Clarity During a Time of Crisis for America

America is being tested. First, a health crisis takes root followed immediately by a dramatic economic freefall. Then the brutal detention May 25 of George Floyd in Minneapolis that led to his death and the protests and rioting that ensued rocks our world. We are struggling to find our way. To find the words. To process what we are seeing, hearing and feeling. That’s understandable. That’s human.

While the pandemic continues to play out, we turn the page on a new chapter in race relations in our country. I’ve read many statements and opinions on what we have seen unfold across our country – from Des Moines, Detroit and Davenport to Los Angeles, New York and Miami and all points in-between. The messages are heartfelt but have left me at times feeling incomplete.

Then there’s Des Moines University (DMU) President and CEO Dr. Angela Walker Franklin. I got to know Dr. Franklin in 2018 when I visited with her for “YOU Are Destined for Greatness.” Published in 2019, the book features the inspiring stories and insights of charismatic leaders. My conversation with Dr. Franklin was a highlight of my publishing journey. It’s truly a privilege to call her a mentor and friend.

Dr. Angela Walker Franklin and Aaron Putze, YOU Are Destined for Greatness book launch (May 15, 2019).

Honestly, I’ve struggled to process the news as it has continued to unfold. I’ve reflected. Sought out conversations with local leaders. Looked into my own heart and how it can be a force for positive change in how I interact with others.

Along the way, I’ve often thought of Dr. Franklin and how the events were affecting her and how she was processing them.

Then, on June 3, she posted the following message on the DMU Facebook page – one she had shared with the campus community calling for strength in compassion and support for each other with mutual appreciation during these extraordinary times. It hit home for me. And I know it will with you, too. — Aaron

A letter from Dr. Angela Walker Franklin, President & CEO, Des Moines University

Dear DMU Community:

Today I write to you to share my pensive mood and to acknowledge the many questions, concerns, fears and anxieties we may all be experiencing.

With the backdrop of a phased plan to restore our campus community, I am reminded of the realities of the challenge that remains before us. Navigating the pandemic and its related cultural, social and economic fallout leaves us all with a profound sense of sadness as we experience even more strife, unrest, and needless injustices. Our physical health as well as our mental health are in serious jeopardy.

My hope for the future comes from a genuine desire to live a life based on respect for all people with empathy, compassion, and kindness. I proudly serve a university that echoes these sentiments in its mission and core values. We, members of the DMU community, are all in this together, and these extraordinary times call for strength in compassion.

Our University mission is carefully crafted with 18 purposeful words to bring this concept into clear focus for us all: “To improve lives in our global community by educating diverse groups of highly competent and compassionate health professionals.” And we stand by our core values, accountability, collaboration, honesty, inclusiveness and wellness as our guiding principles.

We celebrate our humanity, our skills and achievements as well as our challenges, vulnerabilities and our differences. These differences are, in fact, what comprise the wonderful quilted fabric of our communities. And, as a health sciences university we uphold a basic principle of “first do no harm.” While most of us eagerly embrace our various backgrounds and perspectives, and celebrate our uniqueness, there may be others who could benefit from gaining new perspective, if only we all step up in boldly sharing our common values. There should be zero tolerance for violating the basic principles of respect and kindness, but there also should be zero tolerance for sitting on the sidelines and hoping someone else calms the raging storms. As mentioned before, we are all in this together and these extraordinary times call for strength in compassion.

Unfortunately, along with the pandemic, the cultural divide has triggered many negative ripple effects across our urban and rural communities. These effects know no social boundaries, making us all equally at risk. The dramatic effects on public health and all sectors of the economy has laid bare the scary disparities in our society. It has lit new fires of gripping anxieties. It has broken families, businesses and other organizations. It has forced unprecedented change. And yet, if there is a glimmer of hope, it may be in the very opportunity for change. We embrace it at DMU and the potential of its positive effects.

In the last few months, DMU has been demonstrating remarkable strength, creativity and innovation, against all odds. Who would have thought we could have pulled together in a matter of days, a wholly redesigned teaching process to help our students persist in their education and training? And, look at how we now live our personal lives with so many new behaviors, even a new lexicon. “Social distancing,” “face coverings for all,” “contact tracing,” “flattening the curve,” and more. Who could have imagined a virtual Commencement? Virtual meetings? Nonetheless we all have been persevering, learning in the moment and making many difficult decisions with the best information we have at the time. We learned to accept changes in those decisions. We learned new forms of patience. We have learned to work and live differently. Through it all, we have been squarely focused on the continued success and well-being of our students, staff and faculty.

I believe that to endure and emerge stronger from today’s challenges, we should remember and cherish our humanity, and to know and understand that we can live well with our differences. After all, it should not be our political or cultural views that give us the “permission” to act out in hurtful ways; it should be our roles in life to support each other with mutual appreciation.

We all have the right to live safely, without constant vigilance of an unexpected threat. We all have the right to be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of race, ethnic background, orientation or beliefs. We all have the right to be heard and to be treated fairly. I have often said we should apply the principle of the Golden Rule in our dealings with each other in any context: Treating others the way one would want to be treated.

So, we have the perfect storm of a pandemic and one of the most destructive economic crashes in more than a century. People feel threatened, trapped, and in some cases, empowered or entitled to the extent that they act out their biases, and knowingly or not, ruin lives.

Enough is enough!

It is time to step up and lead! It is time to encourage those with a “passion for compassion” to say this is NOT RIGHT, and we all must do something now to fix it.

We all have the potential to effect positive change by invoking the right and responsible behaviors. Standing on the sidelines as inactive observers can no longer be an option. Each of us possesses the strength, responsibility and opportunity to speak up, to do something to alter what might likely be a horrific eventuality. We must shine a bright light on such dark behaviors and attitudes. As the saying goes, “only the light will eradicate the darkness.”

Is this a call to action? Perhaps. More importantly, it is my plea to summon the spirits of unity, collaboration, compassion, and empowerment. It begins with me. It begins with you. It begins with all of us coming together to stand up and represent our collective values of DMU and desire to first do no harm.

We all have earned the right to fair and reasonable consideration and respect. In these extraordinary times, let’s show our strength with unconditional compassion. Let’s support one another, even if we do not always understand. Yet, to gain understanding we must first have empathy, and a sincere desire to learn. We all have value to contribute. Sitting on the sidelines is no longer an option. We are a university steeped in the tradition of providing holistic, compassionate patient care -- the ultimate caring profession.

So now, it’s your turn. What will you do to step up and lead?

I thank you for all that you do to fulfill the mission of this University as you embrace and live our core values day to day.

Sincerely,

Angela L. Walker Franklin, Ph.D., President and CEO, Des Moines University