Certainly when I got to medical school, I had role models of the kind of physicians I wanted to be. I had an uncle who, looking back, was probably not the most-educated physician around, but he carried it off so well. Abraham Verghese backcarryeducate share on social
In writing, as in medicine, there are no short cuts. You need stamina. Abraham Verghese cutmedicineshort Change image and share on social
I'm the first to admit that the resolution of a hand feeling the belly doesn't compare with the resolution of a CAT scan scanning the belly, but only my hand can say that it hurts at this spot and not at this spot. Only my hand can say that. Abraham Verghese admitbellycat share on social
Rituals, anthropologists will tell us, are about transformation. The rituals we use for marriage, baptism or inaugurating a president are as elaborate as they are because we associate the ritual with a major life passage, the crossing of a critical threshold, or in other words, with transformation. Abraham Verghese anthropologistassociatebaptism share on social
We're now able to show that the words of comfort trigger biological reactions which are the very things that you want, and you can use drugs to get there, or you can use words of comfort to get there, which would make your drugs so much more effective. Abraham Verghese biologicalcomfortdrug share on social
I joke, but only half joke, that if you show up in an American hospital missing a finger, no one will believe you until they get a CAT scan, MRI and orthopedic consult. Abraham Verghese americancatconsult Change image and share on social
Students undergo a conversion in the third year of medical school - not pre-clinical to clinical, but pre-cynical to cynical. Abraham Verghese clinicalconversioncynical Change image and share on social
By visiting patients in their home, by helping them come to terms with their illness, I could heal when I could not cure. Abraham Verghese curehealhelp Change image and share on social
I've never bought this idea of taking a therapeutic distance. If I see a student or house staff cry, I take great faith in that. That's a great person; they're going to be a great doctor. Abraham Verghese buycrydistance Change image and share on social
The bottom line: health care reform is about the patient, not about the physician. Abraham Verghese bottomcarehealth Change image and share on social