Reflections From My Twilight Years
Ed Dodge, MD
A blog by Ed Dodge, M.D.
Introduction
It’s clear that I’ve entered the twilight years of my life. My perspective about life has changed. Achievements are not as important as they used to seem. Relationships with others, especially friends and loved ones, always important, are more so now. Other subtle changes in my outlook come up from time to time. None of this is bad. Indeed, it makes life interesting.
I’m able to do some writing again, but rather than revive my newsletter, I’m starting this new blog. These reflections may be about health, but may range widely over many areas of life. They may be unconventional enough to surprise you, but they will reveal my honest outlook.
My new blog posts will be published at intervals varying from weekly to monthly.
If you want to know when a new post has been published, you must subscribe to this blog.
Dr. Ayaz Virji is a Muslim doctor who settled in the small town of Dawson, Minnesota with his family in 2013. He graduated from one of our top medical schools in 2000 and completed his medical residency at Duke University Medical Center in 2003. He left an excellent hospital-based practice…
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A sub-surface public health disaster was brewing in Flint, Michigan in 2014, but nobody knew. In her book, What the Eyes Don’t See, Mona Hanna-Attisha tells the story of how it was discovered and addressed. Dr. Mona came to Hurley Hospital in Flint as director of its pediatric residency program…
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The worldwide number of refugees is huge and escalating due to the political turmoil and wars that plague us today. They include tens of millions people of all ages. Because of the severe dislocation they’ve experienced, they are vulnerable to serious health disorders, as well as major social, educational, and…
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Caring trust is important in countless relationships. These include husband-wife, parent-child, teacher-student, doctor-patient, employer-employee, and many others. In relationships, the underlying principle is similar. Mutual trust is vital to healthy relationships. Johnny and Jimmy, two children under my care early in my medical career, taught me much about trust. My…
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Most people have a desire to connect with others. Facebook is a major online institution because of this. People around the world join Facebook so they can connect easily with friends and many others. Facebook is a powerful social force because so many millions of people belong to it. The…
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Most of us know a bit about the gut microbiome but may not fully appreciate its importance. Your complete microbiome consists of all the microbes that live in and on your body. Estimates range up to more than 100 trillion micro-organisms, far more than your own body’s 30 trillion cells.…
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I enjoy my daily walk, especially after a day of rain. Much of my attention this morning was on the landscaping of the homes I passed. It’s always interesting to see changes in the yards as homeowners work on them and as the seasons progress. In addition, I’m always looking…
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Cabbage Patch dolls were a huge fad 40 years ago, so popular that they caused marketplace frenzy in late 1983. Stores couldn’t keep up with demand and shopping conditions literally became chaotic. Shoppers who couldn’t get one for Christmas were frantic. Clips about the cabbage patch doll craze still show…
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The article “Frailty: Evaluation and Management” by Assistant Professor Robert Allison II and two co-authors in the February 15, 2021 issue of the American Family Physician caught my eye. The article states: “Frailty is a syndrome of growing importance among the geriatric population, occurring in 5% to 17% of older…
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