It is hard to know how an experience will change you until one day you notice that it already has. Looking back on Orientation, I remember being consistently told that I would come away from this year a different person than when I began. Yet, I confidently thought that those people just did not know me. I already felt fully formed, compassionate, kind, and ready to serve with my whole heart. I underestimated the power of community. Every day at Mercy Medical Center, in the city of Baltimore, and with my community member, Mary, I feel how that community has changed who I am.

At Mercy Medical Center, I have had the privilege of working closely with the Population Health Team. When I first arrived, I expressed an interest in learning more about their work, and I quickly got set up to spend the day with one of the team’s physician assistants. Once I arrived in her office, the PA, Lisa Davis, excitedly told me that I was just the person they needed, since they were starting a Diabetes Self-Management Course. Lisa, Emily, another PA, and I worked for weeks setting up this course for patients with uncontrolled diabetes. The first installment of the course lasted 12 weeks. We had phenomenal results, with almost every patient lowering their A1c, the primary measure used for diabetes, over the course of the program. However, the more surprising and inspiring result was the way the patients built relationships with each other and with me. Patients looked forward to coming each week to spend time with the other participants. They shared tips and successes and encouraged one another to continue pursuing better health. The group formed such a strong bond with one another and with us as facilitators that we decided to create a maintenance group where they could return each month to discuss their health together. This group works to maintain a high standard of health almost entirely through community bonds.

Creating the course was challenging, and there were moments when I felt overwhelmed. Yet, seeing the bonds that were created and how those bonds fostered lasting health changes inspired me to focus more on the people around me. Throughout the course, I found myself opening up and learning from the patients. Many of the participants were over the age of 65 and constantly tried to share pieces of their life stories. Through them, my eyes have been opened to how their experiences shaped their kindness and desire to form community. There are many different ways someone can come to face diabetes and learn to manage the disease, yet regardless of the path they took, they were all brought together by this shared experience. Each week, I strived to make their time in Population Health the best it could be. Their kindness and joy propelled me forward, changing me into someone who seeks to build community, not just enter already existing spaces.

This experience is not unique to the Diabetes Self-Management Course, but rather something embedded in the values of Mercy Medical Center and the city of Baltimore. I spend my days speaking with people both inside and outside of work, always looking for connection. On street corners and in hallways, people stop to say hello and ask how you are doing. My coworkers have become great friends, always willing to go the extra mile to help our patients and me. I can truly say that I am in a special place in every aspect of my life this year. This special place has slowly changed me in countless ways, all stemming from opening my heart to the connections around me.

I am also incredibly lucky to have a community member like Mary, who inspires me to be brave enough to forge these connections. From the first day we walked up our house steps, Mary was smiling, waving, and introducing us to our neighbors and those around us. She can talk to anyone and is willing to set aside a bit of social convention to create meaningful conversation. Through living and thriving in friendship with her, I have allowed myself to embrace this life-giving aspect of community and connection.

There is no doubt in my mind that this year will continue to change me in many ways. I cannot believe I once thought I could not be changed by this year, because no matter how hard you try, the kindness, compassion, and joy of the Mercy experience will impact you forever.

Ellie Costello: Baltimore, Maryland