Acknowledgments
This is the end of my fourth year with The Rheumatologist, and I have finally reached the point at which I no longer think of myself as the new physician editor. The constant state of panic I used to experience over this job has fallen away. Now, my modus operandi is more akin to treading water: As long as I keep moving, I can keep my head above water.
Instead of a life jacket, I have depended on the consummate professionals who surround me to keep me afloat. Heading that list is Keri Losavio, the editor, who, through emergencies and tragedy, has ensured that deadlines are met and The Rheumatologist is published on time and on schedule. I would also like to thank my associate editors, Vicky Ruffing, RN,BC-Rheumatology, and Ethan Craig, MD, MHS, who have had an ever-increasing footprint on this publication, much to your benefit.
You may have noticed that this past year, we have increased our coverage of topics relating to pediatric rheumatology, rheumatology professionals and rheumatology educators. I had hoped to promise that next year, we would be spending substantially less time talking about COVID-19. I’m not quite ready to say that, even though I anticipate the absolute number of patients we will see with COVID-19 will drop next year. At this point, all I can promise is that we will continue to stretch the boundaries of The Rheumatologist to ensure that it continues to speak for, and to, all of you.
Finally, in these waning days of 2021, I wanted to share with you a message from Kenneth Krell, MD, an intensivist from Idaho. Dr. Krell was asked to come to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center on his day off to help relieve his colleagues who were overwhelmed by patients, critically ill from COVID-19. When he arrived, he went to the staff whiteboard and wrote the following:
In the end what sustains us, and what we will remember about having survived this madness, are the remarkable people who endured this with us, the best of humanity—all of us—who demonstrated the best of our calling. We endured this together and supported each other. We saved lives and lost lives, and we did both with compassion and competence.
Never forget how remarkable you truly are.
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