Closing the Year by Reconnecting to Purpose in Medicine

By Roberto Colón, MD, system chief medical officer, Premier Health

As the year comes to an end, the work of caring for our community continues without pause. Patients still need us, teams still depend on us, and clinical demands remain steady. Even so, this moment offers something important: a chance to pause and reconnect with the purpose that first led us into medicine.

In the pace of daily work, that purpose can fade into the background. We move quickly between patients, meetings, and evolving expectations. Yet our core “why” remains unchanged — our patients. Supporting healing, easing suffering, and improving lives is why we are here. Taking time to remember this isn’t a luxury; it strengthens our resilience.

This year has brought significant challenges for our medical staff and caregivers. You’ve adapted to rapid clinical changes, supported one another through operational demands, and continued to deliver exceptional, compassionate care. Your dedication has not only carried us through—it has helped shape Premier Health’s future. Together, we advanced our flagship hospital’s Academic Medical Center designation, strengthened our physician leadership structure, and positioned our system to achieve its first positive operating margin in a decade.

As we look toward 2026, our focus remains on deepening physician engagement, strengthening well-being, and building structures that support sustainable, meaningful work. These efforts are investments in you — and in the culture we want to continue growing together.

Reconnecting to purpose is also a shared experience. We lean on one another not only for clinical expertise, but for encouragement and perspective. What you do matters — to patients, families, and the health of our region.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment. May this moment of reflection bring clarity, and a renewed sense of shared purpose for the year ahead. 

Back to the December 2025 issue of Premier Pulse

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