"This blog was developed to provide medical updates that are important and have my perspective as additional insight."
Yes…..I thought I might brag a little…about how amazing the Class of ’87 was at Hopkins, as the first classmate of mine from Hopkins to become a Dean of Medical School just was announced. Dr. James Hildreth, an MD-PhD from my Hopkins class is now taking up the Medical School Deanship of Meharry Medical College, …
KISS is a famous acronym that I love: Keep It Simple Stupid That, along with “Brevity is the soul of wit.” are two of my favorites. Here is a nice article with simple recommendations for how to eat in a healthy manner. It does not take an entire book to tell you the rules, …
It came as a shock to me today that my old professor, Dr. Levi Watkins, had suddenly died at the age of 70 from a heart attack and stroke. A tall, lanky cardiac surgeon, renowned at Hopkins for his skill and temperament, he was recognized throughout the institution as a ‘great man’ for his pioneering …
As you know, I’m a big fan of TED TALKS. It’s a great website for expanding our vision of the world and gaining new insights. A patient recently sent me this video that I’d not seen. Louie Schwartzberg is an amazing producer of films about the hidden world all around us. Take a look and …
Oliver Sacks is a practicing neurologist and a wonderful writer, who has become a best-selling author with such books as The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, and the movie Awakenings among others. Recently, he found out that he has a fatal illness, and in his essay below, he provides a succinct and moving …
When the flu season is high and viruses are all around us, it’s time to be careful of fomites. Fomites are objects that have germs on them and that allow the germs to transfer from one person to another; So…..a doorknob is a fomite; A shopping-cart handle is a fomite. The handles on your favorite …
Read More “DID YOU TOUCH THAT FOMITE???? WONDER WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT….READ ON”
Here is a wonderful poem…..recently sent to me by a patient. I really captures a truth we all recognize…and that is what makes poetry special. Read >>>>>HERE<<<<< If you have trouble opening the poem…please enjoy this little video that we’ve posted before…..called OLDER THAN CHEERIOS.
Bowel movements are a personal experience, no doubt. We all have our own personal observations, and mothers observe their own movements and those of their children as they are growing, but as we mature, we tend to keep such topics to ourselves with a rare chance to discuss them outside the realm of humor or …
Patients love to joke that doctor’s ‘practice’ medicine….which suggests that they are still in the process of learning, and in so doing, making mistakes while they perfect their craft. There is some truth to this, although I think this is more about confusing the multiple meanings of the word ‘practice’. Still, it is true that …
I wanted to share this article that was sent to me by my brother Martin. It’s from the Atlantic Monthly and focuses on how doctor’s dress and what it tells patients about their approach to healing. Although we are casual in our office, I’ve found that my white coat goes a long way toward providing …
Many see genetics as the future of medicine, and at the most recent meeting in San Diego, held at UC San Diego, attendees at the FOGM meeting heard from the thought leaders in this area. We are fortunate enough to have a reporter directly ‘on the scene’ to share his thoughts and observations. None other …
Read More “A REPORT ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE THROUGH GENETICS”
Theranos labs is test marketing it’s fingerstick lab testing program here in Phoenix, and we have been given a front-row seat to the latest in practical medical technology. Although imperfect in a variety of ways, the fingerstick method for lab testing has an appeal to patients who either cannot easily get a routine blood draw …
In medicine, being a VIP can mean you get too much medical care and too much attention. So indicates an article in the WSJ this week discussing the idea of the VIP Syndrome. This describes the special care afforded the ‘Important’ patient, which results in large deviations from normal patterns of care and thus and …
In this age of ‘big data’ and sharing of information on Facebook and through other computerized means, the significance of personal privacy is being challenged. Privacy is an important part of our mental health. It provides a basis for our individuality, our sense of self and self-worth, and is an important basis for a normal …
Steve Jacobs is one of our ‘famous’ volunteers and an all around great guy. Steve enjoys trivia, fun facts, and just gaining knowledge, so each month he shares with us his INSIGHTS. For a real challenge….try his brain teaser! We all enjoy his efforts and we have a link to his monthly self-published information on …