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Finding the way back to the heart and soul of medicine

AMA Leader Commentary. By J. Edward Hill, MD, July 18, 2005.

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AMA LEADER COMMENTARY

A few words about current events in medical practice

SEE ARCHIVES

A message to all physicians from AMA President J. Edward Hill, MD.

Years ago, my father taught me one the of the most important lessons of my life: Always have a compass in the wilderness. It's a lesson I've embraced both as a person and as a physician, and it's a lesson I plan to remember as president of the American Medical Association.

Let me explain.

When I was about 10 years old, my father took my older brother and me duck hunting. We spent the better part of a day wandering the Yazoo River swamps of Mississippi, my home state. But at some point in our adventure, we got ourselves turned around. By the time we realized what had happened, daylight was fading fast, and we weren't sure which way to head next.

Now, for those of you who don't know, the swamps of Mississippi can be a fascinating place to spend an afternoon. But they're a terrifying place to contemplate spending the night, particularly for a small boy.

There are spider webs as wide as the wall of a large room. Creatures that look like giant rats, called nutria, grow as big as tomcats. What's more, even though you know that alligators and snakes hibernate during winter, you can't help but think about them sleeping fitfully in their dens, especially when you're waist deep in water.

Oddly enough, though, I wasn't afraid that day. You see, as soon as we realized we had lost our way, my father pulled a compass out of his pocket, got his bearings and pointed us to safe, high ground.