In 2023, I moved home to help care for my mom, and I was lucky enough to find a place at St. Peter’s, practicing rheumatology under the mentorship of Dr. Blakely.
What I could not have known then is how much these years would come to mean to me.
To each of you: it has been a privilege to know you and to provide your rheumatology care. You trusted me with your stories, your symptoms, your fears, and your victories, and you taught me more than any textbook ever could. As you know better than anyone, these years held many changes, struggles, and ups and downs – and through all of it, you showed me grace, support, and love. I felt it holding me especially over these last ninety days, and I will never forget that.
As many of you also know, I have my own journey with lupus and Sjogren’s – and more recently, autoimmune alopecia. This season of my employment has come to a close, and while I am deeply sad to see it end, I am also hopeful. For the first time in a long while, I have the opportunity to truly tend to my own health, and to rebuild in a way that will let me serve others sustainably and whole-heartedly again.
I am not going anywhere. I intend to remain in this community, with a goal of returning to clinical and advocacy work as soon as I find my footing and am able. Until then, please take wonderful care of yourselves and stay engaged with your care – your health is worth advocating for, always. Information about your medical records and ongoing care will be available through the SPHMG Rheumatology practice.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for letting me be part of your lives. It has been one of the great honors of mine.
With warmth and gratitude,
