- 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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Feb. 6, 2013
Does nature or nurture dictate your path in life?
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Why do some individuals from challenging backgrounds rise above the chaos to succeed, while some from privileged and affluent homes spiral down into depression, chemical dependency and other problems? Is it in their genes? Is it because of their environment?
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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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In the book, "Freakonomics," the authors address the role of parenting and suggest that about 50 percent of a person's behavior is determined by genes. The other 50 percent is environment, including your parents, teachers, coaches, members of your faith community and your peers. All of these people influence you and the choices you make. Why not surround yourself with people who will nurture and encourage you?
Your fate isn't a roll of the genetic dice or a spin of the wheel of chance. Admittedly, some of your genetics determine how you behave, but it's not the whole story. You have the final word in how your story turns out.
Follow me on Twitter at @EdwardCreagan. Join the discussion at #Stress.
4 comments posted
March 20, 2013 4:33 p.m.
well im a young south african lady..fortunately grew up with both parents and gave me a good opportunity for the best education in our country..all was well but i never had the love and attention every child needs when growing up..i believe that is the most important key to a healthy living mind/lifestyle
- thobile
February 16, 2013 11:51 a.m.
I am the 3rd child of Italian immigrants-my mother educated and refined;my father the opposite.There were 8 children.the 1st four born during the depression or after WWII. My oldest sister insists we were"poor".I say we did not have: "poverty of spirit.'My mother was our guide as well as a Methodist deaconess.We are always becoming if we so choose .Some never have that sense.
- Anne
February 13, 2013 11:22 a.m.
The question of nature vs nurture is Ok in an affluent country like ours. Even the poor are rich compared to others in the third world countries, who are born into poverty, disease, dying of starvation and unclean living conditions. They are unable to learn or dig themselves out and really don't have the final say on what happens to them. I often wonder at how lucky we are and how unappreciative we are for what we have and others don't.
- carol
February 7, 2013 5:13 p.m.
Like that N & N! Besides I like M & M's. So grateful, we all have our own responsibility to make choices in the USA. Yes, I weighed three and one half pounds, a preemie coming to the world in 1926 in Ohio. Mother died at 27 of cancer, father died of cancer at 66, sister had breast cancer in her early 30''s but lived until 81. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, Gleason 6, in my 70's but it has not done anything to my quality of life. I always felt and said, using the 80%-20% rule, theres's no way I would die of cancer. And, it's been true. DNA-wife heard in D.C. means "Did Not Ask". I'll quote Frank Sinatra in his song, "I did it my way." We as human beings we can either learn from our mistakes, or keep on making the same ones. It's up to you!
- Raymond
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