- With Mayo Clinic oncologist
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
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Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
"The magic of the electronic village is transforming health information. The mouse and keyboard have extended the stethoscope to the 500 million people now online." - Dr. Edward Creagan
The power of the medium inspires Dr. Edward Creagan as he searches for ways to share Mayo Clinic's vast resources with the general public.
Dr. Creagan, a Newark, N.J., native, is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hospice medicine and palliative care. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1973 and in 1999 was president of the staff of Mayo Clinic. Dr. Creagan, a professor of medical oncology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, was honored in 1995 with the John and Roma Rouse Professor of Humanism in Medicine Award and in 1992 with the Distinguished Mayo Clinician Award, Mayo's highest recognition. He has been recognized with the American Cancer Society Professorship of Clinical Oncology.
He describes his areas of special interest as "wellness as a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-financial model" and fitness, mind-body connection, aging and burnout.
Dr. Creagan has been an associate medical editor with Mayo Clinic's Web sites and has edited publications and CD-ROMs and reviewed articles.
"We the team of (the Web site) provide reliable, easy-to-understand health and wellness information so that each of us can have productive, meaningful lives," he says.
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Stress blog
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Oct. 30, 2009
Avoid distractions by focusing on the finish line
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
As I have touched on in previous blogs, I've learned some important lessons at the racetrack. My grandfather was a jockey, my father was a professional horse player and my stepfather ran a bar and a liquor store near a prominent racetrack. Over the years, I saw many horses with tremendous promise except for the fact that they became easily distracted by the crowd or got spooked by the rail. It was common to fit the horse with blinkers — a hood with half-moon devices to eliminate the horse's peripheral vision. They can only look ahead. This strategy prolonged the racing careers of many horses.
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Like those horses, I find myself easily distracted. The crowd noise for me is the cell phone, the emails and other techno-miseries. Having a written list keeps me on task. Plus, I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment when I cross items off my list. What tricks do you use to forgo distractions and go the distance?
I also wanted to say how grateful I am for the insightful comments you share as we find our way towards peace and serenity even as we're bombarded by unreasonable demands and drains on our physical and spiritual energy.
3 comments posted
November 5, 2009 7:22 p.m.
I laughed when I read your 'techno miseries' - how apt! Yet, before the advent of these handy time-eaters, we still had ringing telephones. Years ago, I started unplugging my phone for a while every day in order to have some quiet time, uninterrupted. The world (and my family/friends) didn't perish in that interval and I felt a lot better afterward. Same can be done with all electronic devices: Turn it Off at some point. Most of us don't need to be available AND constantly communicating 24/7. I used to be a very frenetic person, until chronic illness blew up my life and rearranged my future plans. After a period of grief and anger, I realized this was an opportunity to restructure my life to be calmer, less hectic, and to make less, but better relationships. Most importantly, I realized how relaxing it is not to have every minute filled to the brim, crammed with people, deadlines, obligations (real or imagined). It would have been nice if I'd learned 'pre-illness' how to smile and say No, how to have some space in my life, how to be un-busy for even a few minutes every day. I grew up with the maxim that one must always be busy to be a worthwhile person, and to always say yes and be there for others in order to be a good person. Therefore the quality of my life diminished in direct proportion to the quantity of busy-ness, over-connectedness, and stressfulness in my life. My challenge today as my health problems improve, is to not fall back into old habits.
- Chel
November 5, 2009 11:52 a.m.
Loved your analogy of race horses with blinders. Could you also use your knowledge of successful gamblers and drinkers for good examples? Or bad examples? Thanks. I've just discovered your columns.
- Jerry
October 30, 2009 10:09 a.m.
Did you mean blinders? I like your blogs relating horse racing experiences. Also have found your personal experience blog regarding your mother's passing very helpful. I have read and re-read that one at least a dozen times over the years; every time someone close to me dies. Thank you for sharing.
- carol
3 comments posted