Four threads weave a tapestry of hope amid uncertainty: Living with gratitude, listening with wonder, learning with purpose, leading with love

Dear Colleagues,

Transition planning has been on the top of my mind lately with both the leadership changes in Academic Affairs and my retirement planning as I try to weave together threads of thoughts for my next chapter. The glare of a blank page can be blinding, making it hard to envision a clear plot for the future. Thoughts can tangle and start to spin into sleepless nights of uncertainty and anxiety that feel overwhelming. Past chapters help to remind me, however, that the most interesting stories are often full of unexpected twists, turns, and surprises. In fact, some of my most meaningful and rewarding experiences have stemmed from unplanned detours and navigating apparent dead ends.

I can vividly recall the deep sadness I felt weeks before my college graduation when I was denied the opportunity to take what I dreamed would be my first steps to join the Sisters of Charity of Blessed Virgin Mary. Not being able to move forward with my intention left me profoundly disappointed. Years later, I experienced another example of life-changing news when I learned that I would not be able to pursue surgical residency due to a vision test diagnosing lack of depth perception and sufficient visual acuity. Each of these two surprise dead ends left me devastated, confused, and lost on unexpected detours.

Now, reflecting back, those blocked paths led me on other journeys to incredible opportunities that I had not imagined – from building a loving non-traditional family to finding a rewarding career in academic medicine that integrated clinical care, research, teaching, humanities, and administrative leadership in ways I didn’t know were possible. Unique experiences that arose from difficult situations and uncertainty have helped me tug on threads to weave a tapestry of hope for the future. Four threads – threads of gratitude, wonder, purpose, and love – are prominently featured throughout that tapestry. Woven together, these are the threads that have kept me whole, brought me joy, and continue to foster a never-ending sense of excitement for the next chapter.

Living with gratitude. Focusing on gratitude for a few moments each day helps inspire joyful anticipation for the next. The gratitude for people in my life – those who have touched me in positive ways, who have listened with compassion and empathy, who have shared smiles and knowing glances, and who have made me think more deeply – warm my heart and brighten even the most challenging of days. I will always be grateful for the many gifts of others such as the inspiration from talented collaborators; the lessons learned through teaching and mentoring students, ages 9 to 90, in classrooms, clinics, and community settings that have ranged from church basements and bowling alleys in rural America to prestigious research institutes and breathtaking museums around the world; the wisdom gained from developing curricula and delivering innovative courses with engaged educators and learners; the inspirational insights shared by administrative leaders; and, the honor and privilege that stems from caring for patients and families during impactful life events. Important gifts have also come from raising children, playing in wind ensembles and drumming with bands, collaborating on songs, and serving communities. I have grown from the gifts that connections with others bring, often while navigating detours. Every person provides new perspectives and stimulates new ideas. For that, I am grateful. Last Saturday, I was reminded about the importance of gratitude when I heard a heartfelt acapella performance of one of my favorite songs, “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.

Listening with wonder. My best work is often fueled by wonder that sparks curiosity and evokes awe in both the sciences and the arts. Complex biological systems depend on countless biochemical interactions and physiologic processes where incredible outcomes are far greater than the sum of their parts. The outcomes are often beyond what I can fully comprehend, but that I appreciate in ways that evoke endless wonder. The same is true in the arts. In music, no one style or genre resonates with every person, and no musician or instrument leads to a standing ovation performance every time. In a musical ensemble, there are times when one leads a melody, and one supports through providing rhythm, creating harmony, or simply making space for others to be heard. Awe and beauty emerge not from sameness or perfection, but from listening with a sense of wonder to the diversity of ideas we hear. Wonder grows through unique connections and interactions with the world around us. Wonder nurtures and strengthens the whole by keeping us humble, open, and curious. Listening to the song “Rainbow Connection” made famous by Kermit the Frog reminds me how important wonder is in our lives.

Learning with purpose. Our mission in Academic Affairs, “Exceptional Education for Extraordinary Futures” and our school vision “Healthy People. Healthy Communities.” create a shared sense of purpose that guides our work. Every day across Wisconsin, our faculty and staff help prepare lifelong learners to serve patients and populations in meaningful ways. We do this across campuses, clinics, hospitals, health systems, and communities. Though our work occurs in different places and under different circumstances, we remain united by a common belief that education helps shape lives, optimize health outcomes, and reduce health disparities. That belief drives purpose for what we do and inspires our best work. Without purpose, what we do is a job. With purpose, the work we do – even when it is hard – has meaning and value. A sense of purpose is more than an important attribute for work; it is a foundation for serving others through positive relationships within the world around us. Charlie King, an American folk singer-songwriter I first heard perform in college, penned a simple repetitive lyric that has replayed in my head many times over during the past forty-five years to remind me of purpose, “… our life is more than our work, and our work is more than our job.”

Leading with love. Love is sometimes a topic that feels taboo to talk about at work. We might say we love a specific project or love seeing a positive result for something our team worked on. We might even say we love our job. I certainly loved mine. But, leading with love and letting love guide leadership might feel a bit too squishy, touchy-feely, or even inauthentic. I sometimes felt that way. But now, I can’t imagine leading without holding love at the core of what I do. Bringing heartfelt compassion to work and caring about the people I work with and serve feels central to leadership. One of our work colleagues came to campus a few years ago to help mourn the loss and celebrate the life of a community member. Their presence, as we grieved together, meant a lot to me. After giving them a hug and starting to walk away, I turned back in the crowded atrium and said, “I love you.” As I heard those words come out of my mouth, my immediate reaction was: I shouldn’t have said that. I was comforted by hearing them say back, “I love you, too.” I do deeply care for the work that we do and the people I work with. I love those that I work most closely with. When I was in college, the love of our classmates and professors was often palpable. I was reminded that this fall at my 45th college reunion where I felt the love of former professors and fellow students. Love shapes how I lead. I am grateful for my college professors, including Sister Bertha Fox, BVM, (see photo) for helping me learn to lead with love. I credit the folk singer, Melanie DeMore, for giving me the courage to speak those words after being inspired by her song, “Lead with Love.”

As we navigate professional changes together and address changes in our own lives, I believe our greatest strength lies not in having all the answers, but in our willingness to keep learning and growing. Living with gratitude helps keep me grounded and helps me appreciate the good around us. Listening with wonder keeps me humble and open, which sparks innovation. Learning with purpose keeps me moving forward with inspiration. And leading with love helps me build resilience through creating a caring community where anything feels possible. Weaving a tapestry with those threads continues to give me hope and brings me joy as I venture down a new path with my family and career. It also gives me much hope and optimism for the future of Academic Affairs. I hope some of those thoughts also resonate with some of you as well.

With gratitude, wonder, purpose, and much love,

Liz