Cutting through the cliches
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cliches/MY01367
- With Mayo Clinic oncologist
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Edward Creagan, M.D.
"The magic of the electronic village is transforming health information. The mouse and keyboard have extended the stethoscope to the 500 million people now online." — Dr. Edward Creagan
The power of the medium inspires Dr. Edward Creagan as he searches for ways to share Mayo Clinic's vast resources with the general public.
Dr. Creagan, a Newark, N.J., native, is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hospice medicine and palliative care. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1973 and in 1999 was president of the staff of Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Creagan, a professor of medical oncology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, was honored in 1995 with the John and Roma Rouse Professor of Humanism in Medicine Award and in 1992 with the Distinguished Mayo Clinician Award, Mayo's highest recognition. He has been recognized with the American Cancer Society Professorship of Clinical Oncology.
He describes his areas of special interest as "wellness as a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-financial model" and fitness, mind-body connection, aging and burnout.
Dr. Creagan has been an associate medical editor with Mayo Clinic's health information websites and has edited publications and CD-ROMs and reviewed articles.
"We the team of (the website) provide reliable, easy-to-understand health and wellness information so that each of us can have productive, meaningful lives," he says.
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Stress blog
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July 8, 2010
Cutting through the cliches
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
In times of adversity, friends and relatives often offer such time-honored phrases of encouragement as:
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If the stress in your life is more than you can cope with, get help right away.
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- Just do your best.
- Give it 110 percent.
- Face the problem head on and everything will work out.
Unfortunately, these well-meaning suggestions often seem shallow — unless they're spoken by someone who has experienced real adversity.
I recently met a Gulf War veteran in his mid 20s who had lost the use of his right arm in a roadside explosion. After multiple surgeries and reconstructions, he regained some use of his right arm. He shared his experiences at a meeting of orthopedic surgeons and other rehabilitation specialists.
A member of the audience asked about the young man's long-term goals. He replied heroically that he wanted to regain enough function so that he could rejoin his unit in combat. When asked what he'd have to do to achieve his goal, he said with passion and conviction, "I will do whatever it takes."
What an incredibly powerful statement. There was no waffling. There was no hedging. "I will do whatever it takes."
As I face life's challenges — mostly minor inconveniences, let's be honest — I will think about that young man and his determination. Instead of whining and complaining, I will endeavor to follow his example and do whatever it takes.
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