Page 4 - Mecklenburg_Medicine_June-2017

President’s Letter

I Wanted to Write an Article

By Stephen J. Ezzo, MD

I wanted to write an article, but then I began to think. I wanted to tell the generations ahead of me that, while I
admire them and appreciate their hard work, just because they
I wanted to write about my disgust for the political climate, did things in a certain way I did not have to do the same, but I
both locally and nationally, but then I thought someone might didn’t want to come off as disrespectful.
associate me with one political party or another, leading to false
assumptions about me. I wanted to tell everyone to read, read and read again, as there
are few other activities that can enrich life more, but I was wary
I wanted to write about how the healthcare insurance of sounding pedantic.
companies are contributing to the current healthcare crisis, but I
was concerned about keeping my coverage. I wanted to write that, despite all its problems, medicine
remains the noblest of professions, one that at its core is simply
I wanted to write about how the government needs to butt out helping others, but was afraid I would be seen as self-serving
of my exam room and stop with all the “requirements” that have and haughty.
not been shown to improve care, but the possibility of the IRS
knocking on my door gave me pause. I wanted to write about my new kitten, the joy she has
brought me and the hole in my heart she filled that was
I wanted to write about the people who helped me most created when my 20-year-old cat died last year, but what
during my medical career, but I wasn’t sure how someone would the dog-lovers think?
would feel if I neglected to mention him or her.
So I sat and thought, and thought some more. But I saw no
I wanted to write about how violent a species we are, how we way out and nothing I could say that would not be interpreted
indiscriminately slaughter each other, but I wondered if I’d get by someone somewhere as insensitive.
blown away for pointing this out.
So I turned on the Golf Channel. And took a nap.
I wanted to write about my spiritual crisis and how
religion is hijacked for myriad wrong reasons, but I feared I hope no one was offended I did not write an article.
excommunication.
“I wanted to write a poem
I wanted to write about how our celebrity culture is leading that you would understand.
to the dumbing-down and crassness of our society, but I did not For what good is it to me
want to be labeled as dull and boring. if you can’t understand it?

I wanted to write that we overpay and overemphasize our But you got to try hard – ”
sports “heroes,” but thought I’d never be invited to a Panthers/
Hornets game again. — “January Morning”
William Carlos Williams
I wanted to write about how, when the sun sets over the Gulf
of Mexico and Lake Huron, there are colors and hues I never Trivia question: In her role with the FDA, what crucial decision
thought possible, but figured I would be considered pretentious. did Dr. Frances Kelsey make? Answer on page 10.

I wanted to write about our increasing penchant for being
offended, often going out of our way to appear so, but what if I
was seen as uncaring?

I wanted to tell the generations behind me that life is much
harder than we ever imagined, that we struggle daily, yet it is in
that struggle that we find our worth, but I anticipated I would be
labeled out of touch.

4 | June 2017 • Mecklenburg Medicine