Spring 2006
ARTICLES The anatomy of Andreas Vesalius Two professors at Northwestern University are currently translating Andreas Vesalius's De Humani Corporis Fabrica Libri Septum, or On the Fabric of the Human Body, for the first time into the English language. The 1543 publication of this great anatomy text revolutionized more than the study of anatomy. Exhorting his readers to "swear by nobody's words," Vesalius contributed to the spirit of objective, observation-based science that led to the development of the scientific method. With its stunning anatomical woodcuts, the Fabrica was a work of art in its own right - anatomy art, reminiscent of Gunther von Hagen's display of plastinated cadavers in his controversial exhibition, Body Worlds. Vesalius's contributions to the worlds of art, science and medicine keep his work relevant centuries after the publication of the Fabrica.
The last mymidon: The life, legacy, and fatal ear disorder of Heinrich Schliemann Heinrich Schliemann is widely credited, perhaps not altogether accurately, with both the discovery of Homer's Troy and the birth of modern archaeology. He died in 1890, at the height of his scientific career, of a protracted and mysterious ear disorder. Who was he? What did he reveal to us about the historical basis of Homer's story? What was the strange illness that abruptly ended the work of one of the most influential and colorful archaeologists of the modern era?
The universal efficacy of the generic glazed donut Several recent studies outline the poor nutritional value of donuts. To the contrary, anecdotal evidence from diverse fields suggests that donuts may have intrinsic and poorly understood properties that elevate them above their current classification as mere foodstuff. Furthermore, identifiable patterns of usage emerge upon meta-analysis of donuts in social and industrial settings. These factors, relative to possible health care applications of donuts, are discussed.
Hearing voices As a hospital attending, a physician encounters a patient with lupus, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, and an altered mental status. In attempting to establish a patient-physician rapport, the doctor confronts his own fears in caring for an individual with unpredictable behavior and the potential for violence.
TO OUR STUDENTS Worthy to serve the suffering The motto of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society is "Worthy to Serve the Suffering." In Greek, the three key words of the motto are: axios, worthy; opheleo, to serve; and algos, the suffering. Hence the name of our organization, Alpha Omega Alpha, or AOA, which stands for "worthy to serve the suffering." We all have some inkling of the meaning of these words, but I want to invite us to think more deeply about each of these ideas, worthiness, service and suffering, and about what they mean when combined together. What does it really meant to be worthy to serve the suffering, and why would anyone aspire to than kind of ideal?
Expectations Although Alpha Omega Alpha celebrates the accomplishments of outstanding medical students, election to AOA should not just be considered an honor, but rather a two-way contract with a set of expectations for the inductee. This list provides a personal perspective for AOA members about those responsibilities: 1) strive to be the best at whatever you do; 2) use your own knowledge, skills, and experience to teach others; 3) become part of the broader community of physicians in your discipline; 4) remember your primary commitment to patients and their interests; 5) recognize that the education of a physician is a lifelong process; 6) be an excellent role model for others - trainees, colleagues, and other members of your community; 7) be willing to take a chance, accept a risk, and make the most of professional opportunities; and 8) don't neglect your personal and family life.
Rosa While doctors care for many patients, there are particular ones that they remember more vividly than others. This story describes one of those patients through the eyes of a medical student. The encounter with "Rosa" demonstrates not only the need remember humanity when caring for patients, but to realize that what students do not have in knowledge they make up for with extra time, and that extra time, like lab tests, can often be very useful in alleviating people's suffering.
POETRY A Lost Child Céleste Albaret burns the Cahiers Noirs Arrhythmia A Summer Morning Waiting The Poets on Parnassus Poetry Competition
Sturge Weber Quadruplets Tinnitus |
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