Doctor808 Plastic Surgeon Honolulu Hawaii

from wilkipedia First World Trade Center Bombinh

As many of my readers may know I trained in New York City , Manhattan in fact, capital of cosmetic surgery for most of the century ( other then LA and even earlier Switzerland ) to some degree. I was in that town, for approximately 8 years. There before I did plastic surgery I completed a general surgery residency. What you may be surprised to hear was that I was actually the Chief Trauma Resident in general surgery at New York University Downtown Hospital the day that they attempted to blow up the world trade center the first time. I will never forget that day.

In those days the general surgery residents and interns were at the Hospital 36 hours at time. As chief I would come in at 6am and get off the next day typically at 6pm. then I would sleep till the next morning and then do it again in a never ending cycle. One thing you learned in New York  was how to get things done, sometimes in what appeared to be impossible circumstances. As example we would see 40 patients in less than in hour  because the trauma team would be so much like a finely tuned instrument that it was possible because each team member would do their job OR they would be kicked out of the program. It was called a pyramid program in general surgery there. The reason is there would be I think 12 interns starting and as each year of training progressed they would eliminate based on host of factors a few until the final 5th year and ou became chief resident there were only 3 as I recall. What happen to the others , well many never became surgeons. It was hard work and you had to have certain instincts to survive. Same when I was with 20th special forces group , US Army you learned how to survive or you were out.

Sorry about the side track but I was concentrating on “getting the job done”. So many times I see people who cannot seem to get the job done. They say this and that and live in a dream world. I am sure you have seen them. “I will go to gym and lose ten lbs” of course the next day they are Baskin Robins eating ice creme. Yet that only hurts themselves. What really gets me are those who make promises to others and never do what they say. In my surgery residency that was what usually why people were eliminated in the program and never advanced. It was usually nothing to do with being a “bad surgeon” it had to do with reliability. As example , if an intern told you he would have the lab result on certain patient when the team made rounds on the 40 patients the team better have those results when the team saw the patient.  So picture this, 20 doctors and medical students rapidly going from room to room and standing out side the door. The interns would read the results of the test to rest of the team. The chief resident would make some teaching point to the others about the patient and they would then enter the room. Once inside the Chief resident and others examine the patient. Then the Chief or senior resident would tell the team the plan—Get a Upper GI scope today and we will see the results by tomorrow and decide this or that. Understand this process would take less than a minute. Yet it all depended on the one intern who would tell the team what the results were of the test he was suppose to get. If he or she failed at that job the process stopped and the team become a fumbling side show. Instead of one minute, it became a distaster. The chief would not say “ok bring me that later”. He had no time for that. He needed the results then to make the plan for the day. The team had 39 patients more to see in an hour. So as you can see after a few times like that it became evident who should stay and go to top of the pyramid and who should leave the program.

So that is how a pyramid works for surgeons, its not the brightest or smartest or the best surgical hands who wins. Its the man or woman who is reliable because every one is smart , everyone can handle suturing and cutting. It boils down to one thing. The ones who do what they say are of value and the ones who do not are eliminated. Cruel but true. It also produces the best people to be your surgeon. After last weeks blog I started thinking about this. I met and had a great time with a Nobel Laureate. He was a down to earth guy, very smart, and educated but there are many people who are like him I know in terms of intelligence. In fact I can think of two people in my life that very well may be smarter than him and I know they are smarter than me. Yet they do not win a Noble prize. In fact they are both relatively unaccomplished individuals , and the reason is they do not do what they say they will do. So I think that must be the key more so than intelligence.

As for me, I really try to do what I say I am going to do. Sometimes it impossible but in general I really do my best and most of the time I am able. I hope I do not dissapoint to many people. Although it happens I am sure at least I was able to be a surgeon.

Until next time

doctor808

Excellent Italian Food was made by Miguel

Well tonight I went to a very interesting dinner party. It was with regard to the Cancer Center at the University of Hawaii held at one the Black Point homes of one of the leading cancer center researchers. My good friend and fellow Italian Miguel and his wife Elizabeth. It was a very nice party for me because it had authentic Italian food cooked by Miguel !

This was only part of the treats of the evening, we had fine wine and great conversations with some of the University guest either Doctors, organizers , bankers and significant others. All brought together to honor one of the men of science who contributed greatly to world health and people associated with an institution who shows great potential to contribute to the health of mankind.

What we have is the potential , that is what will be the future-cancer cures and proof in the flesh that science can and has made our world significantly better.

On the one hand the University of Hawaii Cancer Center may be on the verge of the next great breakthrough to cure cancer and on the other we have the Man who won a Nobel prize for his contribution to science. The one I am speaking about is Dr. Blumberg who won a Nobel prize for both discovery of the virus and the cure which we call Hepatitis B. You can read about this mans remarkable achievement at the Nobel’w web site.,

I was very greedy at this party and after the speech by our host and the president of the University of Hawaii I stole him and occupied all his time. It was a fascinating talk about his discovery , his life and he gave me very good advice on life. He said that I should be more of an optimist about the future as I admittedly am somewhat of a cynic. We spoke of Jefferson, Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin for some hours along with to my surprise Ayn Rand author of the Virtue of Selfishness and Atlas Shrugged.  This talk went on for a while and it was unusual in that he spoke as knowledgeable about Ayn Rand as anyone I have ever spoke with before. Most people I know have no idea who she was or the philosophy she put forth. Ah then I discovered he is not only a scientist but a philosopher in the official club for philosopher.  I was impressed with this amazing man.

Yet what thought humbled me the most was something Miguel said in his introduction of him. This man has saved at least a million lives a year since his discovery. I as a surgeon and as a surgeon in the past at war time could not have saved a million lives a year even if I operated 100 times a day and each operation was life saving. Yet Dr. Blumberg did and is still saving lives when his vaccine is administered to people who would other wise one day die of hepatitis or liver cancer. I am truly humbled.

Here is is picture and he is the gentleman to the left of me–truly amazing evening !!!

Myself and Dr. Blumberg Nobel Prize Winner

Well until next time

Doctor808

Dailin University President last trip to China

Last time I went to China I gave a lecture on Face Lifting, this time I have a world wide lecture circuit on Breast Augmentation. This will be a three country tour starting in Korea , this stop will be for my lecture called  ” A simple technique for breast axillary breast augmentation with a new surgical instrument the “boob-a-rang”. Although this may sound like a joke for name of an instrument its not. Many years ago I invented a instrument to perform the axillary dissection for breast implants. This device works well and is shaped some what like a boom-a-rang thus the name. I have had great success without complication compared to other instruments I have used. I manufacture, designed and sell this to other surgeons and it is FDA approved.

Well that is the first leg of the tour, then next its on to China City of Fuzhou. There will be a huge meeting where I will again to present several lectures on my breast augmentation technique.  I was invited by the head Plastic Surgeon personally for all of China. That is huge as in country like China so large but only one Chief. Well I am very excited  about this invitation and I will let my readers know about this at progresses.

Finally I will end up in Bangkok Thailand at my safe zone where I will relax a few days and check on my other business interest there. Then back to Hawaii home sweet home.

Well thats all for now and I will let you know what is next.

Doctor808