In what other field can one so perfectly combine a love of science with an immediate ability to ease suffering? To all the BAFERDs out there, I admire your brilliance and compassion and unceasing devotion to a career where someone’s always trying to die on your watch. It takes a toll, working a job where skill is paramount, sleep is scarce, circumstances are unpredictable, and any moment can be life-altering—or life-ending—for everyone involved. But you carry on, usually without thanks. We all owe you.

All hail the infectious disease doctors, immunologists, biologists, and EIS-trained docs:

If the world didn’t properly appreciate you before, we do now. Thank you for turning your formidable intelligence and ineffable spirit toward conquering our microscopic foes.

Gretchen Arnoczy, M.D.; Marylou Cullinan, M.D.; Catherine J. F. Derber, M.D.; Jennifer Espiritu, MD.; Jessie Glasser, M.D.; Freshta Jaghori, M.D.; Sheena Kandiah, M.D., M.P.H.; Sara Oliver, M.D., M.S.P.H.; Catherine Passaretti, M.D.; Kimberly Pringle, M.D.; Elizabeth P. Schlaudecker, M.D., M.P.H.; Rebekah Sensenig, D.O.; Kara M. Jacobs Slifka, M.D., M.P.H.; Julia Sung, M.D.; Cynthia Turcotte, Ph.D.; Philip Vernon, Ph.D.; and everyone else in the fields of virology, infectious disease, and epidemiology who was kind enough to help me.

The neurologists:

Sandra A. Block, M.D.; Mausumi Lidogoster, M.D.; Sheela S. Myers, M.D., M.S.; and Waimei Tai, M.D. Literal brainiacs! You guys impress me to no end.

The obstetrician-gynecologists:

Hina Cheema, M.D.; Natalie Crawford, M.D.; Jennie Hauschka, M.D.; Kelli Miller, M.D.; Danae Netteburg, M.D.; and Lora Shahine, M.D. You are lovely. Thank you for answering my questions and/or your support of my new career.

The radiologists:

Heather Frimmer, M.D., and Karen Rampton, M.D. So grateful for your sharp eyes.

And the pediatrician: Kristen Borchetta, D.O. Thank you!

To my groups:

I’m so grateful for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, the Charlotte Writers Club, the Charlotte Readers Podcast, Authors 18, and the WFWA. Special shout-out to the admins and members of the Physician Mom Book Club, especially Nicole Brammer Hubbard, for her support (and all the intriguing pathology posts), and to the admins and members of the most excellent Women Physician Writers group. Huge, heartfelt thank-you to the amazing sisterhood of the Charlotte Area PMG & Female Physicians. Also, to all the other PMG subgroups I’m in: y’all are so much fun and so informative and just so cool.