PROFESSIONAL ISSUES

From polio to PDAs, this resident has seen it all

By 83, most people are retired. Gordon Mindrum, MD, is in a fellowship.

By Myrle Croasdale, AMNews staff. March 24/31, 2003.

Gordon Mindrum, MD, an internist and occupational medicine specialist, is hands-down the leading contender to be the oldest medical resident in the United States.

He is studying addiction psychiatry at the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Ohio.

He practiced privately in Cincinnati until 1997, while also working as a medical director for General Electric. When he retired from GE and later closed his practice, he did industrial health research at Christ Hospital. When that job was cut, Dr. Mindrum found the fellowship. AMNews talked with Dr. Mindrum about his residency and about his 53 years in medicine.

Question: Why tackle a training program at the end of your career?

Answer: I've truly enjoyed medicine and want to keep on going as long as I can. I came through the Depression years, so I've been working darn hard all my life.

Q: Why substance abuse?

A: I got an introduction to substance abuse at GE. You don't want to have workers who are using something inspecting aircraft engines.

I also dealt with substance abuse in my work in internal medicine. Smoking doubles the risk of cardiovascular disease, and what's the No. 1 cause of cancer? Smoking, and management of it is very poor.

Q: How is it being a resident again?

A: I have a lot more experience and knowledge than the other residents, but they learn a little faster than I do, and they know how to use computers, which is a striking advantage.

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