Happy Birthday Mama. And Welcome, Miss Abigail
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I got a lovely e-mail this morning from a former AHS classmate telling me how much he enjoyed my blog. He spoke of his great respect for my Mother, Irene, who taught his children at Loflin school.I had some happy news for him: If you are a fan of my Mom, you will be happy to know that this morning, sometime after 3 AM, on her birthday no less, Mama became a Grandmother for the first time. The baby came in at somewhere over five pounds (I don't know exactly because I was a bit fuzzy when I got the call in the middle of the night). My brother kept saying, "She's a tiny little thing". And I could tell he's a Daddy now - I cou...
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - May 14, 2008
"None Of The Charms Of A Small Town And All Of Its Disadvantages"
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As noted over the weekend, I chimed in on this thread over at Kevin's and he actually posted the comments (for which I am grateful).It's really taken on a life of its own as more and more doctors (burned generalists and hospitalists - most posting anonymously) chime in about "Malignant Hospitals", particularly rural ones. In terms of advocating fighting back, I'm in the minority - for fairly obvious reasons. It seems to be the consensus that some revolving doors need to revolve until they spin off their hinges. Contrary to the spin offered up by the suits, it's NOT all about physician recruitment. How many of the doctors r...
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - May 13, 2008
Measles Rising - Is the Anti-vaccine Movement to Blame?
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Measles is on the rise. The Centers for Disease Control reports 64 measles cases between January and April 2008, the highest number in recent years. Declining immunization rates and immigration are felt to be responsible and this has created the setting for a major outbreak.
Britain is experiencing its worst outbreak in 20 years. London's Daily Mail blames the Andrew Wakefield and his debunked vaccine claims which resulted in an 80% plummet in MMR vaccinations.
While the autism-vaccine connection has been disproven repeatedly, the prophets of the anti-vaccine movement are too caught up in their own opinions to understa...
Source: Parenting Solved - May 13, 2008 Authors: Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. Tags: Autism Immunizations
The Courier Tribune Now Walking In The Garden Of Faith
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My ex and I were conversing on the phone the other day and he laughingly told me that he could always tell when I had put up a "sizzler" on the blog - as the expensive and/or cutsie Randolph Hospital ads & articles in the Courier always crank up and seem to take over the newspaper like a malignant disease for the new cancer center to eradicate.I'm starting to see a new trend since I posted "Schmidly's List" . . . and have conversed on the despicable way Asheboro's religious community has been suckered and used by city leaders - as well as the leaders-behind-the-scenes who lead them around by the nose (as identified on ...
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - May 12, 2008
Local WIC Program Goes BPA-free
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Maryland’s Howard County Health Department has taken the step of providing only bisphenol A-free products to its WIC (Woman’s, Infants and Children) Program. WIC provides supplies and supplemental foods to low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children under the age of 5. According to Maryland Med, Dr. Peter Beilensen, Howard County’s top health official “hopes to turn BPA into another trans fat: legal but largely shunned by the public.”
As far as I can tell this is one of the first WIC programs in the country to take a firm stand on BPA. But here’s the $64,000 question: Will the Howard County De...
Source: Parenting Solved - May 12, 2008 Authors: Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. Tags: Bisphenol A Infancy Infant Formula Product safety
"I Wish People Would Just Tell The Truth"
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It's been a lazy weekend "on call" . . . spent surfing and watching TV and napping and hiding from atmospheric badness in the bathroom. During the course of the weekend, I've had several phone conversations with friends and family - who are conversing with/getting feedback from other members of the community. A lot of eyes have been opened with regards to my situation.As the annexation wars wage back home . . . and the not-so-smooth moves to bring alcohol to my hometown reveal the real players/"government-within-a-government" behind the scenes . . . and the paper totally panders to & covers the tails of those powers-th...
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - May 11, 2008
Sunday Afternoon Coming Down
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I take after my Father. He loved bad weather. He would stand in the middle of horrible thunderstorms - look up into the sky and defy the lightening to hit. It always scared the crap out of me. Mama and I would be screaming at him to come in.Me, I like a good storm - and have been known to go outside and dance in the rain. I've even ridden out a (minor) hurricane or two. But when it comes to really bad weather (i.e. the kind that spawns tornadoes), I don't so much shake my fist in the face of God as much as I know when badness is coming. I can literally smell it - I sense the barometric change. On occasion, some of my frien...
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - May 11, 2008
Mothers New And Young-At-Heart
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If she stays on schedule, the newest edition to our immediate family is just days away from making her entrance. Mama will finally have her grandchild (the first of several I hope), and I will feel a huge sense of relief in that this branch of the family gene pool (if not a family first name - still hinting) will go on. I wish I could have contributed. Alas, it was not to be.Happy Mothers Day, Erica and Irene.
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - May 11, 2008
"They Will Be Held Accountable"
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The N&R reports that just because the DA will not prosecute police officers accused of sexually assaulting a drunk colleague, "they will be held accountable". Of course, the Greensboro DA actually investigated this case - and seriously considered the pros and cons of prosecution . . . unlike our own Garland Yates (I was serious about a write-in candidate folks) who, for over five years, has sucked-up to the powers-that-be now conveniently identified on Schmidly's list.Wouldn't it be nice if the Randolph Hospital Board of Directors and/or medical staff would exercise some of the power they have via NC General Statute an...
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - May 11, 2008
Free Range Kids and America's Worst Mother
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Here's a new way to look at things. Lenora Skenazy, a columnist from the New York Sun, has initiated a movement against protectionism in parenthood. She calls it the Free Range Kids movement and it’s gathering some real momentum from the looks of thing. The free range philosophy supports the belief that we should spend less time coddling and more time letting go. Labeled “America’s Worst Mom” by some, I think she may be on to something. Check it out on her blog.
My favorite quote: “Children, like chickens, deserve a life outside the cage. The overprotected life is stunting and stifling, not to mention boring for...
Source: Parenting Solved - May 11, 2008 Authors: Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. Tags: Behavior & Discipline
Heavies to the Left of Me, Bean Poles to the Right
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So I’m in the checkout line at the grocery store. In front of me is an overweight mother and child. Their cart is filled with refined carbohydrates, microwave food and snacks. Not a hint of vegetable or fruit. Not a whole grain to be found. Behind me is a mother and daughter with what appear to be balanced weight and height. Their cart is flush with fresh vegetables, meats, fish and the rare-but-appropriate smattering of sinful snack food. A remarkable contrast really.
Every day I confront the parents of the dangerously overweight. And in many cases there’s a failure to ever recognize that habits and choices have even...
Source: Parenting Solved - May 10, 2008 Authors: Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. Tags: Obesity
"Malignant" Non-Profit Hospital Administrations - Sound Familiar?
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Kevin M.D. posts a "my take" submission from an anonymous primary care physician describing a "malignant" hospital administration monopolizing resources and abusing physicians in a mid-western town.The "advice" he's getting in the comments section is to pull up and leave.Sounds a lot like Asheboro.I'm not anonymous and I've submitted a comment. I'm going to give Kevin some time to post it before I post it here.
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - May 10, 2008
Going Postal
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Congratulations to the Postal Workers (Letter Carriers, Rural Carriers and Clerks), their Union and the Post Office itself for collecting 9575 pounds of canned goods in their annual food drive.The food will be donated to the Salvation Army, CUOC and SCUOC.
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - May 10, 2008
Looking For "Change" In Randolph County: Accepting Ideas For A Write-In Candidate For Randolph County District Attorney
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Building upon a friend's suggestion (which actually came from a throw-away remark in the Courier Tribune), not to mention inspired by recent examples of democracy at work . . . and not wishing to be "moranish" or "waste" my vote, it has occurred to me that maybe the best way to deal with a local DA who holds grudges . . . a DA who plays favorites . . . and won't answer the phone calls/letters of people victimized by the high & mighty pro-boozing white-collars under his jurisdiction . . . a DA who kills investigations before they can start . . . a DA who won't cede jurisdiction to the NCAG (so that office can stop dodgi...
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - May 10, 2008
I'll Take An Honest "Moran" Any Day
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Focusing on my own blog and the hyper-local level, I have not been as active on the comment scene lately. But once a day, I still usually peruse Greensboro 101.My eye was drawn to a posting by Roch Smith, Jr, that once again demonstrated the very high level of dialogue and respect for the opinions of others as exercised by many of the Bush-hating Democrats in the GSO blogosphere.I heard about "Operation Chaos". As a registered Independent, I didn't participate. But I think it's hilarious. On top of being hilarious, even if it didn't work (and I think it did), it is/was an ingenious way for folks on the Republican side who ...
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - May 10, 2008
Alcohol And Greensboro's Finest
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I've been a bit "hyper-hyper-local" lately. Time to mix things up a bit.On Friday (as I understand it, journalistic trash day), the Greensboro N&R reported that the Guilford County District Attorney will not recommend criminal charges against three Greensboro police officers accused of sexually assaulting a female officer, according to a statement released Friday afternoon.The case is virtually impossible to prosecute successfully as the female officer was allegedly soused (Guarino has some commentary). If she was sexually assaulted by her colleagues, I am genuinely sorry for it. But for heaven's sake, the woman is a p...
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - May 10, 2008
Auntie Em's No Fool
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Only a "damned Yankee" writing for the New York Times would think John Edwards is keeping anyone guessing about anything. The Attorney-General wannabe is about as transparent as transparent gets.We in North Carolina figured 'em out long ago. My deepest regret about this campaign (and it's not deep at all) is that team Edwards did not stay in it long enough to run against Obama in the primary here. Then perhaps even the New York Times could figure it out.
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - May 10, 2008
Annexation On Hold: "Democracy At Work" Or Just Another Diversion/Scam?
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Perhaps seeing lawyers in their immediate future, last night the Asheboro City Council voted to delay, by one month, their final vote on the annexation of Dave's Mountain. Once again, Linda Carter was the only real standout - telling her colleagues that the plan should be discarded all together.Council member Eddie Burks (who made a motion to delay the vote by sixty days - but withdrew it after being told that such a delay would effectively kill the city's plan altogether) told residents to contact their state reps and "light a fire".With regards to the man whose fingerprints are all over the city's strategic plans, that's...
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - May 9, 2008
Woe Be Unto Whistle-blowers: This One Is Dedicated To Everyone Who Suggested I "Just Sue" The Feds
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Today a story on MSNBC caught my eye because it speaks to a road not traveled. Many, many people have suggested that I, as an NHSC whistle-blower burned, sue for restitution from/via the Federal government. At one point, even Howard Coble touted federal whistle-blower protection.Turns out Howard's faith in that "protection" was misplaced, and (as my gut told me) it would have been an expensive/soul-sucking dead end.Federal agents raided the office and home of U.S. Special Counsel Scott Bloch on Tuesday while investigating whether the nation's top protector of whistle-blowers destroyed evidence potentially showing he retali...
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - May 8, 2008
Does Your Baby Need a BPA-Free High Chair?
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The evolution of the bisphenol A witch hunt is interesting. What started in bottles has evolved to toys, formula containers, and most recently high chairs. Sites and blogs are building reputations by being the ‘first to the press’ breaking resin disclosures on the latest products. While providing a valuable service in many cases, it runs the risk of creating unnecessary stress for parents desperate to do the best for their children. And the question of toxic high chairs represents a great example. To understand whether a high chair puts a child at unnecessary risk, we have to understand how BPA gets into children.
Eat...
Source: Parenting Solved - May 8, 2008 Authors: Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. Tags: Bisphenol A
Care For A Drink? Tonight's The Night The Fun Begins
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My Dave's Mountain neighbors made the Courier today. I am very proud of them for standing up to the greedy bullies on the Asheboro City Council (Linda Carter being the notable exception - the only council member who cares enough to listen to sound arguments that have their basis in fact rather than fool-hardly fantasy).Of course, I protested long before protesting in Asheboro was considered "cool" . . . or newsworthy.I'm not newsworthy because (according to a little bird) the Editor of the Courier Tribune (who continues to leave just enough out of of his news stories to paint the Mountain crowd as greedy and selfish) canno...
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - May 8, 2008
Retail Clinics Officially Circle the Drain
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Here’s some shocking news: “Retail Clinics Likely to Slow Their Growth” according to today’s Wall Street Journal. Retail clinic operators from Wal-Mart to CVS are shuttering many of their clinics due to slow growth. Apparently the private equity firms and venture capitalists that backed this half-baked concept “failed to appreciate how complicated and expensive the clinics are to operate.” This is especially true when the patients never actually show up.
As I predicted in 2006 the retail model of health care delivery is appropriately doomed. If nothing else we’ve learned that for even their simplest health n...
Source: Parenting Solved - May 7, 2008 Authors: Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. Tags: Pediatricians
Say "No" to Lactose-Free Formula
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Let’s put an end to lactose-free formula. Babies just don’t need it
Here are the facts: babies go through a very transient period where their production of lactase (the bowel enzyme necessary for digestion of lactose) is subpar. Beyond this very early and temporary period, babies tolerate lactose just fine. There are a handful of babies in recorded medical history who have been born without lactase. And unless you’ve birthed one of these half-dozen babies, your baby shouldn’t need a lactose-free formula. One exception: viruses may injure the lining of the small bowel to the point where lactase can be temporarily l...
Source: Parenting Solved - May 7, 2008 Authors: Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. Tags: Infancy Infant Formula Nutrition
On Motivation And Incentive
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I am cheered today by (1) my Dave's Mountain neighbors who protested all over downtown Asheboro today (more on that later . . . we'll see if it makes the local newspaper), and (2) North Carolina voters finally seeing through a Clinton. I guess John Edwards now knows who he needs to suck up to in order to get appointed U.S. Attorney General (I rolled my eyes at that interview).Maybe the populace is clued into what I learned the hard way a long time ago. A Clinton is not going to fight for anyone but himself/herself. "The Village" is not all it's cracked up to be. And some of its citizens just play dirty.I guess Mike Easley'...
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - May 6, 2008
How Do Bedroom Televisions Impact Children?
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I knew there was a reason why our kids don’t have TVs in their rooms.
A study from the University of Minnesota published in the journal Pediatrics last month compared the characteristics of teens with televisions in their rooms to those without. Here’s what they found: “Adolescents with a bedroom television reported more television viewing time, less physical activity, poorer dietary habits, fewer family meals, and poorer school performance.”
Wow. The link is here but I think my cited conclusion is all you need to know.
Source: Parenting Solved - May 6, 2008 Authors: Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. Tags: Technology Teens
Not Voting For Any Of The Self-Serving (Insert Derogatory Explicative)s
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One of my Yas did the early voting thing. She voted for Hillary. For reasons well known to readers, I cannot go there (of course, there's the extra added "benefit" that Governor Sleazely supports her) . . . even if it conforms to a a right-wing conspiracy to keep the Dems duking it out until they kill one another's chances in November. Even John Edwards is keeping his mouth shut (just like years ago, when he was never going to ditch North Carolina to run for President, the trial-lawyer in John thinks we're all too stupid to figure out that he wants that AG slot REAL BAD - and he'll take it from whichever former opponent he...
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - May 6, 2008
Where are the Doctors on Bisphenol A?
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I love to learn where parents get their information. If you are in my office and you quote a statistic, I’ll ask where you got your information. Not in a confrontational way but in a curious way.
And when it comes to BPA, here’s what’s interesting: It seems everything parents know about plastic safety is from the Internet. Doctors, it seems, are less apt to confront the edgy material that parents buzz about. It’s Google, not Dr. Spock, that’s empowering this generation of parents. The handouts and instruction sheets on ear infections and constipation that have been disseminated in pediatrician offices for genera...
Source: Parenting Solved - May 5, 2008 Authors: Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. Tags: Bisphenol A Pediatricians
A Filly Falls
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Two years ago I fell in love with a horse. Today, I made a conscious decision not to watch the Kentucky Derby.I really cannot believe this. It is so sad. Breaks my heart.
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - May 3, 2008
Schmidly's List: On Alcohol in Asheboro - I Love It When A Conspiracy Theory Comes Together
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For over a week, I’ve been pondering what to say about last Friday’s story in the Courier Tribune that the Father-Daughter lawyer team of Steve and Brooke Schmidly were going to ask for a special Asheboro City Council meeting in May to initiate the process that would put an alcohol referendum on the ballot. Steve says it won’t be presented as “new business” at the upcoming regular city council meeting (where the city will vote on the annexation of Dave’s Mountain) – because he doesn’t want to appear to be doing anything behind the Mayor Jarrell’s back (the last I heard, the Mayor opposes the sale of alcoh...
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - May 3, 2008
Video's worth seeing - Paul Vs Hillary
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I have to say that the more I read about the Paul versus Clinton case, the more I think she needs to do what Obama has had to do with Reverend Jeremiah Wright. She has to address it. These You Tube pieces are incredibly damaging. Are they true? Clearly some aspects of this law suit are true. People within Hillary's senatorial campaign have already been found guilty of violating campaign finance law. And he has a tape recording that definitely puts her in the center of it, because of a phone call she made. Perjury. Tax evasion. Imprisonment of an enemy in a Brazilian prison to foil a law suit? It is pretty amazing if it is ...
Source: Tales from the Womb - May 2, 2008
The NC State Bar Cannot Afford Dirty Lawyers
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You learn something new every day.According to this N&O article on Chapel Hill lawyer, John McCormick, who embezzled/stole over one million dollars from clients, the State Bar is obligated to pay debt accrued by the lawyer's indiscretions.The Bar has been settling with those tangled in McCormick's affairs. So far, it has paid $19,952 to six parties left with bills McCormick should have paid from his trust account.The Bar blew its annual fund dedicated to closing out the practices of misbehaving attorneys. The Bar budgets $25,000 annually. It paid $53,000 to hire a lawyer and paralegals to settle McCormick's affairs, sa...
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - May 1, 2008
A Non-Profiteer Bites The Dust
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Tell me again that "non-profit" executives cannot be held accountable for their actions . . . that what I've been asking for since 2003 is impossible or not completely within the letter and intent of the law.Bob Morrison and Steve Eblin lied. Not just to me, but the community they bullied and swindled out of two good Pediatricians who wanted to stay. Neither they nor their hospital get a free pass.
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - April 30, 2008
On Alcohol & Annexation: Steve Schmidly Gets A Reprieve From ATT.NET
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Some folks say you should not blog when you're angry . . . or drunk (although I'll take a drunk Fec over some of the sober folks in this blogosphere any day). I'm one out of two today, and I'll let my readers figure out which one.Since I am on the road a lot, I pay several of my fixed-price bills 6 months to a year ahead of time. One of those bills was, until today, to AT&T Worldnet Service. My AT&T address has been my e-mail address since the day I brought my first Compac laptop home over a decade ago. I hung on to AT&T phone service way past the time it became practical or made any fiscal sense - simply out o...
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - April 29, 2008
Don't Waste Your Pulpit
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Source: Mavistown 3.0 - April 28, 2008
"Twitter"
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From CNN, an inspiring story about what blogs can be and do for individuals.It's kind of what I had hoped to find when I answered the "citizen journalism" call and dived into the GSO blogosphere three years ago . . . people motivated to look beyond what they were being spoon-fed by the local MSM . . . people who could/would mobilize to inform the public and right wrongs.Notsomuch. But I plod on.
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - April 26, 2008
Watching And Waiting On The NC Medical Board
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Earlier this month, I commented on "progress" in a case I reported to the NC Medical Board over two years ago - and alluded to the fact that the doctor involved would finally be doing the dance with the Board in a hearing later in the month.He's dancing now. No word up yet on the Board's website as to outcome. Still, I cannot shake the very sad, heavy feeling that, for some of the innocents who found themselves caught in the crossfire of dueling lawyers, whatever the Medical Board does now is too far little, far too late. The doctors on the front lines who want to help protect patients by taking on badness, can't.We get fi...
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - April 24, 2008
Tell Me Again, Mr. Clinton, That I Need Four More Years
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In honor of Slick Willie's visit to Asheboro today, I am linking an oldie but goodie entitled "On Public Service in the Village."Bill and Hill have done very well for themselves $ince leaving the White House. This former indentured servant to healthcare under Clinton's administration notsomuch. After all, the fat-cat healthcare executives that the politicians generally cozy up to (for the lovely money) all think that good Pediatricians are "a dime a dozen". And the truth was (or is it "is"?) never a top priority for our Bill. He had no qualms about lying under Oath either.
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - April 23, 2008
PB&N
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GirlTuesday may eat Oreo's for breakfast, but I prefer peanut butter and nutella sandwichs first thing in the am. Truth be told, I usually have coffee for breakfast, but when post-call, I need more sustenance. Luckily, our resident call room is stocked with huge tubs of peanut butter and, occasionally, a small jar of nutella. (For the uninitiated, nutella is chocolate hazelnut butter and the reason why so many girls from the U.S. gain 20 pounds when studying abroad in France.)
Source: girl MD - April 23, 2008
How to Explain Breast Implants to a First Grader
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Concerned about how to discuss your tummy tuck, nose job, or breast implants with your son? Apparently you’re not alone. A plastic surgeon in Florida thought it would be cute to publish a book on how to discuss cosmetic surgery with kids. This self-published gem, My Beautiful Mommy, apparently caught the attention of Newsweek who, by some act of God, actually featured it. All of the requisite concerned experts are quoted to make the whole thing actually seem legitimate. Somebody pinch me.
Perhaps I’m alone on this but as a professional charged with the welfare of children, I find the whole matter disturbing. While pl...
Source: Parenting Solved - April 21, 2008 Authors: Bryan Vartabedian, M.D.
Canada Bans Bisphenol A - Is the USA Next?
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Watch your back, Dr. Brown. The world is going green and clean. Canada recently banned BpA and from the looks of it, the American marketplace isn’t far behind. While American pediatricians haven't exactly addressed the issue, I feel the evidence is compelling enough to raise questions. And for my kids and my patients it’s BpA free. Even Playtex is doing the right thing by frankly discussing their products and pledging to convert on a going forward basis.
If you want to know more I strongly suggest that you spend some time with Safe Mama. The thorough nature of her content is only surpassed by her crisp writing. Just l...
Source: Parenting Solved - April 20, 2008 Authors: Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. Tags: Bisphenol A Infancy Product safety
...And we're back
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1. No posts for a while, huh? A big shocker, I know. I expect to remedy that in the near future. I think I shall refrain from killing the blog.2. It looks likely that I will get a new job beginning the Summer of 2009. For the folks in Lex, sorry, it's not in Lexington. It will be in Greenville. I'm pretty attached to the Upstate of S. Carolina these days. I see myself staying here. Assuming I actually get the Greenville job, I'll be looking for a new job again during the summer of 2012... again, I see myself staying here but Lexington would be an option.3. I think I'm nearing the point of losing interest in baseball for go...
Source: Mavistown 3.0 - April 19, 2008
Is Crying in Babies Genetic?
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This study gets us a little closer to understanding the neurologic differences that may explain what’s been observed for centuries.
Perhaps this is all inconsequential but who knows where it’ll lead. While I don’t think we’ll ever see the day when we consider gene therapy for the high need baby, it’s encouraging to learn that when babies cry, it’s often for reasons other than “poor maternal adjustment.”
Source: Parenting Solved - April 19, 2008 Authors: Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. Tags: Colic Infancy
A Letter To Randolph County District Attorney, Garland Yates
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In the midst of annexation wars . . . and as yet another North Carolina healthcare fiasco evolves, I am both inspired and disgusted by the lawsuit several major NC newspapers have filed against NC Governor Mike Easley (please note that for all of its high-minded rhetoric about "open government", the N&R did not join this party).I've lost count of the e-mails and letters I've sent to Raleigh - as a Pediatrician in public service burned by the Teflon-coated liars and cheats running a "non-profit" hospital. I have poured my heart and soul into a lot of that correspondence. Alas, I can count the letters that were answered ...
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - April 17, 2008
The Last Lecture - A Must Read for All Parents
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My greatest fear as a father is that I won’t survive to see my children grow up. I guess I think that something terrible could happen to me before I see them get where they need to get. While it’s something I tend to keep to myself, it’s this fear that drew me to the story of Randy Pauch, a 47-year-old father of three with pancreatic cancer and only months to live. His book is The Last Lecture and it’s an adaption of his farewell lecture to students and colleagues at Carnegie Mellon University where he taught.
While I tend to shy away from tragic memoirs, I found myself drawn to the experience of someone at a simi...
Source: Parenting Solved - April 14, 2008 Authors: Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. Tags: Fatherhood
Chapter 18 – Delivery Deja Vu
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We're back. It seems only yesterday when we came in for Megan's birth; Sarabeth huffing and puffing with back labor. Fifteen hours later she was getting a cesarean section. I carry her bags as we walk from the elevator into labor and delivery. I haven't been here in 19 months, two days before my stroke when I attended a crash cesarean section. It was nine weeks after Megan was born.Labor and delivery has always been a place of dread for me. Every time I come to it, I sense the opportunity for disaster – a chance for a child to end up devastated, or dead. The fact that this is my child being born today weighs heavy in my ...
Source: Tales from the Womb - April 13, 2008
Meet Dr. Mike - The World's Only Pediatric Podcaster
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If you have the chance, tune in to Dr. Mike over at Pediacast. He’s an Ohio-based pediatrician who serves up the latest in pediatric health in podcast format. Where else can you hear a live discussion on bowlegged babies, community beds, soft spots, and chocolate milk all in under 40 minutes? And he’ll take questions as well. The quality of the content as well as the sound is outstanding. The rumor is that he has a guest/interview format in the works. You can find him on iTunes.
The beautiful images on his site are from vladstudio.com
Source: Parenting Solved - April 12, 2008 Authors: Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. Tags: Pediatricians
Baby Steps to Real Health Change
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I see it all the time: Health problems that require change. Change in diet, behavior or the way we live. And people are always willing to change themselves or their children, especially when their health is at risk. The problem is, we can’t keep it up. Cutting calories, increasing exercise, minimizing sugar intake, and other lofty goals can be reached over the short term. Long-term change is hard to maintain.
But small changes are doable and they can have a real impact. The consumption, for example, of just 10 extra calories per day – that’s one stick of gum – over a one year period will make you one pound heavier...
Source: Parenting Solved - April 11, 2008 Authors: Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. Tags: Behavior & Discipline
My Statement To The Asheboro City Council On The Planned Annexation of Dave's Mountain
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This afternoon I took a half-day off from work and drove home (from my current Locums assignment down East) in order to attend a public hearing held by the Asheboro City Council. I read a prepared statement regarding my feelings on the annexation of Dave's Mountain.I read my statement immediately after my former lawyer stood up to say that he supported annexation (no big surprise . . . progress and growth equals alcohol and I seem to recall he likes his alcohol). I thought it was very appropriate to speak immediately after he did. He's lucky I did not say anything about his "representation". But tonight it wasn't about him...
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - April 11, 2008
My Resignation Letter To The North Carolina Pediatric Society
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In January 2008, I got the following letter from Herbert W. Clegg, II President of the North Carolina Pediatric Society. Dr. Clegg works for a practice in Charlotte, (if I am to conclude anything from his e-mail address) apparently owned & operated by the medical conglomerate, Novant.Greetings and Happy New YearThe North Carolina Pediatric Society has not received your dues payment for 2007 - 2008. We don't want to lose you.Our goal at the NCPS is to be your professional membership society, providing fellowship, education and advocacy, and establishing a legacy for pediatricians and children in North Carolina. Our memb...
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - April 10, 2008
Happy Trails David Wray
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With a hat tip to Joe and Sam, David Wray is leaving Greensboro and North Carolina behind in the dust. He got a MUCH better job.
Source: Dr.J's HouseCalls - April 9, 2008
