PROFESSIONAL ISSUES

Out of residency and into practice -- at 84

The former internist finished his fellowship in addiction medicine and psychiatry and returns to practicing medicine full time.

By Myrle Croasdale, AMNews staff. March 8, 2004.

Gordon Mindrum, MD, is busy doing research on the treatment of cocaine addiction. He's preparing a paper on hepatitis C to present in March and he's still plowing his own driveway at 6 a.m. before leaving for work.

He spent 50 years practicing in internal and occupational medicine. Now he's practicing full time at the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Ohio, where he completed a fellowship in June 2003.

The dynamic changes in medicine, like the ability to identify genes that indicate a predisposition for disease, such as alcoholism, fascinate him. Working with students, residents and physicians in his field invigorates him. However, it's the patients who keep him coming in every day.

"I saw a gentleman today. The rascal has been an alcoholic all his life," Dr. Mindrum said. "Lost his wife, his job, his children. He's stopped drinking for 58 days. He comes in daily to take classes and will go to a long-term location for four to six weeks to continue treatment and to learn a trade. He was reared on tobacco and whiskey, but I think he's changing. I think we've hit a home run with this guy."

Victories have been more challenging when it comes to technology.

When he entered his fellowship, Dr. Mindrum no longer had a secretary to do typing, so he had to learn, on his granddaughter's computer.

[...]

Full text of AMNews content is available to AMA members and paid subscribers.

Access details

Join the AMA