The Pandemic Experience

Almost 2 years ago, we all entered a new reality — Pandemic life. In early March, just like so many others, I closed down my clinic, my teaching practice, and isolated for what I imagined would be 4 to 6 weeks. Enough time for the pandemic to sweep over us, and be done.

The first year my greatest fear was the possibility of my catching and asymptomatically transmitting Covid to another. I isolated, always masked with N95’s on my forays to the outside world, and scrupulously followed public health and common sense guidance to ensure that I was never a vector for transmission of Covid.

Then the vaccines came out. I was one of the early 1A groups to be vaccinated. I clearly remember the feeling we had, that all of us who were getting vaccinated were doing our part to break this pandemic — to make sure that we would never be a vector for transmission to others. There was a feeling of standing together for a common good, a nobility, and it made me proud to be a member of that group.

Then the nonsense started. The abandonment of scientific discourse, the politicization of epidemiology. On all sides, honesty and science disappeared in the face of hyperbole. After my initial shock and disbelief at our nation’s response, I have come to realize that my responsibility in all of this is to hold to the truth as I know it, to follow the science and most of all, to continue to care for my fellow brothers and sisters on this planet.

So now, with no real end in sight to this pandemic, I am moving my practice into the digital world. I’ll continue to do everything I can to never be a vector of transmission for illness, to never do harm. I am opening up my practice through telemedicine, tele-teaching, and a contact free herbal delivery and pick up system. We will get through this, but it will require a different way of thinking and behaving. This is my part.