\u201cI can go on a run, think about things in the day I need to work through. But once I get to a certain distance, running also helps me put those thoughts to the side and just focus on the challenge of the run.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Andrews, a primary care physician at UConn Health, also serves as associate program director of UConn\u2019s internal medicine residency program and in a typical year, celebrates between 30-40 residents completing the program in the spring. This year, she is trying to arrange a drive-in graduation for residents to be recognized by name and hear their faculty cheer them on as they end their special training,<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s such a huge achievement, the residents put off their \u201creal life\u201d for so long to go through this special training preparing them to provide such an important social service to the general population,\u201d Andrews says. \u201cIt\u2019s one of my favorite times of the year \u2013 we know where they\u2019re going to start the next phase of their life and we\u2019re extremely proud.\u201d<\/p>\n
The season is especially bittersweet with COVID-19 impacts for her family as her son celebrates his senior year and graduation from high school.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s surreal to see COVID-19 patients struggle at work, and then come home and feel so distraught about my son not having prom, graduation or any of the iconic senior experiences like senior prank or senior skip day,\u201d she says. \u201cI\u2019ve watched him and his friends wallow; they deserved that time. There have been times in history when kids had to grow a little faster, we know it will be OK in the end, but it\u2019s so hard for them to miss what they earned.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andrews ran track in high school and felt comfortable with short-distance running. She feels long-distance was and still is mentally challenging but comes with a great secondary benefit for stress relief.<\/p>\n \u201cI love my job, but it can be difficult to share bad news with patients,\u201d she says. \u201cI don\u2019t want to take that bad news to the next room and the next patient or take it home to my family. People process that in a lot of different ways. I can go on a run, think about things in the day I need to work through. But once I get to a certain distance, running also helps me put those thoughts to the side and just focus on the challenge of the run.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to teaching as part of the internal medicine residency program and seeing patients in primary care, Andrews also researches chronic pain care. The last couple months have changed her day-to-day work experiences, which she anticipates will have long-term impact.<\/p>\n \u201cOne great thing about UConn Health is that the doctors who see patients have a role in administration and in making decisions,\u201d she says. \u201cIt makes my job special and a little different than in many other places I could work. It means I can affect health care for the betterment of all patients, not just my own.\u201d<\/p>\n The public immediately thinks of medical needs of patients who have COVID-19, but many roles for medical professionals are now behind the scenes. Some of Andrews\u2019 leadership duties were re-assigned and her skills were needed in outpatient care and in primary care to make sure the most vulnerable patients weren\u2019t getting lost in the situation of the pandemic.<\/p>\n Andrews and her running partners at the hospital started training in February for the UConn Health Half Marathon, her first 13.1-mile race. Like many runners taking on distance goals, she adjusted to run in cold and rain when she needed to put in the miles, and she forced herself to make the time in her schedule.<\/p>\n \u201cI do a lot of counseling with patients on what they should be doing in their life,\u201d she says. \u201cI\u2019ve made bets with my patients, like I\u2019ll learn to golf if they quit smoking. But I realized I didn\u2019t have a set exercise plan that was intense enough for true health reasons and for me. I was active, walking the dog or coaching soccer, but running helps me follow my own advice for patients. Being a mom and being busy wasn\u2019t a reason not to take care of myself.\u201d<\/p>\n What used to be 5 miles for de-stress is becoming 15 miles a week; the more stress she feels, the faster she runs. And the competitive nature of running to accomplish personal goals works well for many doctors.<\/p>\n \u201cAs doctors, we learn to be competitive to be the best we can for ourselves,\u201d Andrews says. \u201cIn running, I set goals for myself. It\u2019s about me being better one day to the next.\u201d<\/p>\n More information\/registration for the UConn Health Half Marathon, 10K & 5K virtual events, running through June 7, is available at www.hartfordmarathon.com\/uconn-health-half-marathon-10k-5k-on-iron-horse-virtual\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/andrews1.jpg\")