
- With Mayo Clinic oncologist
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Edward T. 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 Web sites and has edited publications and CD-ROMs and reviewed articles.
"We the team of (the Web site) provide reliable, easy-to-understand health and wellness information so that each of us can have productive, meaningful lives," he says.
Latest entries
- Stress and illness
Nov. 20, 2009
- Reach out
Nov. 7, 2009
- Focus on the finish line
Oct. 30, 2009
- Set limits
Oct. 24, 2009
- Head in the game
Oct. 17, 2009
Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get StartedStress blog
-
Oct. 17, 2009
When the pressure is on, stay focused
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Over the weekend, my wife and I had dinner with a couple with whom we are very close. The woman is a prominent member of the business community who has been invited to participate in a blue ribbon meeting in Italy next week. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and will be a tremendous asset for her business.
| Need more help? |
|
If the stress in your life is more than you can cope with, get help right away.
|
In preparation for her trip, she's deliberately scaled back her business responsibilities and curtailed her evening commitments. She's invested the time in mentally preparing for the trip, as well as taking care of details such as packing, getting a passport and finalizing her itinerary. In other words, she eliminated distractions and focused on maximizing the experience.
Where else do we see this kind of focus? In sports. Baseball players grind through over 160 games during their season, which starts in April. When the playoffs ensue in October, every pitch is crucial. One of the most high-pressure positions is the "closer" — the pitcher who comes in to save the game. The closer has no room for error. He faces only a few batters. Either he saves the game or he blows it. The successful closer — like our friend the businesswoman — has the ability to focus on the task at hand and to eliminate distractions.
For me, the lesson is this: When we have an important commitment or responsibility on our plate, we must eliminate the nuisances that drive us crazy and focus our energies and our passions on getting the job done.
What do others think? Can you provide additional insights and clarity on the issue of focus?
4 comments posted