The Power of Connection

This week, I’m gathered with family physicians from across the country. We’re here to talk about the needs of our specialty, to share updates on education and policy, and to learn from one another. These meetings are always packed with sessions, votes, and discussions—but the moments that stay with me the most aren’t always the ones in the lecture halls or breakout rooms.

They’re the conversations in the hallways, the laughter at dinner, the shared sighs of understanding when someone says, “Me too.”

These days together are not just important for the knowledge we gain or the policy we move forward. They are vital for the fellowship and connection that remind us why we chose this path in the first place.

Brightness of coming together

Remembering Why We Started

As I sit among colleagues—old friends, new faces, mentors, and rising leaders—I am reminded of why I love being a family physician.

It’s easy to lose sight of that in the day-to-day grind. Between patient care, paperwork, teaching, and administrative demands, the pace can feel relentless. Even when we’re surrounded by people all day, it can start to feel isolating. We carry stories, worries, and responsibilities that don’t always have a place to go.

But here, surrounded by others who understand both the joys and the challenges of this work, I remember. I see the impact of mentorship and sponsorship. I watch friends grow into new leadership roles. I hear about innovative projects and inspiring advocacy efforts happening across the country. And I feel renewed.

Connection brings perspective. It reminds me that we’re part of something bigger—something resilient and evolving.

Why We Close Off When We Need Connection Most

It’s human nature, especially for those of us in healthcare, to turn inward when things get hard. We try to handle it ourselves. We double down on grit, self-reliance, and determination. After all, that’s how most of us got through training. That’s how we were taught to cope—with strength, endurance, and often, silence.

But that same instinct can become our undoing.

When we isolate ourselves, the world starts to shrink. The challenges feel heavier, the solutions less visible. We stop reaching out because we assume everyone else is managing better than we are. We forget that the person across from us—the one who seems confident and composed—might be struggling too.

Connection doesn’t erase the challenges. But it changes how we hold them. When we connect, we distribute the weight. We share ideas, encouragement, and perspective. We remind each other that we’re not alone—and that in itself can be a turning point.

The Science and Spirit of Connection

There’s plenty of research to back up what we feel intuitively: connection sustains us. Studies show that social support and professional camaraderie reduce burnout and improve job satisfaction among healthcare workers.

But beyond data, connection speaks to something deeply human.

When we feel seen and supported, we can be more fully ourselves. We can process the hard moments with less shame and more compassion. We can find meaning again in our work—not because the system suddenly changes, but because we remember that we’re part of a community trying to make it better.

As family physicians, we know how important connection is for our patients. We see how isolation can affect physical and emotional health. Yet we often forget to apply that same wisdom to ourselves.

Connection is not a luxury—it’s a form of care. It’s preventive medicine for our own well-being.

Building and Rebuilding Connection

If you’re feeling disconnected right now, know that you’re not alone—and that reconnection doesn’t always require a major event or conference. It can start small.

• Reach out to a colleague you haven’t spoken to in a while. Check in without an agenda.

• Find your people—the ones you can be honest with about the good and the hard.

• Join a professional group or mentorship circle. Even one shared goal or project can reignite a sense of purpose.

• Show up—for your peers, your learners, your team. Sometimes being the one who reaches out creates the very connection you’ve been missing.

  
  

Connection takes intention, especially when you’re busy and tired. But it’s one of the few investments that always pays you back in energy, perspective, and hope.

What I’m Taking Home

As I prepare to return home from this week of learning and fellowship, I’m carrying more than new ideas or updated guidelines. I’m carrying stories of resilience and creativity. I’m carrying reminders of the mentors who made space for me and the peers who lift me up. I’m carrying gratitude for this community that continues to grow, adapt, and care deeply—for patients and for each other.

These moments of connection help me sustain. They remind me that we can’t do this work—or this life—alone. And they encourage me to keep building the kind of spaces where others can feel that same sense of belonging and renewal.

So many of us entered medicine because we wanted to make a difference. Over time, the weight of systems, expectations, and constant demands can dim that initial spark. But connection—real, authentic, human connection—has the power to reignite it.

We need each other. Not just to collaborate or solve problems, but to be reminded of who we are and why this work matters.

The power of connection is not just about sustaining our careers. It’s about sustaining ourselves.

How are you going to reestablish your connection?