Hektoen International

A Journal of Medical Humanities

Tag: Constance E. Putnam

  • Lajos Markusovszky: Semmelweis’s best friend

    Constance Putnam Concord, Massachusetts, United States   Bust of Lajos Markusovszky, in the inner garden of Semmelweis Medical University, Budapest. Photo by Attila Kovács, by kind permission. The name “Ignaz Semmelweis” is at least vaguely familiar to many people, even if they need reminding that he was “the hand-washing guy.” He was the first fully…

  • Doctor’s daughter: reflections on a family’s role in a physician’s practice

    Constance Putnam Concord, Massachusetts, United States   Schoolyard taunts generally convey an obvious message to all who hear them: “Fatso,” “Four Eyes,” “Slowpoke,” “Dumbo.” One directed at me when I was a child, however, baffled me: “You think you’re so smart, just ’cause your dad’s a doctor!” To be sure, my dad was a doctor,…