#Doctorsday: Celebrating our Medical Professionals!

Not all heroes wear capes! In this global fight against a deadly pandemic, doctors, nurses and healthcare workers are on the front lines risking their lives every single day to save the lives of others. On the heels of Doctor’s Day, it’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate the incredible contributions of our medical professionals.

I am surrounded by these role models in my family. After more than 40 years of service, my father-in-law recently retired as the emergency room doctor at the VA in St Louis. My closest cousin is a leading specialist in cancer treatment in Arizona. However, it is my sister-in-law, a rheumatologist in the Chicago suburbs, that wanted me to share this message broadly:

“We all need to do our best to help flatten the curve. As a physician who primarily works in the outpatient setting in Chicago, we are doing our part by converting primary consultations to telemedicine and only attending to urgent visits in the office to help keep the ERs reserved for life threatening conditions associated with COVID-19 patients. Unfortunately, we have seen a steady influx of these patients. I request that everyone do their part by staying committed to social distancing, washing hands frequently, and avoiding all non-essential activity. I have countless colleagues in the frontlines working around the clock with dwindling and insufficient PPE working hard to save lives. COVID-19 is NOT an illness that only effects elderly and immunocompromised; we are seeing young and healthy patients in our ICU. We stay at work for you, please stay home for us. Thanks for doing your part.” Hina Haque, M.D.

Doctors like Hina are showing us how to lead both from the head and the heart. They are working tirelessly and around the clock to keep their patients and communities healthy. We are grateful for each and every one of them!

Our AT&T teams in healthcare and FirstNet could not have a clearer sense of mission at this time: to be there for these heroes delivering lifesaving services that enable them to do their jobs in this crucial time.

Amidst all the chaos, seeing pictures from some of our folks in NYC (all in our thoughts and prayers) of the USNS Comfort sailing into the Hudson River today certainly tugged at my heart strings. The last time this hospital ship was dispatched to New York City was in the wake of 9/11.  

Please stay safe!