I'm Still Learning

August 8, 2018

When I was in the 5th grade, I proudly announced to my parents, “I just can’t think of anything that I don’t know.” Bolstered by the knowledge that I had just learned all of the U.S. states and capitals, my grasp of U.S. geography seemed to be all the criteria needed for me to come to the conclusion that I had reached the pinnacle of intelligence. Immediately, I noticed a look pass between my parents. You know the look – in my family, it usually involved a raised eyebrow from my mother and a knowing smirk from my father. And instantly, I knew that I had greatly overestimated my intellect.

My best friend, who now leads leadership development at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, but used to teach at Johns Hopkins University, one of the most prestigious and educationally challenging universities in the country, is fond of saying, “Some people just don’t know what they don’t know.” Unfortunately, my experiences over the past 40 years have convinced me that many people “don’t WANT to know what they don’t know.” I’ve heard Carolyn’s husband, Dave, say “Don’t confuse me with the facts,” when he’s describing someone who has already made up his or her mind about something and is unwilling to listen to new information.

I recently returned from my 12th State Technical Assessment Team (STAT) visit, conducted by the Safe States Alliance. The Safe States Alliance is a professional association of individuals who work in the injury and violence prevention field. The STAT visit is a service offered by Safe States to injury and violence prevention programs within state health departments. I’ve often said that the STAT visit is the most exhausting and exhilarating week of my life. My last visit to Utah was no exception.

My first STAT visit was to North Carolina in 2002. At that time, I was fortunate to be working at the Oklahoma State Department of Health in the Injury Prevention Service under the direction of my visionary friend, Sue Mallonee. Sue was a leader in the injury and violence prevention field, and under her direction, the Injury Prevention Service in Oklahoma was considered one of the top state health department injury prevention programs in the country.

So, when I arrived in Raleigh as a STAT member to assess the North Carolina injury prevention program, I was feeling just a little smug. I was fully prepared to parlay all of my knowledge to the staff in North Carolina (even though the STAT visit is about assessment and NOT technical assistance).

Fortunately, there was a part of me that had enough of an open mind (and a stellar STAT leader) that I began to quickly understand there was a lot that I could learn from my fellow team members, as well as the staff of the North Carolina program.

I’m now 60 years old, 30+ years into my career, and have just completed my 12th STAT visit, and I’m still learning so much.

STAT visits can be tough. The days and evenings are long, with the team working 14+ hours every day. There is typically a mixture of individuals on the team from various generations and various stages of their careers. Seventy-two hours into a STAT visit, the team members can become tired and “punchy.” At this time during the visit, I’m always intrigued and amazed by group dynamics. More often than not when the STAT members are tired, they will coalesce, push on, and complete the task at hand.

Not surprisingly, the Utah STAT visit was another moment of awe. I’m so grateful to have the continued opportunities to be allowed to work with such professionals as Anara Guard, Nidhi Sandecheva, Colleen Kapsimalis, Ina Robinson, Rich Hamburg, Peter Edwards, Anna Fondario, Missy Leak, and the entire team with the Violence and Injury Prevention Program at the Utah Department of Health.

The Utah STAT visit left me feeling tired, but grateful and hopeful.

Thanks Safe States Alliance, my colleagues on the Utah STAT, and the staff of the Utah Violence and Injury Prevention Program for a delightful week in Salt Lake City.The