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A special election message from the Chief Wellness Officer, Kirk J. Brower, MD

Posted October 20, 2020

As we face our national election, many of us are feeling anxiety, anger, or a mixture of both. We can experience these feelings no matter where we stand on the political spectrum. The reality of elections is that there are winners and losers. Therefore, many people on one side or the other will be greatly disappointed.

We are frequently bombarded with negativity when we tune into the news on television, radio, or in print. The news media tends to focus more on what divides us than unites us. Such overexposure to negativity works against our well-being. We can consider limiting our exposure.

At Michigan Medicine, we are united by our common mission and values. Our Mission is “To advance health to serve Michigan and the world.” This is a very inclusive statement, because the world includes everyone. In addition, our first core value is Caring: “I will treat everyone with dignity, kindness and respect, promoting the well-being of self and others.” Here we are clearly saying that our individual and workplace well-being depends on how well we treat one another. Only by being well and working well can we optimally care for our patients and each other.

The Wellness Office is committed to making our workplace safe to speak up for safety for our patients, ourselves, and each other. We strive to work in a safe environment where all voices can be heard. Our voices will be heard when we have inclusive conversations rather than divisive arguments. We will know we are using our best voices when what we say to each other is true, kind, and helpful. Let’s use our voices well to support one another during these trying times including the election and beyond.