This article, like the last, worked to drive home the point that there is more to medicine than memorization, hard facts, reasoning, and "science" - whatever that may be.
At its core, medicine is a human to human interaction, something which we should not lose sight of. I think that this is essential to the work of any primary care physician.
I like hearing from people like Dr. Kirsner who have experienced medicine over a long period of time. He received his M.D. in 1933, I think. Last fall I spent a while talking with the physician who was present at my birth, a man who started practicing in rural western Nebraska around 1960 and who continues to practice today. I think that both Dr. Kirsner and Dr. Ruffing experienced medicine when the doctor's empathy and caring were a more central part of the average patient's experience. I hope to be able to emulate this in my future practice.
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It's great to question everything - so I really like your comment, ""science" - whatever that may be."
When you are a student, a resident, and in practice most of your interactions with patients are one on one experiences. You may or may not be able to affect an entire system - but, you can always provide what you believe is needed for your own patients.
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