My Dad was a single-handed country doctor in England. His office (called “Surgery” in English speak) was in our house, so I first encountered patients and a doctor’s life at an early age, indeed just about 80 years ago. There was no appointment system, so patients arrived at all hours, with an interesting triage arrangement, […]
My first contacts with medicine Read More »
When people ask me that I usually say, “a pretty good one”, followed by “stomach doctor” and then sometimes “gastroenterologist”. That is a mouthfull (sic) and a friend always calls me a “gastrologist” The label suggests that I and my colleagues work only in the gaster (stomach) and enterons (intestines). Using endoscopes I have had
What sort of doctor are you? Read More »
I have been fortunate to have lived through a period of revolution in medicine. Indeed, had I been born 50 years earlier I would likely not be bothering you now. There have been huge changes, but I will focus on an area in which I have participated, the interface between medical doctors (let’s call them
Physician/Doctor or Surgeon? A fun journey Read More »
Friends of Fred the adventurous snake will recall that he had an accident in the first book when he first ventured out onto the street. “He thought the stripey barber pole was another snake, but, oh my soul, he dashed across with never a glance, into the path of an ambulance”. Whilst recovering from his
Fred learns about the Barber’s pole….. Read More »
Ten years ago the Cook company invited me to interview the pioneers of the revolutionary ERCP procedure, 40 years after the first description of sphincterotomy. There were two publications, covering 15 pioneers from 9 countries. Many of the pioneers have since passed. I have written earlier at length about Meinhard Classen and Kees Huibregste. Two
Celebrating Claude and Laszlo, endoscopic giants Read More »
In 1980, Christopher Williams and I published the first textbook for GI endoscopy We were working at The Middlesex and St Marks Hospitals in London. My photo of The Middlesex was taken after it closed (it lives on as part of UCL). My Unit was on the second floor, here shown boarded up. St Marks
Our Endoscopy book over 5 decades Read More »
Three years ago I wrote about my time on the staff of the Middlesex hospital in London, and explained it’s unusual name https://petercottontales.com/2020/10/the-middlesex-hospital-what-sort-of-a-name-is-that/ Unfortunately the illustrations of that piece seem to have disappeared The Middlesex closed in 2005 and it’s functions and staff joined the University College Hospital, now in a fancy new building on
The Middlesex Hospital lives on ……in Connecticut Read More »
So, as of Jan 1st 2024, I am finally retired, exactly 60 years from graduating, 50 years after starting specialist practice at The Middlesex Hospital in London, 37 years after leaving England to work at Duke University in North Carolina, and after 30 years at the Medical University in Charleston. It will not be a
Goodbye Medicine. Saluting some mentors. Read More »
Here we go, hopefully https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.vumedi.com/video/gastroenterology-in-seven-decades-some-landmarks-and-reflections/Imdhc3Ryb2VudGVyb2xvZ3ktaW4tc2V2ZW4tZGVjYWRlcy1zb21lLWxhbmRtYXJrcy1hbmQtcmVmbGVjdGlvbnMi:1rF7dh:T8iZHpb8IcJbEKu1kmUHHA6KD881G-DqOnzXH880Zis/__;!!Ab1_Rw!D6awfgeprV3-OF-7L6eUw-4T6Y-xYtbIkg_2AIZE9KWGqAuoUqPlyqh-osrdmdXgkUZC1LU2nLPJcQ$
I am finally retiring at the end of the year, exactly 50 years since starting on faculty at The Mddlesex in London. An opportunity to reflect on a fun journey. I will be giving MUSC GI grand rounds at 7am EST on Weds Dec 13. “Gastroenterology in seven dacdes. Some landmarks and reflections” It will
Maybe join my retirement talk on Dec 13? Read More »
