Dear Colleagues,
Many things have happened since my last newsletter. This has been an extraordinary year of achievements for our section's members. Clinically, we are on pace for a record year, with over 22,000 patients seen in our outpatient clinics, plans underway to expand our MICU to 80 beds, and the milestone of 3,000 robotic bronchoscopies reached within two years. Add to this many other accolades, achievements, and continued patient appreciation.
On the research front, this is the 6th consecutive year that our faculty have published over 170 papers, including publications in Nature Medicine, Nature Genetics, Nature Biomedical Engineering, NEJM, Aging Cell, Nature Communications, as well as AJRCCM and ERJ. We are also beginning to see recovery in grant funding, with fellows and faculty receiving outstanding scores on their K and R submissions. Our T32 program remains strong, and our fellowships continue to thrive.
On a more somber note, violent conflicts continue in many parts of the world and affect the families and friends of many of us. At times, the news can feel overwhelming. One small consolation for me is recognizing holidays, traditions, and rituals. More often than not, despite their differences, these traditions reflect the same human impulse: the search for meaning, solace, warmth, and reassurance that things can get better.
Earlier this year, in February, we enjoyed a remarkable convergence: the beginning of Ramadan, the Chinese New Year, and Mardi Gras all fell on February 17—all so different, yet somehow wonderfully aligned. In the coming weeks, we will see another sequence of meaningful holidays: Saint Patrick's Day is on March 17, Ramadan will conclude with Eid al-Fitr around March 19, Nowruz, the Persian New Year, falls on March 20, and Passover (beginning April 1) and Easter (April 5) follow shortly thereafter in early April.
To all who will be observing these holidays, I wish you and your families peace and holiday blessings. Happy Saint Patrick's Day, Eid Mubarak, Happy Nowruz, Chag Pesach Sameach, and Happy Easter. May the arrival of spring bring renewal, hope, and brighter days for our communities and for the world.
On a personal note, this is usually the time of year when I begin preparing for ATS. However, I will not be attending this year again, as my youngest daughter is graduating from college during the conference. I will miss seeing many of you there and hope to connect at another opportunity soon.
I would also like to remind you to vote for Yale New Haven Hospital in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals survey on Doximity. Our teams are among the best in the nation, and they deserve that recognition.
As always, please feel free to contact me to share your news—perhaps to be featured in our next newsletter. I hope you enjoy reading the articles below.
Naftali
P.S. The words on the bulletin board image are actual quotes from real patient notes and letters sent to our physicians, you can read them all at the bottom of the email.