I asked my age-matched colleague the other day, “Do you think we will know when it happens to us?” He responded, “I know…I worry about that too.. a lot. I’m getting out before it happens to me.” We were talking about our fears of being labeled as an “old” doctor. Not just old in years, […]
Category: Reflection
Every morning I rest my coat on a chair in a shared office that has this picture on the wall. My son and I were glued to the TV that day. We cheered loudly and hugged each other after Lance rose up from the pavement and stomped away from his rivals. (Rivals that have subsequently […]
As posted yesterday by my colleague, Dr Wes, the folks at the incredibly useful site, Medgadget are hosting the best of 2010 medical blogs. As in bike racing, there are many categories in which to nominate a blog: Best Medical Weblog Best New Medical Weblog (established in 2010) Best Literary Medical Weblog Best Clinical Sciences […]
I am in Boston for the annual Boston AF symposium. It’s a serious meeting– on the other side of the spectrum from old-school boondoggles like Echo-Hawaii or Nuclear-Vail. The sessions start at 7 and go into the night. I am sneaking a few observations in during a coffee break. For starters, if snow removal is […]
I was up, the paperwork done, and my hand on the door. “Doc, I have just one more question.” Uh-oh. “My grandson is in medical school, and he wanted me to ask which field of medicine he should go into.” Before I could answer the patient added this zinger: “He wants a field that has […]
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Welcome to the new Dr John M
Hi all. Welcome to my new Word Press platform. It’s a a work in progress. I have already learned a lot, but have a long way to go. There are a number of new features: A brighter, whiter platform. A much smaller number of categories (see the drop down bar in the right sidebar.) Hopefully […]
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Merry Christmas
“Shh,” I think to myself, walk softly as not to disturb that beautiful pre-dawn quiet. I sit nestled on the couch with only the hum of the heater coming through the heat ducts, The heavy blanket and wool socks keep me warm as I jettison the haze from a long night’s sleep. There are flashing […]
The human heart resides in a lightless 98.6-degree chest cavity. Its contracting muscles are further cushioned by the well-lubricated glistening smooth pericardial sac. One wouldn’t think that the heart could sense the time of year. The heart’s rhythm should remain independent of the holiday season. But then there is December in the EP lab. They are […]
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Happy Thanksgiving
A mom who took care of us kids far better than she did herself, always. A Dad whose advice grew better with years, although it was good then. Two brothers and a sister to share a driveway basketball court with, rain or shine. The infinite love of grandparents, who lived within hollaring distance over an […]
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Saturday Morning Coffee
Enjoy this with your morning coffee. For the record, this is not how ‘masters’ bike racers roll. JMM
We were told ties were mandatory. And no facial hair. There were 5 technicians, cameras, lights and meters. In such formal dress, normally confident cardiologists looked unsure. My Cardiology group’s photo-shoot was a formal show. Scarily formal, like The Firm would have had. Why so formal? Because it happened. We could not hold out […]