President’s Message
Katie Davenport-Kabonic, DO, FAAP, FACOFP
In medical education, the month of May 
can be an emotional, energetic blur. The abundance of energy from medical students and resident physicians parallels that of the season of growth across our diverse Missouri terrains. Medical students and resident physicians are emerging from the drenching that is medical training, savoring the light at the end of their respective medical journeys through the mire, and preparing for the next season of rapid professional growth and refinement under the scorching sun of July. It will be here before we know it!
It is my sincerest hope for all within this current blur that each of you make time to celebrate what you, your supporting family, friends, academic and clinical educators (including patients!) have accomplished together. These accomplishments do not happen alone. For those that this blur is a near or distant memory to you, I hope you also take the intentional moment to remember your medical training and graduation and perhaps celebrate it again. Why not? Recall the joyful moments of your own journey in medicine, the colleagues and partners you journeyed with, and the person you were during the various seasons of that long, winding journey. Recall the moments that weren’t as joyful, because those too are part of your story of endurance and resilience through the medical journey.
Regardless of the stage of training, school of training, specialty of practice, or years in practice, we physicians have a shared beginning. We can relate to one another through this shared experience; this process of growth and refinement; this ceaseless and adaptive journey of practicing medicine as the terrain changes within each passing season and within each of us. May your May be filled with at least a few moments to celebrate, reflect on, and find gratitude for this season.