In his book, The Health Gap, Michael Marmot discusses the effect income inequality has on well-being and longevity. He discusses how the income gap is less in Scandinavia than almost anywhere else and shows how this translates into a narrower health gab between the upper and lower income brackets. Finland is now starting “an experiment in the form of social welfare: universal basic income.” This holds promise to further narrow the health gap. The December 18th NY Times article about this does not mention “the social determinants of health” but some of what the article covers is straight out of Marmot’s book. See: Free Money for the Jobless.
Tossed Photographs
by Marla Lukofsky Today I attended the funeral of my friend and neighbor of 35 years, Ms. Enid. No one knew her exact age except for her best friend Ruby, another neighbor here at The Burnside, our six-storey art deco apartment building that we all lived in. Enid was distinguished and healthy, but dementia grabbed her sensibilities in her last year. Because she was single and had no family, she was sent to a nursing home far away from The Burnside and her friends, a good forty-minutes drive on the highway. Her death has had a huge impact on me. I miss her tremendously, of course, and her passing has … Continue reading
Crazy New Journals
Over a 16 month period from late June 2015 through late October 2016, I received 20 solicitations to submit articles to, or join the editorial board of, the following new journals. I will keep adding to this list. D.J. Elpern Austin Journal of Dermatology Dermatology Research and Practice International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dermatology Journal of Dermatology and Pigmentation Research! International Journal of Women’s Dermatology (IJWD) Jacobs Journal of Experimental Dermatology Journal of Clinical Dermatology & Therapy The Journal of Cosmetic & Laser Therapy Journal of Cosmetology & Trichology Journal of Dermatology and Pigmentation Research Journal of Dermatology Research Journal of Dermatology Research and Therapy Journal of Dermatological Research … Continue reading
2017 Hot Spots in Dermatology
Hot Spots in Dermatology August 18 – 20, 2017 Turtle Bay Resort, Kahuku, Oahu, Hawaii ‘A’ohe pau ka’ike i ka halau ho’okahi One can learn from many sources The Road to Turtle Bay and Hot Spots! HOT SPOTS HAWAII is a unique continuing medical education program that blends clinical and therapeutic updates while allowing time for reflection and introspection. The program will be held at the Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s North Shore. Doug Johnson has negotiated a favorable room rate. Hot Spots is designed to allow attendees to consider aspects of our personal and professional lives not typically included in traditional continuing education. Leave your cell phones, pagers and … Continue reading
Don’t Get Caught Listening to Your Patient!
The pupil and the teacher, one just a little ahead of the other. William Osler Don’t Get Caught Listening to Your Patient! D. Micah Milgraum, MS4, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Abstract: A fourth year medical student blunders while learning not to take everything a patient says at face value. Keywords: pityriasis rosea, medical student, tinea, listening, medical lingo, pimping, embarrassed, ringworm, patient presentation, lesson learned, herpes, dyshidrotic eczema During the fourth day of my first dermatology rotation, I enter one of the clinic’s patient exam rooms to meet a 42 year old man sitting on the examination table holding his palms out towards me. “What brings you into clinic today?” I ask. … Continue reading
The Relativity of Time in Dermatology
By Leonard J. Hoenig, MD Abstract: Rarely, human aging can dramatically speed up or slow down, resulting in devastating clinical consequences for patients. Two case histories are presented to illustrate this “relativity” of the human aging process. One patient suffered from progeria and aged rapidly, dying prematurely at 17 years-old. The second patient suffered from syndrome X and seemed not to age at all, remaining a toddler till her death at age 20. Despite their many handicaps, both patients lived inspiring lives that brought much love to their families and friends. To read a PDF of Len Hoenig’s inspiring article go to THIS LINK and click on Download. Key Words: … Continue reading
Air Care: Thoughts about Health Care from 39,000 Feet
If the rich could hire the poor to die for them, the poor would make a very nice living. Yiddish Proverb Air Care: Thoughts on Health Care from 39,000 Feet. by David J. Elpern I’m sitting in Economy traveling from the City of Angels the Big Apple. Just in front of me is the First Class (FC) section. The cabins are separated by a curtain and I watch a stylish stewardess hovering over a passenger there. The FC passengers get the best attention money can buy. Food, drinks, a table cloth for their meals! Solicitous smiles from the stews. We, in coach, get a small packet of pretzels, soda, juice … Continue reading
Longing to Belong
Nor cast one longing lingering look behind Thomas Gray, Elegy in a Country Churchyard by Richard Ratzan, M.D. Abstract: On the eve of retirement after 45 years as a physician, the author reflects on a lifelong inclusion in medicine, from early childhood days as the son of a medical couple to a career in emergency medicine. He anticipates with dread the day when he will no longer belong in the ranks of those who are unquestionably healers. Keywords: retirement, profession, collegiality, nostalgia, autobiography, clinical medicine, emergency medicine Two years ago I walked out of my emergency department ending 43 years as an employed academic physician. Although I realized at the … Continue reading
My Singing Angel
by Jane E. Babin (This was originally published in Cell 2 Soul in 2006) When I entered Massachusetts General Hospital last April to have a feeding tube placed in my stomach, I was very apprehensive. Don’t get me wrong. I had every confidence in the surgeons and staff at this prominent facility. Also, this procedure is done routinely. My cause for concern was my ALS, aka, Lou Gehrig’s disease. At the time, I had not yet had my tracheotomy. Because ALS is a neuromuscular disease that had begun to affect my diaphragm, I was afraid of any sedation that could compromise my already weakened ability to breathe. Try as they … Continue reading
Health Anxiety: Tables and Appendix
Table 1. Demographic Data Age 0 – 9 5 10 – 14 8 15 — 19 20 20 – 29 41 30 – 39 10 40 – 49 23 50 – 59 28 60 – 69 39 70 – 79 39 80 – 84 12 85 – 89 14 > 90 2 Male = 97 Female = 115 Trans = 1 (87 yo woman with confusion) New Patient 34 Returning Patient 188 Table 2. HA Questions Are you worried a lot about a particular health problem? Y N Do you tend to worry about your health in general? Y N Have you ever … Continue reading
