- With Mayo Clinic oncologist
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
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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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May 13, 2010
Hit the wall? Try refocusing on your goal
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Some of our most important lessons are learned over cups of coffee at the kitchen table rather than in boardrooms or even classrooms.
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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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Let me explain. One of my colleagues stopped by several nights ago to tell us about running his first marathon. He'd trained diligently and felt psychologically and physically ready to run 26.2 miles. At the halfway mark, he said he felt strong. But he was exhausted as he approached mile 25, at which point he was passed by a 75-year-old gentleman. My colleague's spirit was broken. He walked the last mile and it took him 15 minutes to cover the distance.
So what's the lesson for us? We can't let setbacks jeopardize our focus — because when we're distracted we lose the energy to achieve our goals.
Of course, this applies to running but also to the marathon called life. Are there other lessons that we can learn from my colleague's experience?
9 comments posted
June 9, 2010 11:14 a.m.
Sometimes looking right/left helps you figure your progress and get tips about being successful. But the pace is your own and it is neither right or wrong. I am a bit unclear on the "set a goal" thing. I don't think daily life necessarily has a goal. Do you just pick something out randomly from things you want to do?
- Susan
May 28, 2010 11:55 p.m.
Please consider using slightly bolder and darker types for your newsletters newsletters.
- Fakhruddin
May 18, 2010 10:28 p.m.
Focus and confidents...2 great ingredients to an accomplished life.
- Geld Bernug
May 17, 2010 7:23 p.m.
Whoops I meant stressmanagement
- Scott
May 17, 2010 7:22 p.m.
Stress is sometimes hard to deal with. I also found this site helpful: http://helpguide.org/mental/stress_management
_relief_coping.htm - Scott
May 17, 2010 7:04 a.m.
Some lessons from this story: keep your eyes on the goal not looking left or right; don't compare yourself to others (some are faster, some are slower); the race isn't over until you are; if you want wise advice--talk to the 75 year old who crossed the line before you; use that advice in your next race.
- slogger (slow jogger)
May 16, 2010 11:31 a.m.
This lession on the marathon called life reminded me of my mother's plight. I recall her saying later, after being diagnosed with a cancer on a part of her body she hadn't even heard of (Ampulla of Vater)--that her life of "clean living" i.e. no drinking, smoking, or other vices--all that prep hadn't helped in the long run. She spent her remaining time focusing elsewhere, on the sport of Nascar! Perhaps in hindsight she wished she had lived in the fast lane. This adaptability helped her with this unexpected, unfair terminal setback in her life. Unfortunately her hero literally hit the wall, but she adapted again by following tennis afterword.
- Carol
May 13, 2010 12:04 p.m.
Sometimes we lose focus of our progress because we compare outselves (or pace) to others. I am one who writes down my goals, everyday I glance at my index card and it keeps me motivated toward my task.
- Marie
May 12, 2010 10:58 p.m.
Life isn't fair!
- Carol
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9 comments posted