@Friends!
Can you believe it is June already? 🙄 Yikes. May was a busy month, and despite the sunshine, TVD was reminded that COVID is still out there (luckily, we’re all recovered and feeling well now), so do continue to be that little bit cautious: wash your hands, open windows, big group events are better outside, and stay home if you’re sick. And continue to eat right, exercise, and go to bed early. 😇
I wanted to give a small shout-out to our “social media”. As you know, we work hard on this newsletter and its educational content then makes its way to our website as part of our blog. You may not appreciate that some of it, along with other office updates, gets posted on our social media! When you have a moment, check out our Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn!
#followus!
And speaking of our socials, mark June 11th (2 pm) when I will be going “live” on Instagram along with Dr. Justin Thompson (concierge obstetrics at Dedicated Pregnancy Care) and our very own Dr. Jackie Phillips to discuss just what concierge obstetrics is and how it is such an excellent fit for our concierge pediatric program. Do you know any pregnant (or planning to be pregnant) friends? Let them know.
Socially yours,
Eric Weiss, MD, June 4, 2024
BEACH SAFETY FOR FAMILIES: ENJOYING THE SUMMER SUN, SAND, AND SEA SAFELY
Spending time by the water is a favorite activity for many families when the weather is pleasant. Whether you’re at the ocean, a lake, or a river, it’s essential to ensure that your outing is safe and free from health hazards. Here are some tips to keep in mind for beach safety.
EMBRACING LOSS: REFLECTIONS ON AGING, LOSS, AND LEGACY FROM A DOCTOR DAUGHTER’S PERSPECTIVE
In the tapestry of life, loss and grief are inevitable, yet they serve as a reminder of the profound beauty and fragility of life. Six months have passed since the departure of my beloved mother, As I navigate through the labyrinth of emotions that accompany grief, I find solace in reflecting on the journey that brought us here, and the invaluable insights gained from witnessing the aging process and the inevitability of death.
STANFORD’S “HEALTH MATTERS” CONFERENCE: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC
Stanford hosted a “Health Matters” Conference this year for the general public, and I was curious to pop by and see what insights could be gained. While much of the information and activities were geared towards a lay audience, including for example, fundamental nutrition, healthy cooking and CPR training, I found several pearls and resources worth sharing. You can see the videos of the talks at the link above, and attend the conference next year on May 17, 2025, at Stanford. Here is a short summary of some highlights around research studies with several benefits happening currently, and how to manage bleeding in an emergency.
Did I mention it was June already? Wow. OK, I’m going to bend the rules here, and talk about two things that perhaps I should not, Family, and Politics! But both are important, and especially this year.
Let me start with my mom!
In just a few days, my mom turns NINETY, so I thought she deserved a special shout out. She has been living in the same house on top of the hill in Fairfax since 1962 and her birthday party last weekend was a fest of old friends (several of whom I’ve known since before I could walk) and new (relatively) neighbors. Ingrid is truly the grand dame of the neighborhood. Happy Birthday, mom! 💕
And in keeping with family, another shout out to my sister, Andrea, who is, as we speak, helping run a retreat on the island of Kythira, Greece. Together with her friend Sara, the two of them are leading their first annual Elixir Herbal Retreat. Cool. Interesting. Fun. Proud.
And lastly, but hardly leastly, “politics”. For the first many years I kept The Village Doctor out of political affairs, but over the last handful of years, the stakes seem, to me, to be ever higher. Starting in 2016 we began sponsoring a table at the annual NARAL Pro-Choice America luncheon in Palo Alto, and women’s rights are certainly no less under attack today. As my dear friend Shannon Hunt-Scott reminds me, Democracy is not inevitable, it is earned every day. And so I forward this email from Shannon to all of you:
Just as an incredibly busy May comes to a close, we are embarking on an event-filled June with plenty of Biden/Harris events to go around! I sincerely hope that you can join us for one or more of them 🙂
First off, we are incredibly honored to be hosting the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, at our home in Los Gatos at lunchtime on Friday, June 14th. In addition to providing her invaluable insight into the current campaign, Dr. Biden, will speak about why we have to win this election and do our part to save democracy for our children.
Dr. Biden has been a beacon of hope during her time as First Lady, championing the causes that have defined her public life: supporting military families, advocating for increased educational opportunities, and supporting the teaching profession. A classroom teacher herself for over 30 years, she has championed universal pre-school, teacher recruitment and retention, and free community college. And of course, Dr. Biden is a true partner and the closest advisor to President Biden.
Recognizing Dr. Biden’s long teaching career, we are using this event to lift up the amazing educators in our lives and our community. If you would like to sponsor a teacher or educator, we encourage you to do so! (Learn more about this below.) Tickets for this event start at $1k, photos with the First Lady start at $5k, and an intimate seated lunch with the First Lady is $25k. Click here to RSVP. Please help us show her the Valley’s warmest welcome!
Second, I am thrilled to announce that the Vice President will be back in San Francisco on Wednesday, June 5th. Vice President Harris has been on the road nonstop since we hosted her back in January and will share her unique view into the state of the race, and how we will win in November if we all do our part! Come learn more about her recent reproductive freedom and economic opportunity tour. Tickets for this event begin at $500 and it is a wonderful chance to bring a group of friends or young people to experience the VP live. If you are looking to get fired up as we move into summer, this is your event. Come hang out with me and Ryan! Click here to RSVP.
Lastly, you may have heard that President Biden and President Obama will be hosting an event with George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Jimmy Kimmel at the Peacock Theater in LA on Saturday, June 15th. Our mighty gang will be leaving town right after the First Lady on the 14th to go down to this exciting event in LA on the 15th. This star-studded night will be unlike any other and we would be thrilled to see you there! Tickets to this event start at $250. Click here for tickets.
If you made it this far, you get three gold stars for democracy! If you are inclined to sponsor a teacher or educator for our event with the First Lady, there are two ways to go about it: you can make a donation and then invite a teacher who is near and dear to your heart. Alternatively, if you would prefer that we invite an educator on your behalf, you can make a donation and we will take it from there. As it happens, we know a few amazing educators here in the Valley!
If you want to get involved and have questions, please don’t ever hesitate to reach out. It will take all of us, doing all the things, to win in November. But we can. We can win if we each do our part.
In solidarity, always,
Shannon
Four gold stars for you, Shannon, thank you for all the work you do.
Reminder, our TVD Newsletter is a labor of love. If you enjoy reading this, please share widely! Was this forwarded to you by a friend? Please subscribe here.
*****
Yours, in health and resilience,
Eric and the TVD MD team…
