As I write this commentary, we are ending the first month of 2007 and so far so good at the Edney home. I have enjoyed wishing my patients a happy New Year and happy to declare that we indeed have made another year by the grace of God. As I reflect on the many life and health issues in my life and that of my many patients, I truly understand how it is only by the grace of God that any of us were able to survive another year in this fallen world. When I review the various diseases and conditions, which affect my patients, it also becomes evident how little most of us do to try and be alive for another year. (more…)

Many of you know that part of my calling as a physician is participating in medical disaster response. I was first convicted about this issue in response to the 9/11 attacks. That fateful day was a wake-up call for physicians as well as the general population. I knew at that time that physicians, nurses, paramedics, and virtually all types of health care workers would be on the very front line of any mass casualty event. At that time, our greatest concern was either bio-terrorism or nuclear/radiologic terrorism. So that America’s health care system would be better prepared the AMA and CDC jointly developed specialized training for working mass casualty events based on the model of basic and advanced life support. Unfortunately, medical school and residency programs were and are unable to dedicate the time it takes for training young doctors how to respond to such attacks. (more…)