Hektoen International

A Journal of Medical Humanities

Tag: Florence Gelo

  • God’s menu

    Florence GeloPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, USA “You act like you are waiting to die!” Sophie explains that this accusation comes in many forms from friends and members of her church. “Why don’t you go to the health spa? Give up those medications. What you need are good, nutritious foods, vitamins, and minerals. There is a spa in…

  • When you cannot decide witch doctor to consult

    Florence GeloRosemary HarrisPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Physicians often face practical dilemmas when treating patients from cultures whose belief systems may differ greatly from those underlying Western medicine. Non-Western healing modalities often attempt to integrate the spiritual and physical, and in some instances, traditional healers may be appropriately integrated into patient care. Dr. Harris uses the…

  • Verdi and Velázquez: Perceptive sensitization in clinical medical education

    Daniel V. SchidlowFlorence GeloPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States “Observe, record, tabulate, communicate. Use your five senses. Learn to see, learn to hear, learn to feel, learn to smell and know that by practice alone you can become expert.”—Sir William Osler (1849–1919) A group of third-year medical students enters the office, anxious to move on to the…

  • The art of loss

    Florence GeloPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Three works by artist Deena Gu, All Alone, Blue and Blue, and Resurrection are examples of non-representational paintings in which an artist’s emotional journey was embodied in paint. All Alone greets me with the quiet dignity and loneliness familiar to those who’ve ever harbored a shattered heart. It is a hazy…