My liberal arts degree required a biology 101 course. After medical school in Dallas, I headed for an internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. To experience the other end of the spectrum, I spent time in Calcutta, India, working in Mother Teresa's home for the dying and her orphanage. Today I devote time to teaching at Boston Medical Center and New England Medical Center. My day job is at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, where I work with experts around the state to evaluate the latest and greatest medical treatments available.
Modern medicine is awesome.
Modern medicine is at its best during these dramatic moments, when surgery is called for after an accident, and when the latest wonder drugs can cure a serious disease. There are limits, however. Modern medicine sometimes falls short of giving us lasting cures with no side effects. That's how I got interested in Eastern medicine, which includes herbal treatments, as well as nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle therapies that have been around for centuries. These ancient approaches come mostly from China, Japan, and India, and I've found them very effective for some of life's persistent irritations.