
- With Mayo Clinic oncologist
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
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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March 7, 2008
Lessons learned in Cambodia
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
My wife and I recently had the opportunity of visiting our son in the Republic of Cambodia. This country was part of the Vietnam era conflict and suffered extraordinary losses.
Some of the lessons that I learned from the native Khmer people are the kind of lessons we hear on our blog. For example, the notion of community and connectedness. Unlike our modern supermarkets, the markets in Cambodian towns were meeting places to share common interests and concerns. Despite the grinding poverty, there was a joy among these people. Second, a deep sense of spirituality through the Buddhist tradition. Temples, monks, and religious shrines are a constant reminder that life is transient, and there is another dimension to our humanity.
We also learned the value of keeping a steady focus on the day in front of us and not becoming too distracted by issues in the future, which, after all, may never materialize. This does not mean that we become like the grasshopper and simply play all day, but it does mean a responsible acknowledgment to take care of ourselves physically, psychologically, and spiritually. Because after all, if our health deteriorates, we have marginal reserves to deal with some of life's unfairness.
So, what I have learned is that there is joy in the face of adversity and yes, we are captains of our souls and our attitude can determine the goodness of each day. It is not the problems and issues that grind us down, but how we deal with those challenges.
6 comments posted
May 11, 2008 6:06 p.m.
what seems to keep me focused when life gets a little to heavy at times is when I once heard a story of when in ancient China, a villiage was under seige by the enemy. A young boy was hiding with his grandfather when the enemy had them surrounded from every direction. The boy mentioned to his grandfather about their emminent doom when the grandfather said "at least we don't have locusts."
- william
March 31, 2008 11:56 a.m.
Thank you. Is a wonderful site/url and easy to navigate. Dr. Ed
- Dr. Ed Creagan
March 27, 2008 7:49 a.m.
If you want to read recent news about Cambodia, visit the website : http://www.netvibes.com/cambodia
- Cambodia
March 13, 2008 1:03 p.m.
Hi Phy: Thank you for pointing out my error. Yes, is the Kingdom of Cambodia. My apologies. Dr. Ed
- No name given
March 12, 2008 8:44 a.m.
From Groucho Marx "I, not the events, have the power to make me hapy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be."
- Mike
March 10, 2008 11:53 p.m.
Great to read your article. Reminds me of home now that i've been so far for almost two years. p.s. Just one small mistake. Cambodia is a kingdom, not a republic. The official name is Kingdom of Cambodia.
- Phy
6 comments posted