COM Outlook Summer/Fall 2020

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY | 41 First-Person Perspectives M om is in lockdown. You can’t come visit her.” Those were the words my brother and sister said to me about our mother, who has spent the past year in an assisted living facility in Canton, Michigan, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, her condition has deteriorated in the past few months. I try to visit her as often as possible, but I had to cancel a planned visit in March, just as the COVID-19 pandemic started. By the first week in April, she was moved to hospice care. Meanwhile, the KPCOM’s Office of Student Affairs was preparing for Match Week. Talk of “teleworking” was in the air, and we were preparing to start working from home. We worked with our technology team to gain online access to our computer files and obtain Zoom training. Office phones were forwarded to cell phones, and we began this new adventure. Some students expressed concern, stress, and uncertainty, while others seemed to be fine. Anxieties about board-exam postponement seemed to be a common topic among our second-year students, as were the realities of Match Day and graduation events transition- ing to virtual ceremonies. Challenges about testing protocols for courses were also mentioned. Some students also had financial challenges, as family members were laid off from jobs. KPCOM career advisers meet every day via Zoom, as does the Office of Student Affairs, to share student concerns and address them. This group of employees, under the leadership of Dr. Delia Celestine, genuinely cares about the best interests of our students, keeping up with our duties, and caring for each other. As for my mother, I speak to her by phone most days, but this is a growing challenge given her condition. The administrator at her facility tells me about the staff members who care for the residents and go home to their families, hoping not to be exposed to COVID-19. We appreciate the selfless work and care they provide my mom and the other residents, which is why I arrange to have little thank-you treats provided to the hardworking staff. KPCOM students have also taken the time to express their appreciation to us on sev- eral occasions. Their kindness was touching, especially, as we witnessed their incredible persistence to muscle through this extraordinary time. Even though a pandemic is a horrible experience, I am sure our students will develop the resilience they will need to be outstanding future physicians. Suzette Siviter is a KPCOM director of career advising. “ BY SUZETTE SIVITER, M.P.A. Considering Everything at Once CAREER ADVISER Suzette Siviter We appreciate the selfless work and care they provide my mom and the other residents, which is why I arrange to have little thank-you treats provided to the hardworking staff.