As I write this issue’s letter, we are in the midst of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. As a telecommuting office, we have already been working from home for over a year, but with spouses and children home, things are definitely different. The cloud of uneasiness and anxiety that hangs over everything is palpable.

But as I deal with this new, current, reality, I find myself looking to the incredible inspiration I find in our dedicated physicians and other first-line health care professionals across the state. The commitment to providing the best care under less-than-ideal circumstances has certainly been tested, but your resilience is nothing short of inspiring.

Before the stay-at-home orders, I had the opportunity to visit with a group of students at the Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. One of the best parts of this job is the interaction I’m able to have with students and residents who are pursuing careers as family physicians. As we all age and move into different phases of our professional lives, we undoubtedly look at who will be coming up behind us, and who will the next leaders be. If I had to look no further than our upcoming family docs, I would have more than sufficient reason to be optimistic about our future.

I believe we can come out of this crisis stronger than ever. We’ve shown the state, and the whole world, that our health care professionals are here for us, no matter what, but also that you deserve better. We need to be better prepared. We need the equipment necessary to do the job at hand in as safe a manner as possible. We need support from governments and elected officials to support legislation that helps our practices and alleviates undue administrative burdens. We also need to nurture and aid the next generation of doctors, and we need to honor the profession for the life-saving and life-sustaining work that it truly is.

At UAFP, we want you to know we are committed to fighting for you every step of the way. Through legislative work, both state and federal, through our advocacy for students and residents, and through providing meaningful resources and comradery within the profession — we are here for you.