b'Wellness Committee Update: "Physician, heal yourself" By Michelle Appel, MDI never expected my father to have aMy father is now doing well back at his stroke at the age of 66, especially whilehome, continuously improving with the playing pickleball. It\'s been a challengehelp of family, friends, home aides, and managing his care as POA, especiallytherapy. Life will not be the same, but in while living four hours away with asome ways, it has actually been better. He full-time job and my young family. Iand I have spent more time together these first made the drive down to Northernpast few weeks than we have in years. We Virginia in mid-April, and was in theare striving to build happy memories as midst of tests, procedures, paperwork,we adjust to his new normal. In the midst and phone calls.It just so happenedof it all, I am continually reassuring myself to coincide with peak bloom for thethat self-care is healthy and important. It cherry blossoms, and, despite growingcan be difficult not to feel guilty or selfish up in the DC area, I had never seenfor taking time to read a book, take a nap, Michelle Appel, MD them. One very early morning, myor go on a run, especially when it seems PACEP Wellness Committee Co-Chair med-school friend and I took the Metrolike life is overwhelming. Luke 4:23 said to the Tidal Basin and watched the"Physician, heal yourself", a reminder sunrise. The cherry blossoms, a symbolthat we must strive to care for ourselves of beauty and life\'s fragility, danced inas much as we tend to our patients and the wind as people took photos andloved ones. On behalf of the PACEP strolled about. It was a peaceful andWellness committee, I encourage you to restorative reprieve from the storm of ado something kind for yourself this week, family crisis.your health matters too. 22 PACEP News | Spring 2025'