Howard Ross, MD
4/15/2020
Dear Fellow Rowers,
I am a surgeon, the surgical residency program director at Temple University Hospital, and proud Head of the Schuylkill Regatta medical liaison. I write to share some realities of my experience in medicine during the pandemic.
Temple, like all Philadelphia hospitals, is braced for battle. The nurses and staff are truly inspirational. They function non-stop to not only provide medical care, but also provide emotional support to counter the isolation patients can feel. Visitors are not permitted in the hospital. The team at Temple is huge and includes transport, housekeeping, nutrition services as well as all the other docs. Everyone is jumping in to help where they can. I have both operated upon patients with Covid-19 and also transitioned to the medical, non-surgical care of those infected. Surgeons in all specialties have done the same. I feel safe.
Overwhelmingly, patients become well.
The pulmonologists at Temple review with multidisciplinary care teams the progress of every patient twice a day. There is a massive amount of research into treatment going on in the hospital and generous worldwide collaboration. There will be effective treatment and a vaccine.
The physical plant at Temple Hospital has been transformed and treatment areas have been created from spaces that were previously lobbies or outpatient examination rooms. It is amazing what was created and how much work from so many was required. I have never been prouder to be at Temple.
In surgical education, we have combined service coverage to minimize viral exposure, so half of the surgical residents are home at any one time. The hospital physically is quite desolate except in the COVID areas. There are no students. We cancelled elective operations and office hours are largely performed virtually.
I think of rowing daily and look forward to returning to a time when a big worry is how is the wind and whether it will rain. I miss the rhythm of a day that involved pushing off in the dark in my single. I miss watching the sun climb over the city, the turtles, the disturbing wake of the launches and the banter in the boathouse.
I know this will end and am hopeful. We won’t always wear masks. Enjoy your families, stay safe, and be well.
Howard Ross