There and Back Again…Again: A Health for America Fellow-tale

Once upon a time  there were four fellows, each with their own unique set of skills and interests. Assembled by fate (and the MedStar Institute for Innovation leadership team), they set off on a quest to help all those affected by a horrendous beast, known as stroke. The beginning of their quest was marked with uncertainty; the four fellows had very little knowledge of the beast they were trying to slay. Over time, healthcare mages from across the land guided the fellows in discovering where the beast might reside and how it came to be.

The fellows learned of the many complexities of the beast, and the countless attempts to slay it or remedy the problems it causes. Two such problems caught the fellows’ eyes as being particularly unpleasant, yet perhaps addressable. For one, the beast often attacks its victims in their sleep, leaving them unable to call for timely help. Additionally, the aftermath of such attacks often leaves survivors and families of survivors feeling lost and confused.  

Reflecting on what they had learned, the fellows developed two different plans of attack. As they sprinted along the path toward their identified problems, they came to a fork in the trail and realized they’d have to split in order to solve both. Knowing they had to act, the fellows summoned the key mages and discussed their dilemma. The mages agreed: splitting might give the fellows the best chance to help the beast’s victims. Before splitting, however, two of the fellows crafted protective helmets they deemed a KnightCap; the other two fellows proclaimed their mission to Galvanize many more in the village to fight the beast. Now equipped to launch their unique journeys, the two groups of fellows set down their respective paths to finish their quests.

To their surprise, the two paths were separated only by a small distance of thick brush. The groups were easily able to hear each other’s cheers, messages of progress, and the occasional ‘OUCH.’ But as each group journeyed further down their respective trails in search of magical chests that might help them better fight the beasts, it wasn’t immediately clear where they’d find them. Determined not to quit, the fellows kept going and assembled their own arsenals. One contained an alarm system that could detect the entrance of the beast into the home of a sleeping individual. The other contained a toolbox packed with critical information and recovery tools. Knowing these to be the solutions to the problems they had set out to solve, the fellows once again summoned mages from across the land. Together, they devised a plan to continue fighting the beast with these solutions and their supporters, and committed to using the new powers they gained along the way to tackle other problems. And with that, the fellows headed to the spot where they first met for a final celebration, before going their separate ways to take on new adventures--unfazed by any uncertainties, and armed with more supporters than ever.

The End

A personal thank you shout out to my fellow fellows and everyone who helped to make this fellowship program such a fun and educational experience. I am hopeful that our paths will cross in the future.

-Michael Mezher

This blog is part of a series by our recently graduated 2016-17 fellows. You can the rest of the blogs in the series here. Stay tuned for blogs from the final two fellows then join us when we welcome our 2017-18 fellows in early September.