- 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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Nov. 29, 2011
Life lessons from the desert
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Because of a wonderful professional opportunity, my wife and I were able to travel to South Africa and visit a fascinating neighboring country called Namibia. This is a land of incomparable beauty, unbelievable animal and plant diversity, and the home of approximately 3 million very educated, peaceful inhabitants — all in an area about the size of Texas.
We had the chance to spend time at selected watering holes throughout this desert area. As we sat and watched the animals, I was struck by what we can learn from them.
- Conserve energy. The animals, especially the elephants, the zebras and the antelope, budget their energy. Because of the punishing heat, life-sustaining activities such as gathering food are done early in the morning or after sundown when the weather is more hospitable.
- Stick with the pack. In most circumstances, these animals travel in herds. Obviously, there is safety in numbers, and I have some vivid memories of an elephant herd waiting while a reluctant youngster caught up with the rest of the herd. There was one circumstance where a zebra could not keep up with the rest of his pack, and he became a vivid example of the law of survival when he was seized by a lion.
- Watch out for one another. As each of these animals approached the watering hole, there was no mad dash for water. Each took their time. Each was respectful. If danger was sighted, one member at the watering hole signaled to his fellow citizens to flee and find shelter. In other words, the community looked out for itself.
I learned some powerful lessons in sub-Saharan Africa that will stick with me. I hope they are valuable to you too. Be safe and be well.
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