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Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)
A Toast And A Bit Of A Roast In Honor Of A Medical Maverick
A few days ago, I received a letter from Margaret Lincoln Donlan, a member of the board of "The Center for the Improvement of Human Functioning" (CIHF) in Wichita, Kansas. Ms. Donlan asked if I would be so kind as to write a tribute about my friend and colleague Hugh Desaix Riordan, M.D. Dr. Riordan is the author of one of my favorite books entitled Medical Mavericks and the founder of the CIHF. He is to be feted and otherwise celebrated in a few days time by having a dome at The Center named in his honor. Inasmuch as I was honored myself just last year at the 15th International Conference on Human Functioning at an elaborate awards dinner in Wichita (though not to the extent of having a dome named after me!), I was only too happy to oblige. I would have obliged even if they had NOT honored me!
Medical Mavericks was inspired by Dr. Riordan's 30 years of clinical medicine, his role as consultant to the American Medical Association, president of the American Holistic Medical Association and scholarly studies into the history of medicine. In Medical Mavericks, Dr. Riordan describes the experiences of 18 revered figures in history that we credit for blazing trails of scientific progress. He shows, in each case, that their contemporaries reviled these innovators. The great pioneers faced personal hardships, intrigues, vilification and worse. Perhaps Dr. Riordan at one time has faced similar difficulties, which inspired this magnum opus. I do hope not. Dr. Riordan certainly does not have such problems today -- he is both much loved and highly successful. His Center is a model for innovation in alternative therapies and the promotion of personal responsibility.
By the way, do you know the origin of the word "maverick?" It came into the language thanks to an American heretic of sorts named Samuel A. Maverick who, among other things, chose not to brand his cattle. Today, besides meaning unbranded range animal, the word maverick is associated with an independent individual who refuses to conform to his group. Perhaps Dr. Riordan's name will find it's way into our language in some like manner.
The good doctor selected the medical mavericks featured in his book on the basis of their willingness to go where there was no path, despite hostile reactions from peers and, as a result of their brilliance and courage, leave a trail leading to great discoveries. Dr. Riordan showed that doing so was not an easy journey. He cites Schopenhauer's remark about how new thought and new truths most often go through three stages. First they are ridiculed. Next they are violently opposed. Then, finally they are accepted as being self-evident. (I wonder when my own ideas will move beyond phase one?)
In any event, that is all background to the testimonial I wrote for and about the good doctor. Here is what I communicated to Ms. Donlan -- I hope Dr. Riordan will be pleased.
It is a great pleasure to write this brief note concerning Dr. Hugh Riordan.
Let me start with a story. I was once asked to review a book written by a doctor friend and valued colleague. To my dismay, I could find little good in the work. Then I read a review of J. Richard Gott's Time Travel in Einstein's Universe in the Wall Street Journal. Gott noted that, in a related situation, someone had advised (regarding a play), "In a pinch, you can always say the actors were clean and punctual." Ms. Donlon, Dr. Riordan has always looked clean to me and his punctuality as far as I know has never been in doubt.
I'm just kidding -- I could write a book about Dr. Riordan and, come to think of it, that might be a pretty good idea. As for a serious note about this wonderful man, for starters I'll say this: He has never been one to place much stock in Senator Barry Goldwater's advice to his fellow Republicans, "Sometimes you guys should just lay your principles aside and do the right thing." Dr. Riordan's principles led him to do the right thing in the first place, every time. He certainly did the right thing AND followed his first principle of promoting personal responsibility through his untiring efforts on behalf of the CIHFI.
The fact is it could be argued that Dr. Riordan led the way urging politicians to do the right thing. I recall an instance when Bob Dole, prior to becoming a poster boy for Viagra, introduced a bill in the Senate. The bill followed a series of tornados spawned by a fast-moving cold front, which touched down in Wichita and destroyed every trailer park within a 50-mile radius. Senator Dole's bill would have directed millions in taxpayer funds for the construction of an extensive set of trailer park decoys to fool future tornados in the Wichita area. Dr. Riordan, ever the medical heretic, courageously called the Senator to point out that while this was the thinking behind much of modern medicine, it would probably not fool a Kansas tornado -- though it might work in Arkansas.
Dr. Riordan has been an innovator, a leader, a teacher and a friend, and he has earned our highest regard. Mark Twain once quipped "it is better to deserve an award and not have it than to be given one that is not deserved." Hugh Riordan is deserving of any award anyone might bestow, but I'm glad he is to receive at least a dome. Congratulations. All the best to Dr. Riordan for an enjoyable future that is as productive as he wants it to be. Frankly, some of us think the good doctor has done quite enough so, as Garrison Keillor likes to say in closing, "Be well, do good work and keep in touch."
You do the same and, if you encounter any mavericks, medical or otherwise, be kind and do not under any circumstances violently oppose them or their ideas. You just never know when the latter might be accepted as being self-evident.
Domain: mentalSubdomain: factual knowledge
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