Is there empathy in public health

One of the hardest things to do as a health professional is to find empathy when working with the masses. We simply cannot deal with all the pain that is out there, and so we insulate ourselves from the pain to deal with problems rather than with people. We deal with numbers and not individuals because just one individual story is much more powerful than any number thrown at our face.

So where exactly is the balance between being a human and being a professional? How do we live with ourselves when after learning about everything that is wrong with the world, we go back to our private lives as though nothing happened. But then how do we live if we bring everything we learn that is wrong with the world back into our own private lives? How much pain and suffering can we bring back home each day without it affecting our lives?

Anyone can be an average health professional and simply deal with numbers, but it takes courage and strength to go out each day to deal with people. Ask yourself then if all you want to be is an average health professional... or if you're ready to deal with people.

A Quote

The intelligent come up with brilliant ideas understood only amongst themselves. The wise bring those ideas to the masses.