October 2024 – Dr. Plastic Picker
 

Month: October 2024

Abstract submitted by our amazing first author.

October 26, 2024

by Dr. Plastic Picker

It happened. It really happened. Our advocacy team submitted the abstract to the Pediatric Academy Societies National Meeting. It’s one of two abstracts we submitted, and we are grateful to have been at the right place at the right time to help address leaded aviation fuel hazards first in San Diego and then in our state. This has been a long term project that has touched so many people. So just really grateful today, and we have plans to show our workflow with Oregon, Utah, Nevada, and New York friends. We realize that there are other groups like us across the nation, and it’s best to share and collaborate.

I won’t share the abstract text right now, since I’m not the first author. But all the names on this abstract are those that I deeply care for and they deeply care for the community. That a small group of committed and concerned citizens can make a difference, cannot be repeated enough.

Our other team led by Dr. Melissa Campbell submitted the extreme heat and youth sports abstract as well, and we will have two abstracts at the conference. I was going to try to get in the Public Health Advisory Council, Climate Actions Campaign Abstract – but I think submitting it to a more local conference is better so that the students can actually attend. That also gives me two more weeks to write it up.

Otherwise I’m a pretty happy person now for someone who got a root canal yesterday! My dentist was really young and I asked him “How OLD are you??!!” He was 31 but very gentle and did a great job! I am so grateful to that dentist. I had to work the late shift yesterday and I have to drive ALL THE WAY TO FRICKIN’ SAN MARCOS TOMORROW to work for some reason – I have no idea. No one from the north quadrant ever comes down south to work. But two of us have to go up there. The inequities in our department used to bother me so much, but now I know they reflect the general inequities in the world. So rather than trying to implode my department, I just am happy being part of a motley group of fractious pediatricians at times and work with everyone and just do my job. My dad reminded me in the midst of when I was burning out, that it was okay to just show up to work. And now I just show up, and it’s actually joyful. I do what I’m supposed to do, and recognize all those extras are gifts I give to my community and my patients. I don’t feel I am obligated to do those extras, so there are times I say no. I said no yesterday to an add-on and that is okay.

And this Saturday, it’s my DAY OFF. And I’m going to say YES to hanging out with our teen. I’m going to try to call our son who is a sophomore in college as well. I really miss him. More than I probably realize. Sometimes I don’t let myself love him as much as I want to, because I had to share him so much when he was a baby. The pain of doctoring and mothering is very really. It makes climate work actually pale in comparison.

Sending everyone green hugs!

Sixteen year old still being 16.

October 23, 2024

by Dr. Plastic Picker

Life is really great right now! I’m sorry I’ve been absent from the blog but I float between blogging, Instagram and Facebook. I also found some really good new Netflix /kdrama shows! I have to wait for the next episodes so in between I’m doing climate work. We also had homecoming for my daughter recently and that was an entire adventure in itself. Isn’t she adorable? If you know we in real life, I shared some of the innocent 16 year old drama. Her dress was gorgeous and she pulled off the red matte lipstick. Next up! White Go-Go boots! That she is so adorable and has such a high GPA is really unusual. High GPA I’m used to, but the cuteness overload is what keeps me going! In the end, she loves me more than any boy that has liked her – and that I really have to thank the climate work. When you are happy, life goes well and your teenagers don’t go seeking affirmation from boys that are not ready to do anything other than attend to their own academic needs. It’s junior year and our daughter is definitely locked in with her academics, test preparations, and activities. And I’m locked into climate work.

Oh, I finished my taxes! I was really worried about not finishing our taxes but I finished them and predicted pretty well what was going to happen. We did not owe really anything, and are now paid up in full to the federal and state government. I hope our government uses that tax money wisely, and to combat climate catastrophe.

What else? Oh yeah! The Oregon CPR (Cows Creek Professional Retreats) is coming along nicely! Our good family friends are up on the almost 200 acreage and getting settled. The buildings are being or planned to be repaired. We should be running some professional retreats about mid April (right around tax day!) to about August. I can’t believe it’s really happening but it’s happening!

And the most unexpected thing happened! I’m going to become a voluntary UC San Diego undergraduate instructor of some sort! I’m already a VONS (not the grocery store) but UCSD School of Medicine Voluntary Non Salaried clinical instructor since I teach residents. But now I will be able to mentor students in hopefully two courses. Definitely “Heat and Human Health” but I’m also hoping “Tijuana Sewage Crisis and Pediatric Health.” I wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do. But it’s the right thing to do and I’m actually really excited.

I’m already going to designate some students as my teaching fellows and assistants. If I get that national award I’ve been nominated before, I wonder if I can use some of it to give my students a small stipend?

That’s it! That’s life! Life is really great! Mostly because my daughter is cute.

art gallery opening for the Youth-Art Climate Exhibition

October 12, 2024

by Dr. Plastic Picker

I’m back at my trashart and it feels right. I have some ideas inspired by someone I admire. I think the exhibition will be called “trash cyborgs.” I’m making my trash cyborg people now. I’ll invite him to the exhibition but I don’t think he’ll come.

But the big thing that happened this last few weeks, is the third edition of the Youth-Art Climate Exhibition happened at LOS/NR fine art gallery. It’s been this amazing collaboration and synapse-making journey with Dr. Andrei and myself and many others. When we dream together, create together and think together – this is where the answers are.

But rather than veering into the philosophical, the actual day and coming together of the big event was beautiful. The opening day which was actually a Sunday was filled with students and their families. The happiness and joy, and community was palpable. The art work was beautiful and meaningful, and the community that gathered for this event created out of love left feeling more connected. Then we had the reception on Thursday evening, and it was a smaller gathering but the conversations we had that evening were meaningful and ultimately inspiring.

I’m so proud to be a part of this. We had this simple idea five years ago, and it grew and merged with other ideas into this event. The first year it was covered by KPBS. This year it was really experienced by us in this beautiful space.

But I really do have to do my taxes because I still live in this world and not a trash cyborg yet.