1/
Email 1
Her: “I hate we had to cancel your visit.”
Me: “Me, too.”
Email 2
Her: “Any chance you’d be open to lecturing virtually?”
Me: “You mean the Grand Rounds lecture? I would.”
Email 3
Her: “What if . . . we made the whole visiting professorship virtual?”
Hmmm.
Email 1
Her: “I hate we had to cancel your visit.”
Me: “Me, too.”
Email 2
Her: “Any chance you’d be open to lecturing virtually?”
Me: “You mean the Grand Rounds lecture? I would.”
Email 3
Her: “What if . . . we made the whole visiting professorship virtual?”
Hmmm.
2/
What if a pandemic stopped you from going to a long anticipated visiting professorship?
What if a determined #chiefresident reimagined a way for you to still have a meaningful visit—on a virtual platform?
And . . what if your prior experiences allowed you a comparison?
What if a pandemic stopped you from going to a long anticipated visiting professorship?
What if a determined #chiefresident reimagined a way for you to still have a meaningful visit—on a virtual platform?
And . . what if your prior experiences allowed you a comparison?
3/
Admittedly, I was curious. Plus, I love an adventure.
Sharing my experience as a (virtual) visiting professor this week.
Yes, yes y’all. This is the REMIX. . .
You ready?
Admittedly, I was curious. Plus, I love an adventure.
Sharing my experience as a (virtual) visiting professor this week.
Yes, yes y’all. This is the REMIX. . .
You ready?
4/
Lots of emails in the days leading up. Itineraries fine-tuned. COI forms sent. Any difference from #IRL visiting professorships?
So far? Nope.
The day before:
No airports. This time (while walking my dog) I had a lovely chat with @gsmoorthy_ instead.
We were ready.
Lots of emails in the days leading up. Itineraries fine-tuned. COI forms sent. Any difference from #IRL visiting professorships?
So far? Nope.
The day before:
No airports. This time (while walking my dog) I had a lovely chat with @gsmoorthy_ instead.
We were ready.
5/
#TheRealVVP Day
6:00 AM: Wake up. Coffee.
6:20 AM: Triple check slides. Find a typo.
6:40 AM: Give my modem a pep talk and tell it no funny biz, no freezing, no “unstable internet connection” messages. Capisce?
7:00 AM: Meeting with dog. Remind him of his no-bark clause.
#TheRealVVP Day
6:00 AM: Wake up. Coffee.
6:20 AM: Triple check slides. Find a typo.
6:40 AM: Give my modem a pep talk and tell it no funny biz, no freezing, no “unstable internet connection” messages. Capisce?
7:00 AM: Meeting with dog. Remind him of his no-bark clause.
6/
7:35 AM: Checked in with @gsmoorthy_ and IT support Sean. Everything is copacetic.
7:45 AM: Sitting down, facing a window for adequate natural light.
7:50 AM: Feeling nervous. Logged on. Waiting.
Observation 1:
Virtual GR draws a lot of folks. Like . . . a LOT.
Whoa.
7:35 AM: Checked in with @gsmoorthy_ and IT support Sean. Everything is copacetic.
7:45 AM: Sitting down, facing a window for adequate natural light.
7:50 AM: Feeling nervous. Logged on. Waiting.
Observation 1:
Virtual GR draws a lot of folks. Like . . . a LOT.
Whoa.
7/
8:00 AM: Imposter Syndrome pulls up a chair. I kick it over. It pulls up another one.
8:01 AM: I tell myself to be a lion. I take a deep breath. And then I start.
Observation 2
I could see myself + host. Realized this was a good thing. Felt less lonely. More connected.
8:00 AM: Imposter Syndrome pulls up a chair. I kick it over. It pulls up another one.
8:01 AM: I tell myself to be a lion. I take a deep breath. And then I start.
Observation 2
I could see myself + host. Realized this was a good thing. Felt less lonely. More connected.
8/
GR went great. Next came a 15 minute break.
Which meant more coffee. Some water. Avocado toast in my kitchen. Yum.
Followed my itinerary which had unique zoom links for each meeting. Logged in to meet resident leaders in #DEI at @Duke_Childrens. I felt connected.
Yay.
GR went great. Next came a 15 minute break.
Which meant more coffee. Some water. Avocado toast in my kitchen. Yum.
Followed my itinerary which had unique zoom links for each meeting. Logged in to meet resident leaders in #DEI at @Duke_Childrens. I felt connected.
Yay.
9/
Observation 3
With videos on and everyone facing me—plus names as a cheat sheet!—it was really easy to engage everyone. Pretty cool.
Next came another 15 - 20 minute break.
I went downstairs to hug my sons. Zack asked how GR went. I said, “You know? I think good, son.”
Observation 3
With videos on and everyone facing me—plus names as a cheat sheet!—it was really easy to engage everyone. Pretty cool.
Next came another 15 - 20 minute break.
I went downstairs to hug my sons. Zack asked how GR went. I said, “You know? I think good, son.”
10/
The cycle continued—next up a group of amazing educators and staff at @Duke_Childrens. We introduced ourselves. Talked about the things we do. Reflected on experiences, too.
And we connected. I felt my village expanding. It worked.
I stretched on the break after.
The cycle continued—next up a group of amazing educators and staff at @Duke_Childrens. We introduced ourselves. Talked about the things we do. Reflected on experiences, too.
And we connected. I felt my village expanding. It worked.
I stretched on the break after.
11/
The next two zoom meetings were one-on-one. Like many, I find myself wondering:
Where has this been all my life?
You know? Something about meeting a colleague in their home is uniquely special—particularly in this context.
I especially loved meeting Dr. Del Wigfall.👍🏽
The next two zoom meetings were one-on-one. Like many, I find myself wondering:
Where has this been all my life?
You know? Something about meeting a colleague in their home is uniquely special—particularly in this context.
I especially loved meeting Dr. Del Wigfall.👍🏽
12/
Midpoint reflections.
So far, so good.
Midpoint reflections.
So far, so good.
13/
Next up—resident conference! So great to log in and watch Drs. Shaunté McKay and Mya Sendak. I learned a ton. I even got to ask a question.
Observation 4
There were 66 people logged in. That’s pretty dang solid turnout for a resident noon conference.
I’m just sayin’.
Next up—resident conference! So great to log in and watch Drs. Shaunté McKay and Mya Sendak. I learned a ton. I even got to ask a question.
Observation 4
There were 66 people logged in. That’s pretty dang solid turnout for a resident noon conference.
I’m just sayin’.
14/
After that came another break. Went downstairs. Finished eating my salad. Stretched. Talked to my kids.
After that, more one-on-one meetings. Loved the thoughtfully curated meetings. This one with Dr. Jennifer Lawson, a fellow #medhum lover, was especially great.
After that came another break. Went downstairs. Finished eating my salad. Stretched. Talked to my kids.
After that, more one-on-one meetings. Loved the thoughtfully curated meetings. This one with Dr. Jennifer Lawson, a fellow #medhum lover, was especially great.
15/
Rounded the meetings up with a fantastic session with these @Duke_Childrens residents. Don’t these faces just make your heart soar?
Observation 5
The connections were real. The energy was special. And doing it online allowed me to not just see them—but babies and puppies.
Rounded the meetings up with a fantastic session with these @Duke_Childrens residents. Don’t these faces just make your heart soar?
Observation 5
The connections were real. The energy was special. And doing it online allowed me to not just see them—but babies and puppies.
16/
And that, friends, was my experience as a “virtual” visiting profesora.
My verdict? It worked.
Does this mean I think they should take the place of in-person visiting professorships? Nah.
But does it mean I think this was a powerful way to increase opportunities? Oh yeah.
And that, friends, was my experience as a “virtual” visiting profesora.
My verdict? It worked.
Does this mean I think they should take the place of in-person visiting professorships? Nah.
But does it mean I think this was a powerful way to increase opportunities? Oh yeah.
17/
One of my favorite quotes says this:
“Becoming is better than being.” - Carol Dweck
The time of COVID has proven to be a real test of our growth mindsets. But now, more than ever, we have to welcome the “becoming” that is happening.
As educators we rally. We show up.
One of my favorite quotes says this:
“Becoming is better than being.” - Carol Dweck
The time of COVID has proven to be a real test of our growth mindsets. But now, more than ever, we have to welcome the “becoming” that is happening.
As educators we rally. We show up.
18/
I shared this because I believe others should consider this. When we think of the point of a visiting professorship, this was powerful.
The influence, the impact, and the connection was not lost.
Nope.
I should also add—Duke valued my time and expertise. Also important.
I shared this because I believe others should consider this. When we think of the point of a visiting professorship, this was powerful.
The influence, the impact, and the connection was not lost.
Nope.
I should also add—Duke valued my time and expertise. Also important.
19/
My final point:
This happened because an innovative, determined, & organized chief resident thought outside the box—and then worked hard to execute an extraordinary experience.
So, yeah. I might’ve been the VVP. But @gsmoorthy_? YOU the REAL MVP.
Lucky Duke.👊🏽
#iseeyou
My final point:
This happened because an innovative, determined, & organized chief resident thought outside the box—and then worked hard to execute an extraordinary experience.
So, yeah. I might’ve been the VVP. But @gsmoorthy_? YOU the REAL MVP.
Lucky Duke.👊🏽
#iseeyou
