . The physicians featured in this month ’ s issue would likely agree with me that their call to serve is not an obligation on their time , but rather a passion to help others . Hopefully , their stories will inspire you to answer the call to serve in whichever area stirs your soul , whether it ’ s disaster relief , mentoring our youth or even serving our fellow physicians in GLMS .
* Mabuhay is a Filipino greeting meaning “ long life .”
Dr . Briones-Pryor is the Medical Director for the Hospital Medicine Service Line for UofL Health and is the Chief Medical Officer for UofL Health Shelbyville Hospital .
4 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE