Rev. Jesse Jackson died on February 17th, 2026. His unforgettable “I Am Somebody” chant on Sesame Street in 1972 has been widely shown since his passing. He invited children to speak words that many adults struggle to believe: “I may be poor, but I am somebody. I may be young, but I am somebody. I may be small, but I am somebody. I may make a mistake, but I am somebody. I must be respected, protected, never rejected. I am God’s child. I am somebody!”

"...wellness is the only thing that stops the snowball effect from becoming an avalanche. I hope to help create a community where every provider, regardless of their career stage, has a place to turn for resources that actually work in the real world. Let’s stop treating well-being like a luxury and start treating it like the lifeline it is. Wellness is not an accessory to our clinical work; is a necessary part of the foundation of it."

Slowing down can be a spiritual act. It requires us to trust that life might get better if we pause long enough to breathe. It invites us to believe that our worth is not measured by our pace. It reminds us that the sacred often reveals itself only when we are still enough to notice and listen. When we slow down, conversations unfold; meals refresh; walks become intentional rather than mechanical. Even problems can become growth opportunities.

"I have become convinced that physician & APP well-being is as complex as the work of quality in healthcare. There are organizational, team, interpersonal and intrapersonal factors that strengthen or detract from the experience of wellbeing or burnout. It truly takes all of us in healthcare working together to educate ourselves, becoming aware of what is necessary to improve conditions, and caring deeply for every member of the care team..."

Epiphany is one of those beautiful words that seems to glow. It carries both a spiritual weight and a deeply human resonance. In the Christian tradition, Epiphany – celebrated on January 6 – marks the revelation of Christ to the gentiles through the visit of the Magi. But beyond the liturgical calendar, epiphany also describes those sudden flashes of understanding that shift our direction, clarify our purpose, or awaken something long dormant within us.

As the holiday season draws near and another year comes to a close, we are filled with immense gratitude for each and every one of you who make up our community. This special time is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and express our heartfelt thanks for your continued support, dedication, and partnership in advancing the well-being of physicians and advanced practice providers everywhere.

Joy is one of the most profound feelings we can experience, soul-satisfying and accessible to everyone. It is not dependent on wealth or status. Instead, joy often arises in the quiet moments of gratitude, in the laughter shared with a friend, or in the recognition of beauty in the ordinary. When we share joy – like kindness - it can multiply and often has a ripple effect with others in our circles of influence.

This year, there were many memorable moments, both funny and profound, but one of Father Saunders’ messages became an ‘aha moment’ for me: “If we are not truly free, we cannot truly love”. That message took me on a daydreaming adventure. It reframed how I understand both freedom and love in the context of the spiritual growth journey that brought me to the retreat in the first place.

Join the Coalition this week in recognizing all of our incredible PAs for National PA Week! The PA profession produced its first class of graduates in 1967 and was seen as a creative and necessary solution to addressing physician shortages across the country.

Friends told me that the television series Ted Lasso was well-worth the time spent watching. So, last month, my wife and I binge watched all three seasons. Other than too many ‘f-bombs’, the show was funny, poignant, and even inspiring; we looked forward to each new episode. The scene where our hero, Ted Lasso, tells his antagonist to “Be curious, not judgmental” was one of the highlights.