26.09.2020 Views

PANACEA 2020

panacea /ˌpanəˈsiːə/ noun a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases. The term ‘Panacea’ embodies humanity’s unfaltering idealism, our wishful thinking and our unattainable dreams. It is this idealism which lays the foundation for our ambition and perseverance in the face of unparalleled hardship, and which fuels our resilience after defeat. In a time like the present and indeed throughout history, the concept of a ‘Panacea’ has been a frank deviation from reality – it is nothing more than a fantasy or escape. Nonetheless, for us, ‘Panacea’ is a delight, a source of hope and a symbol of our unending optimism. This year, the theme of AMSA’s student magazine, Panacea, is “When the dust settles: Reflection and renewal in a COVID-19 world.” We asked medical students from across Australia to submit written pieces or artwork relevant to the theme, for publication in a colourful and engaging digital magazine. Please enjoy the compilation of these wonderful works in Panacea 2020.

panacea
/ˌpanəˈsiːə/
noun
a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases.

The term ‘Panacea’ embodies humanity’s unfaltering idealism, our wishful thinking and our unattainable dreams. It is this idealism which lays the foundation for our ambition and perseverance in the face of unparalleled hardship, and which fuels our resilience after defeat. In a time like the present and indeed throughout history, the concept of a ‘Panacea’ has been a frank deviation from reality – it is nothing more than a fantasy or escape. Nonetheless, for us, ‘Panacea’ is a delight, a source of hope and a symbol of our unending optimism.

This year, the theme of AMSA’s student magazine, Panacea, is “When the dust settles: Reflection and renewal in a COVID-19 world.” We asked medical students from across Australia to submit written pieces or artwork relevant to the theme, for publication in a colourful and engaging digital magazine. Please enjoy the compilation of these wonderful works in Panacea 2020.

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What was the point of that tale? I met a random guy, can’t<br />

remember his name, and am not even completely sure his wonderfully<br />

selfless story was entirely true. But that interaction- the<br />

spontaneous moment which brightened up my otherwise dull day, is a<br />

pleasure which I took for granted that is hard to come by<br />

nowadays. A conversation with a stranger now is tinged with the<br />

suspicion and worry that they may be infected, and as we progress<br />

through this, will have to be done through masks- removing the<br />

possibility of the welcoming smile that sets the ball rolling.<br />

I’m not questioning the lockdown measures in any sense at all.<br />

Obviously to curb a global pandemic, we need to limit our<br />

interactions. But it would be remiss of me , I feel, to not<br />

discuss the social impacts of this disease, and that does not<br />

diminish the importance of the health impact- the hundreds of<br />

thousands dead worldwide- in doing so.<br />

My worry is whether the fear of interaction becomes the ‘new<br />

normal’, even when the virus is finally under control. Will a<br />

seven year old who spent their formative years in primary school<br />

watching their parents turn their head away from people on the<br />

street, be in a position to strike up a conversation at a bus stop<br />

in twenty years? Ultimately society will progress as normal. The<br />

next generation will still be productive whatever happens, as many<br />

businesses can be fully contactless both in payment and<br />

interaction if needed. But where is the magic in that?<br />

I have no idea what happened to my Irish friend. Neither do I have<br />

any idea what happened to the troubled man who I struck up a<br />

conversation walking back to Parramatta Station after he had been<br />

kicked out of Centrelink for swearing at the staff. He was<br />

frustrated- he was trying his best with a poorly dealt hand and<br />

unfortunately sometimes the natural response is anger. We chatted<br />

about what’s wrong with society, and like the Irishman, I never<br />

saw him again. Did he end up getting a job? Is he happily settled<br />

and raising a happy family now? Or did the pent up anger lead him<br />

to commit a crime? I will never know, and in that there is the<br />

magic. Not knowing the ending doesn’t diminish a treasured moment.<br />

So for now, my eyes are turned towards the American Pharma giants<br />

like Pfizer, praying that their brazen confidence that a vaccine<br />

will be ready by early 2021 is true. Because for me one of the<br />

core pleasures of humanity is the chance meeting with a stranger<br />

never to be seen again- let that never not be part of a ‘new<br />

normal’.<br />

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