HappyThanksgiving1

In this season of Thanksgiving, the Barlow/McCarthy team has taken some time to put together their messages of thanks. Those messages are below…

From all of us on the team, we are thankful for the clients we serve and the people we have met. Happy Thanksgiving!

Allison McCarthy, Principal

I am extremely grateful this year for the health care system we enjoy and those that specifically took care of my husband and father this year.  While we sometimes angst over the dysfunctions of the US health care system, we just have to look in other countries (i.e. those in Africa) to see what benefits we enjoy.  Then when those closest to me needed the specialized skills and expertise of our system, I further appreciate all that we have and rely upon.   Thanks to all those that make the US health care system the world’s best!

Kriss Barlow, Principal

I wonder if our forefathers knew how much the generations would grow to treasure the day that they set aside to give thanks.  I appreciate that freedom. My husband, boys and their families rank at the top of my Thanksgiving list. Family is what grounds me and lets me take risk and do meaningful work. Healthcare even away from the patient experience is meaningful; a great profession.  I am fortunate to have the best job in the land and I give thanks for the clients who trust me with their growth, their people and their vision. The other element that makes my job the greatest is the remarkable people that are part of Barlow/McCarthy. With my whole heart I am thankful that I get to work with a smart, fun and client-focused team- they get it! Happy Thanksgiving to All.

Susan Boydell, Partner

I am so grateful for the wonderful people in my life.  First for the incredible team I work with. They have all taught me so much and I love the fact that we work hard but always find time to laugh and enjoy the moment.  Second, for the amazing clients I have had the chance to get to know and work so closely with.  There are such great people in physician relations across our nation.  And last but not least, for my family and husband who have been so supportive and encouraging through a year of change.  What more could anyone ask for- well maybe that there are no delayed flights in 2015!

Ruth Padilla, Affiliated Consultant

I make a conscious effort to be grateful for something every day.  It keeps me focused on the stuff that’s important.  On my travels around the country, I think I am most grateful (or thankful) for the healthcare professionals that I meet along the way. Whether clinical teams, CEOs, heads of departments or frontline employees, these individuals continuously inspire me with their talent, resilience to change and compassion for others.  Truly so many of us are in this world of healthcare to do right by patients and make their experiences better when they need us.  It isn’t always easy.  My most gratifying work is hearing the issues or opportunities and working alongside a team to meet those challenges or possibilities head on.  I started in healthcare in my early teens and never left. And although it has changed dramatically in the last 25+ years, the people delivering the care will always be my top motivation.   Happy Thanksgiving!

Jeff Cowart, Senior Consultant

This time of year moving towards a new year always seems to be a time of great reflection for the human soul. We just seem drawn to reconsider things, to focus on promise, to compartmentalize our failures and try to let them go.

Recently I came across some fine wisdom from author Melody Beattie that seems most appropriate for this time of Thanksgiving:

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.”

Couple this with an idea from a good friend of mine who preaches for a living: “Maybe the difference between a great life and an ordinary life is thanksgiving.”

As we all are drawn toward this season of reflection, without judgment of what is not, we might simply focus on what is. That uplifting moment of creative satisfaction in what seems like an otherwise dull job. The smile of someone who genuinely appreciates our kind word of encouragement. The satisfaction of knowing that what we do in healthcare is meaningful and important to those we serve, even though sometimes the bureaucracy may make it seem otherwise.

Human beings are called to serve and positively connect with others. Maybe we begin this season by saying “thank you” for the opportunity to be of value to someone else. That simple expression of gratitude may turn what we have into enough, and more.

Betsy Finkelmeier, Senior Consultant

As we prepare for the bounty of great food and the gathering of loved ones later this week, I’m grateful that we have this day of Thanksgiving, when we can turn our attention from deadlines and deliverables and instead pause to remember our many blessings.  I am most thankful for wonderful family and friends, who are always there to sustain me through the mysteries and challenges of life.  I am also grateful for having had so many professional opportunities throughout my career to strive to advance patient care.  As a consultant working in a variety of health care settings, I encounter individuals every day who dedicate themselves to making a difference in healthcare.  I am amazed and grateful for the deep commitment to helping others that I witness in hospitals, large and small, throughout this country.    Thank you.

Dave Zirkle, Senior Consultant

I’m thankful for my family and all the joy they bring to my life.  This includes those family members who are no longer with us but continue to shape our lives in a positive manner.  This chain of life continues as we pass down their memory and life from one generation to another.  In this way, they bring joy and thanks to an ever larger family which adds to the chain of life.

Tony Barlow, Managing Consultant

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for opportunities to work with a team so dedicated to its clients. Seeing the everyday focus on client satisfaction is uplifting and encouraging. I am also thankful for family, health and well-being and my Faith which sustains me. Happy Thanksgiving!

Debra Pickup, Senior Consultant

I feel fortunate and am thankful for the many blessings in my life.  There are many to list however my top five blessings are definitely my family, friends, health, life itself and of course great food!   I came across the poem on thankfulness that I’d like to share.  It’s often easier to be thankful for our blessings and forget that our challenges are often new blessings yet to be discovered.    Happy Thanksgiving!

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

-Author Unknown

“Learn to appreciate what you have before time makes you appreciate what you had.”