Academic Medicine Open Forum

Yes, it has been very easy to organize virtual meetings and it does have many advantages including convenience and great potential for a greener planet (less driving to meetings etc.). Yes, we should advocate for continued virtual meetings if it alone can foster better attendance rates among clinical faculty, busy researchers and administrators. However, let us remember about the downsides of these virtual meetings and not forget about the value of human to human connections. 
We have a new Dean and after he joined our medical school, I am yet to see him how he looks below his neck and chest and the same with my staff member who joined my team. Let us not normalize this. Yes, we need to take COVID-19 very seriously and be patient to tide over the pandemic. There will be a lot proposed in the name of efficiency in the post-COVID-19 world. We should evaluate at those efficiencies by also asking how does this affect the value of human connections and connectedness.
I for one have been the beneficiary of grabbing my Subway or JJ sandwich after the committee meetings, pulling my chair and putting it aside my staff member, faculty colleague or my boss and not just brainstorming solutions to our needs, but also learning about them as a person, their families and loved ones, their personal challenges and accomplishments outside of work etc... These in turn gave me a sense of connectedness to the organization and seeing it as a community rather than just a work place. 
As far as conferences, I must admit that the value of these major events for me was in networking and the deliberations that I had outside of the formal sessions more than attending sessions (sorry for saying this :)). These have led to many collaborative projects and friendships that I continue to cherish.
Professional growth, joy at work and success is in building relationships and we can't build strong relationships if we are boxed up in these virtual meetings. 
Best of luck and stay safe!!



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Senthil Kumar Rajasekaran
Senior Associate Dean for UME and Curricular Affairs
Wayne State University SOM
Detroit, MI
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Very well said! I never cease to be amazed at how quickly new practices can be developed, be they good or bad. Much will be learned from this time, and my hope is that we adopt those innovations and process improvements that were sorely needed, while holding on to those like you describe that truly connect us as a people.

Thanks for such a thoughtful post!

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David Hotchkiss
VP CIO
Medical College of Wisconsin
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-26-2020 08:16
From: Senthil Kumar Rajasekaran
Subject: Let us not get too comfortable with Zoom and MS Teams - This is not about being touchy feely

Yes, it has been very easy to organize virtual meetings and it does have many advantages including convenience and great potential for a greener planet (less driving to meetings etc.). Yes, we should advocate for continued virtual meetings if it alone can foster better attendance rates among clinical faculty, busy researchers and administrators. However, let us remember about the downsides of these virtual meetings and not forget about the value of human to human connections.
We have a new Dean and after he joined our medical school, I am yet to see him how he looks below his neck and chest and the same with my staff member who joined my team. Let us not normalize this. Yes, we need to take COVID-19 very seriously and be patient to tide over the pandemic. There will be a lot proposed in the name of efficiency in the post-COVID-19 world. We should evaluate at those efficiencies by also asking how does this affect the value of human connections and connectedness.
I for one have been the beneficiary of grabbing my Subway or JJ sandwich after the committee meetings, pulling my chair and putting it aside my staff member, faculty colleague or my boss and not just brainstorming solutions to our needs, but also learning about them as a person, their families and loved ones, their personal challenges and accomplishments outside of work etc... These in turn gave me a sense of connectedness to the organization and seeing it as a community rather than just a work place.
As far as conferences, I must admit that the value of these major events for me was in networking and the deliberations that I had outside of the formal sessions more than attending sessions (sorry for saying this :)). These have led to many collaborative projects and friendships that I continue to cherish.
Professional growth, joy at work and success is in building relationships and we can't build strong relationships if we are boxed up in these virtual meetings.
Best of luck and stay safe!!



------------------------------
Senthil Kumar Rajasekaran
Senior Associate Dean for UME and Curricular Affairs
Wayne State University SOM
Detroit, MI
------------------------------

@Alison Whelan I remember you mentioned during our virtual Med Ed's Cluster retreat about how much you missed the side conversations at conferences and the joy of running into other colleagues in the hallway. I am sure you can relate so much with what Senthil is sharing!

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Linh Le
Program Specialist, Curricular Resources
Community Manager, Curriculum Community
Association of American Medical Colleges
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-26-2020 08:16
From: Senthil Kumar Rajasekaran
Subject: Let us not get too comfortable with Zoom and MS Teams - This is not about being touchy feely

Yes, it has been very easy to organize virtual meetings and it does have many advantages including convenience and great potential for a greener planet (less driving to meetings etc.). Yes, we should advocate for continued virtual meetings if it alone can foster better attendance rates among clinical faculty, busy researchers and administrators. However, let us remember about the downsides of these virtual meetings and not forget about the value of human to human connections.
We have a new Dean and after he joined our medical school, I am yet to see him how he looks below his neck and chest and the same with my staff member who joined my team. Let us not normalize this. Yes, we need to take COVID-19 very seriously and be patient to tide over the pandemic. There will be a lot proposed in the name of efficiency in the post-COVID-19 world. We should evaluate at those efficiencies by also asking how does this affect the value of human connections and connectedness.
I for one have been the beneficiary of grabbing my Subway or JJ sandwich after the committee meetings, pulling my chair and putting it aside my staff member, faculty colleague or my boss and not just brainstorming solutions to our needs, but also learning about them as a person, their families and loved ones, their personal challenges and accomplishments outside of work etc... These in turn gave me a sense of connectedness to the organization and seeing it as a community rather than just a work place.
As far as conferences, I must admit that the value of these major events for me was in networking and the deliberations that I had outside of the formal sessions more than attending sessions (sorry for saying this :)). These have led to many collaborative projects and friendships that I continue to cherish.
Professional growth, joy at work and success is in building relationships and we can't build strong relationships if we are boxed up in these virtual meetings.
Best of luck and stay safe!!



------------------------------
Senthil Kumar Rajasekaran
Senior Associate Dean for UME and Curricular Affairs
Wayne State University SOM
Detroit, MI
------------------------------