Category: Iowa

  • Exercise or Weaponize My Privilege?

    Exercise or Weaponize My Privilege?

    Back in November 2022, while on our way to the Stanley Museum of Art, we saw the two murals on the East Burlington Street Parking Ramp. It was the first time we saw them in person although photos were available last fall. The Little Village article published an article about them on September 30, 2021.…

  • More Thoughts on Physicians Going on Strike

    More Thoughts on Physicians Going on Strike

    I noticed Dr. H. Steven Moffic, MD had written another article in Psychiatric Times asking whether it’s time for psychiatrists to consider going on strike. Often the issue triggering discussions about this is the rising prevalence of physician burnout. I’ve already given my personal opinion about physicians going on strike and the short answer is…

  • MLK Week Redux for the New University of Iowa Psychiatry Fellows

    MLK Week Redux for the New University of Iowa Psychiatry Fellows

    I discovered the University of Iowa Dept of Psychiatry had a very successful match, filling key residency slots in Child Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine, and Consultation-Liaison fellowships. Congratulations! That’s a big reason to celebrate. This reminds me of my role as a teacher. I retired from the department two and a half years ago. But I’ll…

  • Bivalent Covid-19 Booster Protects Us

    Bivalent Covid-19 Booster Protects Us

    University of Iowa Health Care participated in research which demonstrates that people over age 65 who got the updated bivalent Covid-19 vaccine booster: “84% less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 compared with unvaccinated people  73% less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 compared with people who received monovalent mRNA vaccination alone but had not…

  • Amaryllis and Zygocactus Repotting

    Amaryllis and Zygocactus Repotting

    Remember that gorgeous Christmas Amaryllis flower? After it leaned over so far, we had to retire it, so to speak. We didn’t throw it out, but Sena kept it and performed some kind of miracle. Apparently, she resurrected it by giving it a little water. A couple of new leaves grew a few inches overnight.…

  • An Old Post on Breaking Bad News

    An Old Post on Breaking Bad News

    I’m reposting a piece about a sense of humor and breaking bad news to patients I first wrote for my old blog, The Practical Psychosomaticist about a dozen years ago. I still believe it’s relevant today. The excerpt from Mark Twain is priceless. Because it was published before 1923 (See Mark Twain’s Sketches, published in…

  • Birds Nipping the Frost

    Birds Nipping the Frost

    We woke up this morning to hoarfrost decorating the trees. Backyard birds seemed to be after the water.

  • Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

    Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

    Here’s another vintage post from around a decade ago after my former Psychiatry Dept chairperson, Dr. Robert G. Robinson and I published our book, Psychosomatic Medicine: An Introduction to Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry” in 2010. Blog: Who Gets The Credit? When I think about peak moments, I remember this guy back in junior high school who decided…

  • Take a Hike, You Diphthong!

    Take a Hike, You Diphthong!

    Yesterday we were listening to the Mike Waters morning radio program on one of Iowa’s great radio stations, KOKZ. It’s called the Waters Wake-Up Call. He always has something funny to ask listeners about and encourages them to call in with an opinion. We heard him say he wanted listener feedback on the word “diphthong.”…

  • Big Mo Blues Show KCCK

    Big Mo Blues Show KCCK

    Heard this on the Big Mo Blues Show KCCK radio again. The last two years have been hard times. I’m hoping 2023 will be better.