Memorial Day: A Tribute to My Father

Webster Family Grave on Memorial Day

This article, in a slightly edited form, first appeared on Pain News Network on May 30, 2020.   When I was a little boy, we planted roses, geraniums, chrysanthemums, and tulips at the graveside of my grandparents every Memorial Day. In the beginning, we only had my maternal grandfather’s and paternal grandmother’s graves to decorate.…

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Connections

connections

This article, in a slightly edited form, first appeared on Pain News Network on May 23, 2020. On a recent “Hidden Brain” podcast, Shankar Vedantam interviewed former Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy about the need for connection. Dr. Murthy is promoting his book, Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely…

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When Is Healthcare Noble?

when is healthcare noble

What is it about certain medical conditions that results in unprecedented concern, a willingness to muster all resources, and an outpouring of  selflessness from practitioners and the public alike? Why are healthcare professionals willing to risk their lives for coronavirus patients, but not their reputations to treat chronic pain?

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