Misher Visiting Professor Shares Advice for Students, Future Healthcare Workers

Editor's note: This article was written prior to University of the Sciences' merger with and into Saint Joseph's University and does not reflect the current, combined institution. References to programs, offices, colleges, employees, etc., may be historical information.

The annual Misher Festival of Fine Arts and Humanities was held virtually on Thursday, January 21, 2021, and featured an interview between USciences professor of English Christine Flanagan, MFA, and Misher College’s visiting professor Sheri Fink, MD, PhD. Dr. Fink is the award-winning author of Five Days at Memorial, and executive producer of the hit Netflix docuseries Pandemic.

Most recently, Dr. Fink has been writing about the COVID-19 pandemic for the New York Times. Dr. Fink’s articles tackle the tough topics that come to light in unprecedented situations such as seemingly impossible moral dilemmas faced by healthcare workers, and potential discriminations against minority groups when it comes to receiving proper care.

Flanagan and Dr. Fink spoke during the interview about these subjects and more. Dr. Fink shared her advice, and emphasized the importance of fluidity and open-mindedness in the ever-changing world we are living in.

Dr. Fink shared that her love of writing came from watching her father work as a journalist in her childhood, and she carried that throughout her time in medical school before finding a way to merge those passions. Her advice to students was to allow yourself room to creatively pursue multiple interests and find ways to make them work together.

Dr. Fink continued by touching on the long-term impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on the healthcare industry. She stressed the importance of healthcare workers taking time to focus on their own wellbeing, especially in difficult and emergency situations. Notably, she shared that we are all human and that offering one another kindness and compassion is important now more than ever.