“During the worst of times, we get to see the best in people.” This is a phrase I keep repeating to my students, and it cannot be timelier. The way we respond to the multiple crises at hand could prove more important than any other work we do.

With the ongoing financial, social and healthcare crises, we have a great mission – quite literally a matter of life or death – not just for the sake of our patients, but also for the country.

The medical community is doing a heroic job, and as bleak as the situation may be, there has been a good number of success stories. It is these that keep me going.

At the same time, we are faced with a lot of unknowns. Being at a university medical center, and working alongside residents and students, we carry a responsibility and have a strong motivation to dig further into the science of this disease, which is still very much virgin territory.

Along with my team of residents and clinical professors, we put forth a protocol for a new study on the vascular – not just the infectious – aspect of COVID-19. In a few weeks, we hope to start analyzing the data, which might impact the treatment of COVID-19 patients both in Lebanon and globally. Such work, fully supported by the LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital, helps us maintain the stamina we need to power through.

On a more personal level, I feel challenged by such circumstances, pushing myself to perform better, and finding the motivation to lead and bring about change. My philosophy is to find a moment during the day to reflect and organize my thoughts to prevent burnout.

We simply cannot resign from our dual duty to educate and heal.