A gentle reminder to avoid snap judgments
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/snap-judgments/MY01229
- 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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March 5, 2010
A gentle reminder to avoid snap judgments
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
A few days ago, I was finishing an early morning run in the cold predawn of a Minnesota February. As I was cooling down by walking a bit, I was startled by a 100-pound furry creature with piercing blue eyes and a regal presence. It was a Siberian Husky with a snow-white coat and a fancy yellow collar. He was obviously someone's well loved pet. He walked with me for a few minutes.
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I noticed a school bus coming toward us, so I told the dog to stay and held my hands in the palms-up position. The dog looked at me in bewilderment and continued to meander into the street. I quickly jumped in front of him, again held up my hands and said "sit." Again, the dog looked at me blankly and continued on his way. I thought to myself that this puppy must've been an obedience school dropout.
Concerned about the dog's safety, I looked at his tag and saw that he lived just a few blocks from my home. I escorted him back to his owners. When I knocked on the front door, a well dressed gentleman answered and warmly greeted the dog — in Spanish! The dog had probably been trained with Spanish commands, which is why he hadn't understood my English ones.
Thinking back on this episode makes me laugh, but it also reminds me not to make judgments about people — or pets — without having all the information. I'd thought the dog had a low IQ, since he couldn't follow even simple commands. Turns out I was the slow one.
We were all taught as children not to judge a book by its cover. How has that lesson been brought home to you recently?
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