On an especially cold winter’s night, people from the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine gathered at a lavender farm in Oxford, IA to celebrate the holidays. Faculty, staff, donors, and residents interested pursuing this specialty were met at the door with wafts of the dried flowers, which covered entire walls of the venue. A jazz duo featuring a keyboard and a saxophone performed throughout the evening, underscoring the air of celebration.

Guests enjoyed an open bar including the farm’s signature lemonade with lavender syrup, and appetizers and main course options from Mirabito’s, a beloved, local Italian restaurant in North Liberty. Generous and meticulously decorated cookies were made available for dessert.

Spirits were high and the vibe low-key, as guests mingled and grazed throughout the night. Division Director David Stoltz, MD, PhD, stood up to thank everyone for coming, highlighting the venue, thanking Samantha Bredlau and Anne Vincent for coordinating the event, and special guests for attending, before inviting continued merriment into the night.