Retired Physician with 25 years of clinical practice in both Private and Academic Medicine. Graduate of the University of Southern California School of Medicine. Completed Residency program in Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Los Angeles County Women’s Hospital. Achievements while in practice included Board Certification by the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Fellowship in the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Since entering Medical School in 1988 I have seen so many changes in Healthcare. Technology and the EMR have made healthcare more transparent and infinitely more complex. The Internet has allowed Patients to become informed consumers. Insurance companies and the government have become more involved in clinical decision making. The Physician’s role has expanded beyond Medicine into Business, Politics, Finance, Human Resource and Management.
G. Cooke, MD
Given this expanded role that we are now asked to practice I would like to share some thoughts with fellow Physicians about how we might best meet our new expectations while avoiding burnout and the other pitfalls that lie in our paths.
As Physicians we must embrace the role of Educators. It is not enough to possess the ability to diagnose and treat. We have a duty to provide our Patients with the tools that they need to take responsibility for their own physical and mental wellbeing. We must elevate our Patients so that they might become our Partners in Wellness.
G. Cooke, MD
During my career as an Ob-Gyn I found that I was good at explaining complex and difficult medical subjects in terms which were easy to understand using language that was comforting rather than confusing. I would like to continue to use those skills to offer education for Healthcare Consumers. Please feel free to contact me with any suggestions for future posts.