Country Doc Quote for the Day
Oliver Wendell Holmes on a great U.S. President- “He has a second rate mind but a first rate temperament.”
Somehow as a busy country doc in the middle of a flu epidemic, I take comfort in that. If that man can get us through the Great Depression and a World War, surely I can treat my sick people with compassion today, even if I am tired. (I’m afraid the quote also describes this country doc. I wish I were brilliant but it ain’t true.)
See ya in the morning.
Dr. B
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February 29, 2008 at 8:24 am
It makes me wonder what’s more important – a brilliant mind or a compassionate soul. Me? I’d aim for the compassion every time.
February 29, 2008 at 8:40 am
Rocket science and neurosurgery might be a different matter, but at least for country docs I think you are right mrschili.
Dr. B
February 29, 2008 at 11:38 am
You know what they say, it’s nice to be smart, but it’s smarter to be nice. 🙂
February 29, 2008 at 11:52 am
True Ms. Pande. I’ve always tried to be kind to my patients, and as smart as I can be, given my God given limitations.
I may have told this one before, but I still find it to be true. I was smart (really did make the 94th percentile) but I had a buddy in med school who was brilliant. (He made the 99th without fail) I used to struggle with it and asked God why I couldn’t be as smart as Tom Bailey. (He now does research on ovarian cancer.)
The answer to my my prayer was, “I want you to be smart enough to be able to talk to Tom Bailey, but dumb enough to be a country doctor.” I reckon we all have to be what God put us here for.
Dr. B