Graduation 2015

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow …

Students Provide Resounding Hope and Support

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning." Albert Einstein "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge."  Albert Einstein Teaching Undergraduates: Since 1996, I have had the privilege, honor and pleasure of teaching university undergraduates in a …

A Patient’s Tale

"The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease."  William Osler An Educator: I have had the privilege of being a medical school educator since 1987 (28 years).  The work includes lecturing (to a class of 180 students), small group facilitator (36 students), course management/administration, and curriculum development …

Be happy, be healthy, and be lucky

“You may be the only person left who believes in you, but it's enough. It takes just one star to pierce a universe of darkness. Never give up.” Richelle Goodrich Classic Rock Band: "The Who" are on their 50th anniversary tour.  Unlike some of their peers (Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and the Beatles), …

Prose to Parkinson’s

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”  Viktor E. Frankl The sky is still blue to me. The sun still shines bright for me. The breeze still blows through my hair. Walking …

Meditation, Yoga, and Exercise in Parkinson’s

“There are moments of frustration in life. You must build good relations to support you in these moments. You must also learn to courage yourself and decide to stay determined in life.”  Lailah Gifty Akita Introduction: Parkinson's is a central nervous system disorder that usually presents with neurodegenerative and movement issues.  In managing Parkinson's, we should work …

Imagine Yourself Then, Imagine Yourself Now With Parkinson’s

"Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” Winston S. Churchill Imagine yourself then, imagine yourself now. What are the differences? I …

Parkinson’s: Dazed and Confused

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand."  Randy Pausch The good news is that my diagnosis explains all of the health issues I've had for the past three years. The bad news is that I've been diagnosed with Parkinson's.  If you don't know anything about Parkinson's, go to …

Parkinson’s Puzzle

Parkinson’s is truly a puzzling disorder.If ten of us had the flu, we would all have similar, if not identical, symptoms. Ten of us with Parkinson’s, likely all would have different symptoms expressed. Every person with Parkinson's will experience symptoms differently. Parkinson’s is truly a disabling disorder. Yet, there are many strategies for managing our …