The U.S. Navy SEALs; Faith in Humanity Restored
The U.S. Navy SEALs; Faith in Humanity Restored A few years ago, a patient of mine and the father of 2 Navy SEALs, introduced me to the Navy SEAL Foundation. I’ve supported this terrific organization since, and in the process, have visited the SEAL...
The Private Sector Rescues the CDC and the Country
Overview: A lot has happened since I mailed the second COVID-19 newsletter three weeks ago. At that point in time, the worst had not hit New York City. New York survived. However, as of this date, NYC has had over 10,000 deaths. COVID-19 is a...
COVID-19 Newsletter #2
In an effort to keep you informed, I am writing my second newsletter on the COVID-19 pandemic. Below is a list of topics that will help you stay safe, better understand the testing issue and help you plan for what is to come. COVID-19 Testing in Tucson: There...
COVID19
Fighting your Personal Battle Against COVID-19 I’ve taken some ribbing during my career for my interests outside of medicine, once described as “more of a warrior than a doctor.” About 15 years ago, a family member of one of my patient’s put it another way. I...
A feminist – lesbian-canary in the coal mine
A sentinel species is an animal used by human beings to detect early threats in the environment. The classic example is the canary in the coal mine. Well into the 20th century, canaries were carried into the mines to detect the presence of deadly carbon...
Obamacare – a trojan horse of paper mache
Over the past several months, I’ve been silent on the subject of ObamaCare. But as the controversy has grown, I’ve received numerous requests for an update on this law. In this piece I will go beyond outlining the problems and will explain what is at the heart of the...
October 4, 1984 & Libby Zion: the day medicine changed forever
Patients have often commented to me that “younger doctors seem different” than the doctors that they grew up with. Without getting into the details of my patients’ perceptions, the overall sense is that younger doctors see medicine as more of a job than a calling. I...
Does it matter if your Doctors oppose Obamacare? Part 2 – the antidote to malaise
In Part 1 of this newsletter I addressed the demoralization of many physicians in this country. I discussed why doctors are leaving medicine and retiring early. This letter is devoted to a significant portion of my patients who have been experiencing their own kind of...
Does it matter if your Doctors oppose Obamacare?
So that my comments today are not interpreted as sour grapes, understand that ObamaCare has not been bad for my practice. In fact, patient-concern over ObamaCare has caused my practice to grow. Patients are worried about the looming doctor shortage and concierge...
Fish oil stinks!
For those of you who have read my previous blogs, you are familiar with my stance on vitamins, supplements, and “alternative medicine.” Though this topic is an entertaining example of human folly, taking untested supplements carries some real risks. Unlike the act of...
Just what is wrong with you?! – how we diagnose mental illness in America
For those of us who grew up in the Midwest, this was a question that virtually all children heard from their mothers at one time or another. Seemingly rhetorical, the question was meant to convey the message that there must be something seriously wrong with any young...
Can statin drugs impair your fitness?
Cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins – medications such as Zocor, Crestor, Lipitor, and Pravachol – have been getting their share of bad publicity. Recent press reports have shown possible links between the use of statin drugs and the development of dementia and...