One, two… three. Have you ever noticed the curiosity of three? From concepts to differentials, when it hits three, the mind receives. Hit four or more and many, like us, just tend to forget. The phenomenon of three permeates our everyday life. From branches of government to marketing slogans (“Just do it!” and “I’m lovin […]
Hypocrisy: An Impetus for Change?
The etymology of “hypocrisy” comes from the Greek term “hypokrisis,” which means “play-acting,” and described public performances. A hypocrite, or “hypokrites,” described a stage actor. The original connotation was therefore neutral. Over time the term(s) became negatively associated with distrust and impersonations. The Oxford Dictionary now defines hypocrisy as “the practice of claiming to have […]
Core Memories In Surgery
My four-year old rarely give me any good advice, but I was quite impressed by the Academy Award-winning Pixar film “Inside Out.” The story is based on the concept of “core memories” and how memories shape personalities, emotions and behaviors. Portrayed as glowing blue orbs, these core memories thoroughly affect a young girl’s move to […]
Emotional Intelligence in the Surgical Workplace
Why do certain medical students, residents and attendings outperform their peers? What competencies can surgeons develop besides technical ones? Emotional intelligence (EI or EQ) describes the ability to perceive, understand and manage one’s own and another person’s emotions [1]. The business world has long recognized EI as being meaningful and equally, if not more, important […]
The Sinistral Surgeon
sinistral adjective | si?nis?tral | ’si-n?s-tr?l, s?-?nis- | of, relating to, or inclined to the left: as a: left-handed Before the musings about left-handed surgeons begins, I have a significant disclosure to make: I am left-handed. This was just confirmed by the 1971 Edinburgh Handedness Inventory [1] which puts me in the worst-possible 10th decile […]