Recognition and Awards

Last night I did something I have never done.  I always, always make sure I am in attendance at the geriatric section membership meeting because I learned years ago that during that meeting is the opportunity to really try to make a difference in the world of older adults.  In my heart, I believe this vast population of older adults is sometimes the group of individuals who have the highest potential of coming up with the short end of the stick.  I believe one way I can be an advocate for them is to make sure I share my thoughts to help maybe lead to change for this population.

Well, I made a very good decision and skipped the geriatric section awards ceremony to catch the very end of the orthopaedic section membership meeting.  I was hoping I wouldn't miss the orthopaedic section awards ceremony.  My heart lies with being an advocate for older adults but the bulk of what I do every day is truly within the world of orthopaedics.  I wanted to be present during the orthopaedic section awards ceremony to be able to not only congratulate but to also be genuinely happy for the recipients of awards.  One speech mentioned the ripple effect that instructors can have on students and it was true. 

No one is an immediate success.  Researchers don't have it easy because I am quite confident that behind every published paper you will find a trail of a few rejections.  For me, it is great to see researchers receive recognition for their work because I know they have a quality I call gumption... they don't stop when faced with rejection.  No one ever expects crash and burn to be a result of hard work.  When researchers reach success and their work is published, they unknowingly touch the lives of not only professionals in our field and our country, but their work can also have the potential to affect other segments of society.  A researcher's work is concrete, lasting and always available in its original form to be called upon in the time of need.  Researchers give a gift to society.

For those who received awards, thank you for touching the lives of others.

~Selena