Philadelphia Medicine Summer 2020 - 5

p h i l a m e d s o c .o rg

He said medical training is making changes for the better, but
much more needs to be done. He believes, for example, that an
appreciation of the spiritual dimensions of life should also be part
of a medical school curriculum.
We also interviewed Dr. Pamela Wible, an Oregon family practice
physician who has been running a physician suicide hotline since
2012. Her several thousand phone conversations with burned-out
medical students, residents and physicians have convinced her that
the system that trains physicians needs reform.
An associate dean of one of the most prestigious residency
programs in the country told us that reform is exactly what's
happening today, and that many of the problems Dr. Wible cites
are no longer germane.
The pandemic has produced what some in the medical community
are calling a healthy side effect - telemedicine. Video house calls
which had been used sporadically since coming on the scene, are
commonplace now. Our interview with Dr. Corina Graziani,
who happens to be a member of the PCMS editorial review board,
shows us what telemedicine has done well and where it falls short.

We also have another contributor from our editorial board - Dr.
Susan Robbins. She has co-written with fellow PCMS member, Dr.
Walter Tsou, a description of one of the great physician-led social
programs in our area aimed at bettering our world - Physicians
for Social Responsibility. The national organization has a strong
local presence.
We also have a writeup on a worthwhile program PCMS is
helping to sponsor - Helping the Helper. The program is offering a
variety of video conferencing group counseling sessions for physicians,
nurses, medical students, residents, first responders, and assisted
living staff dealing with the enormous pressures of Covid-19.
We have a lot more in this issue. We hope you find it informative.
Our magazine is just one of many services we provide our members.
If you would like to join us, contact our executive director, Mark
Austerberry, at 215-563-5343, ext. 101, or at www.philamedsoc.org. *
Natalia Ortiz-Torrent, MD
President, Philadelphia County Medical Society

Minimally Invasive Surgical Services

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Summer 2020 : Philadelphia Medicine

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Philadelphia Medicine Summer 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Philadelphia Medicine Summer 2020
