By Ruth Akers, RN, BSN, MS, FAACVPR
If you look it up in the dictionary, the definition of a tattoo is a “mark, figure, design, or word intentionally fixed or placed on the skin.” Today, tattoos have become commonplace; and it’s not unusual to see
people, including our patients, proudly displaying their “ink.”
Having been raised by very conservative and strict parents who considered tattoos offensive and reprehensible, I never would have dared to ask permission to get one myself. As I became a parent to my own children, now adults, who did decide to get tattoos, it forced me to take a hard look at what all the rage was about.
As each one of them embraced this popular form of body art, I realized that their motivations went far beyond cosmetic; each design holds great personal significance for them. In fact, all of my children have one marking in common — a depiction of the Japanese “Kanji” characters for Strength and Honor — which has organically come to represent a substitute family crest. To them, it represents the qualities of life they have strived to maintain in their personal aspirations: sports, music, friendships, careers, and now parenthood. Owning the strength to get through life’s ups and downs, and doing it with honor, has become their motto. And as the offspring of a Japanese parent, those Kanji characters are also a nod to their maternal heritage.
Why am I telling you, the cardiopulmonary rehab (CR/PR) community, all of this?
It made me appreciate the imprints that we as a profession leave on our patients, our co-workers, and the CR/PR field in general. When I think of my time on AACVPR’s Board of Directors, I recognize the figurative tattoos that many of our fellow members have emblazoned into the history of our chosen work. Standing on the shoulders of some of the greatest giants in this space has left an indelible impression that will last eternally. During the 39th AACVPR Annual Meeting this past September, awards were presented that bore the names of some of those CR/PR legends — a reminder of their contributions to our science and their impact on future decisions and work done within our discipline.
Each year when we come together for the Annual Meeting, the Immediate Past President of AACVPR recites the accomplishments of the association over the past 12 months and the President-Elect discusses plans for the following year. With each cycle, a new tattoo is “inked” and added to the history of our association’s accomplishments.
As a member of AACVPR, you too can stamp your own “tattoo” on patients and this community. There are countless ways to make an impact, too: getting involved with committee work, writing articles, doing research, creating posters, and/or stumping the halls of Capitol Hill to advocate, to name some of the myriad pathways. We’re living in exciting times for our profession, as big changes and advancements hover on the horizon. Don’t you want to be a part of that movement and leave your mark for those following behind you? Your opportunity is waiting, whether you choose to seize it at the practice level, in the local community, or as part of the national AACVPR community. Start small — maybe your first “tattoo” is a tiny one tucked discreetly where it might not draw much attention — and work your way up to bigger undertakings. Or dive in headfirst, with a bold sleeve tat that immediately grabs people’s attention and interest. But I would encourage you, don’t leave your canvas blank! You have something to offer and be remembered for.
As for me … well, don’t be surprised if, at our 40th Annual Meeting, you see me sporting my own Kanji Strength and Honor tattoo.
Ruth Akers has worked in cardiac rehabilitation for 39 years. She currently serves as Director of Cardiovascular Imaging Services and Cardiac Rehab Services at Bryn Mawr Hospital and Main Line Health in Newton Square, Pennsylvania. Akers also is Secretary of the Board for AACVPR and the volunteer editor of News & Views.