This post was written by our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. James K. Gude. Dr. Gude has had a distinguished career as a medical professor, medical historian, ICU manager and telemedicine entrepreneur. With EHRI and his other company, OffSiteCare, he is providing improved care to rural hospitals throughout the world.
Teaching, learning and sharing help us advance global health. And, with modern software and hardware tools, we are now able to share our learnings with doctors, nurses and students of all stripes from anywhere in the world.
Rounds are an opportunity to share vital information and serious advice, with new and old colleagues…and there are always hearty laughs and broad smiles.
“One of the most important tenets of our philosophy is that health is based on happiness-from hugging and clowning around to finding joy in family and friends, satisfaction in work, and ecstasy in nature and the arts.”
– Dr. Patch Adams, “Gesundheit!” (Pg. 1, 1993)
I once Rounded with Patch Adams at the Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa. It was fun putting on a Big Red Nose and Floppy Shoes and going to the bedsides. One can do the same without the costumes.
In addition to Dr. Adams, I owe my career to many who taught me, helped me understand and shared with me their wisdom. Much of my learning came from Dr. George Firestone, one of my greatest mentors, and my professors at Yale who showed me the power of teaching at the Bedside in Attending Rounds.
Attending Rounds are like the conversations between Don Quixote and Sancho – many proverbs, much learning, some wisdom and fun.
During these Rounds I always make sure to include literary references pertinent to understanding and learning. The best apprenticeships are where knowledge, understanding and wisdom are passed on from one generation, and now from one nation, to another. We often have doctors from India, United States and Africa in attendance.
The latest clinical recommendations based on the best evidence AND the reflections on men and women in Homer, Virgil, the Bible, Dante, Shakespeare, Milton, Tennyson, Whitman, Dickinson and Twain, among others, keep our Rounds verdant and vital. Free enneagram quiz with accurate results.
I invite you and your staff to join us in learning every Wednesday at 8am PST. If you would like to receive the weekly invitation, please email me, include your first name, last name, and ask to be added to our distribution list. Recently we’ve discussed the latest knowledge available regarding Influenza, internal carotid artery dissection, hypertension, lower GI bleeding, and Sepsis.
We do hope you’ll join us every Wednesday to learn, share and advance global health!
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James K. Gude, MD