A Salute to Doctors Everywhere

I’ve never appreciated people in the medical field as much as I do now. Here are a few real-life medical heroes you may or may not have heard about:

Daniel Hale Williams

You can imagine being an African-American in the late 19th Century in North America would make becoming a surgeon very difficult. Of course, it was. But Williams beat the odds and became a certified, practicing surgeon in his mid-20’s. Hospitals, like everything else at the time, were segregated. At 33 he founded the first integrated, interracial hospital—Provint—and there he performed the first successful open-heart surgery.

Helen Mayo

Around the time that Daniel Hale Williams was performing surgeries and opening a hospital, half way across the planet a young girl in southern Australia dreamed about being a doctor. Her heart was set on it, which is funny because at that time in history, this little girl would never have even heard of woman doctors. She not only became one, excelled in her field, and co-founded a school for mothers, she also became the most instrumental individual in curbing the high infant mortality rate in Australia. She was a major advocate for women and children, especially infants. She lobbied hard to get a children’s hospital opened that would treat infants, but it was an unsuccessful campaign. In response, she knew just what to do: open her own. This is just the tip of the iceberg though. She’s one doctor who is worth reading about.

Henry Gray

Most of us are not only familiar with the human anatomy, we can also name most of the major organs, bones, and muscles. We’re even familiar with what they look like. Many physicians in the past can be thanked for this, but perhaps the main one is Dr. Henry Gray of London, England (1827-1861). Though he only lived 34 short years, he published a book of diagrams that helped medical professionals the world over, as well as educate the rest of us. The name of the book was—and this is for real—Gray’s Anatomy.

Edith Cavell

This British nurse helped treat wounded soldiers on both sides of World War 1. Both Germans and Allied fighters who were brought to her were treated as equals. She also helped around 200 Allied soldiers escape German-occupied Belgium during that same war, and was arrested for it. I’m afraid there isn’t a happy ending here as she was executed by a German firing squad for her actions. The night before her death she said something so powerfully applicable to us today: “Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.”

Jennifer Russell

If you live in New Brunswick, you have probably heard this name. If you haven’t, she is the province’s chief medical officer of health, and we owe her a debt of gratitude. Though our politicians, in my judgment, took action appropriately and positively during this pandemic, it is the medical professionals who made that happen. They are the ones who did the research, brought the leaders the information, and gave the appropriate direction. And not only has she made us all proud in this situation, she’s also a singer/songwriter/composer with two swing albums!

And I would be remiss if I didn’t give a thanks to the many doctors who have treated me and my family throughout the years, including my current family doctor, Dr. Pillay and family dentist, Dr. Homenick. We appreciate you all so much.

Congratulations Patch Adams. This is your week.

And the Oscar goes to…

Best Actress:

Louise Fletcher as Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Best Actor: Robert Duvall as Major Frank Burns in MASH

Best Quote: “I’ve got nipples, Greg. Could you milk me?” — Robert De Niro as Jack Byrnes in Meet the Parents

My Favourite Movie Doctors (admittedly, not all are medical doctors)

• Dr. Ben Stone, Doc Hollywood (Michael J. Fox)
  

• Dr. Foster, Dawn of the Dead (1978), David Crawford

• Dr. Frankenstein, Young Frankenstein (1974), Gene Wilder
  

• Dr. Richard Kimble, The Fugitive (1993), Harrison Ford
  

• Dr. Leo Marvin, What About Bob? (1991), Richard Dreyfuss
  

• Dr. Hannibal Lecter, The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Anthony Hopkins
  

• Dr. Peter Venkman, Ghostbusters (1984), Bill Murray
  

• Dr. Emmett Brown, Back to the Future series (1985-1990), Christopher Lloyd
  

• Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones, Indiana Jones series (1981-1989), Harrison Ford
  

• Dr. Evil, Austin Powers series (1997-2002), Mike MyersIt’s Dr. Evil, I didn’t spend six years in Evil Medical School to be called “mister,” thank you very much.

Honourable Mentions: 1. Dr. Strangelove, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), Peter Sellers; 2. Dr. Stuart Price, The Hangover series (2009-2013), Ed Helms; 3. Dr. Malcolm Crowe, The Sixth Sense (1999), Bruce Willis

My Favourite TV Doctors

• Dr. Julius Hibbert, The Simpsons, Harry Shearer
  

• Dr. Teeth, The Muppet Show, Jim Henson

• Dr. Frasier Crane, Cheers and Frasier, Kelsey Grammar
  

• Dr. Hiram Baker, Little House on the Prairie, Kevin Hagen
  

• Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, The Muppet Show, Dave Goelz
  

• Dr. Hawkeye Pierce, M*A*S*H, Alan Alda
  

• Dr. Bob, The Muppet Show, Jim Henson
  

• Dr. Doctor Drakken, Kim Possible, John DiMaggio
  

• Dr. Gregory House, House, Hugh Laurie
  

• Dr. Martin Ellingham, Doc Martin, Martin Clunes

Honourable Mentions: 1. Dr. Harry Weston, Empty Nest, Richard Mulligan; 2. Dr. Sheldon Cooper, Big Bang Theory, Jim Parsons; 3. Dr. Michaela Quinn, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Jane Seymour; 4. Dr. John Becker, Becker, Ted Danson; 5. Dr. Niles Crane, Cheers and Frasier, David Hyde Pierce