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Down on the Ground with US Airways–How to (Practically) Ruin a Great Time in Costa Rica, Part 2.

By Linda | January 26, 2012

As seasoned travellers, we always leave at least one extra day to get home. So we reluctantly left beautiful Costa Rica on Saturday, dutifully getting to the airport 3 hours before the scheduled departure. We dutifully checked that the plane was on time before leaving our hotel. We dutifully gave them our contact information.

So when we arrived at the airport, the snake lines at the US Airways desk couldn’t accomodate the hundreds of people waiting. Waiting for what? To reschedule. Our flight to Charlotte on way to Buffalo had been cancelled. Not for weather but for “mechanical” problems. This was the second time in the last month that I had a plane cancelled for mechanical problems. The first time I was re-routed but with a much higher ground transport cost. This time we had much more than the cost of ground transportation to contend with!

Seeing we would not get to the front of the line in time, we borrowed a colleague’s cell phone and tried to get through to US Airways. We figured Air Canada to Toronto, leaving at 3:30 pm, was the best bet–empty desk, empty plane, leaving just when we were to leave. We would rent a car for the ride home. Easy! Read More »

Introducing the “Appendages”: Stirring It Up, Taking Some Risks and Having Some Fun in Costa Rica, Part 1.

By Linda | January 23, 2012

Twenty-five years ago the “next” generation of pediatric urologists started an organization called the Society for Young Pediatric Urologist or SYPU. After 6 or 7 years, they realized their name was rapidly becoming dated at best and misleading at worst. They then became the American Association of Pediatric Urology or AAPU. The Society’s purpose was and still is to have a more informal meeting to give voice and opportunities to younger practitioners, to network with peers to promote leadership and collaboration, and for everyone to share clinical experiences in a smaller venue–typically 30-40 urologists come each year. Everyday there are 4 hours of formal meetings and then at least 4 hours of networking through shared “other experiences.”

They have been wildly successful partly because they have included their spouses (mostly wives) and children. This year we went to Los Suenos in Costa Rica (it’s a warm weather year as opposed to the cold weather ski meeting next year). Many new young faces were there–not just the urologists, their wives, but also their children. And we even had the treat of seeing some of the grown, some now married or going off to graduate school “children,” who once were toddlers skiing down the slopes or splashing in the pools.

I like to go and see all the friends I have made through the years, some of whom we see during the year. However, even though there are fun activities and I have lots to do, I still feel like an “appendage” to my husband who is the main character in the play. I thought, “Well, maybe other women feel this way. Maybe we should organize. Maybe we could have our own meeting.” Read More »

Posted in Travels with Linda | 1 Comment

Experience? Talent? Image? Money? –The Road for Presidential Hopefuls (and Others Who Seek Power and Success) Is Complex

By Linda | January 19, 2012

Bank of America has come under serious, and mostly justified, attack for its recent banking practices. Tarnished further by the government bailout, they look to Anne M. Finucane, their Global Strategy and Marketing Officer (a/k/a Chief Image Officer by designation of the NY Times writers.) Her no-nonsense photo on the front page of NY Times Sunday Business section tells you that Bank of America is mighty serious about changing their image, if not their practices. The photo is worth a million words (inflation). After reading about this impressive woman I have no doubt their image will be transformed. But will that translate as business not as usual?

Images of the Republican presidential race. It is evolving as all things do. John Huntsman, arguably the best credentialed of the group, has dropped out. If you look at the dollars spent per vote, he surely had the most support. His experience is incredible. Having heard him speak at UPenn when our youngest graduated, his leadership potential rang true in his words to the graduates. His ability to hold the attention, stimulate the minds and stir the passions of the new graduates (and their financially beleaguered parents) was unquestionable. So why didn’t he “catch on” as the TV political pundits described his departure? Read More »

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Misplaced Priorities Don’t Pass the Smell Test

By Linda | January 17, 2012

I must be flying too much. I am actually reading the airplane magazines. And not only that, I am paying attention to what they say, enough to tear out a report that headlines “53%of Kids Would Sacrifice Their Sense of Smell to Keep Their Favorite Technology.”

For more than a month I have carried around this 200 word article. For more than a month I thought about why I had torn it out. For more than a month I have tried to find where this crazy assertion came from. And I still don’t believe it. I still don’t know. But I still care that maybe there is even a even a drop of truth to it. Read More »

Posted in Travels with Linda | 2 Comments

Democracy, The Academy, Washington DC and Me

By Linda | January 10, 2012

Alexandria, VA, January 7, 2012

In the fall of 2011 I was asked if I would consider running for an elected position for the Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Almost 9000 ear, nose and throat doctors nationally and internationally share research, education, political action and many other activities in our “Academy”—our voice and our vehicle for change.

Without thinking I agreed. Having been marginalized for so long in my litigation, I never imagined I would be chosen. Well, my imagination got it wrong. I was chosen to run and I ran. I ran and I won. This was the first time a woman ran against a man for an Academy office and won. Not the only first for this Academy committee meeting, six of the 10 voting members were women. Read More »

Posted in Travels with Linda | 3 Comments

Peer Review Fraud–Hospitals and Their War on Physicians

By Linda | January 5, 2012

Sometimes inspiration comes from the most unexpected people. I have to admit that being open to receiving such a gift, even from someone I would rather avoid, is not a practice I am particularly good at. But this week I let down my guard and listened intently to someone I could never imagine would suffer the humiliation of an unjust accusation. Someone who is being bullied in the healthcare workplace. She is someone I have known for 25 years and who might have a number of flaws (as do we all), but I know is not guilty as charged. These unfounded accusations are merely a smoke screen. These unfounded accusations allow hospitals a way to rid themselves of physicians they want to silence. Permanently.

Why? (you might ask disbelievingly). This physician dared to raise issues of quality control. She reported unnecessarily bad outcomes, mistakes that could have been avoided, safety issues not addressed. We doctors are told to speak up. To police ourselves. And when we do, if the wrong physician is scrutinized, that physician whistleblower becomes the target. That physician who reported becomes the problem. That physician is labelled “disruptive.” Read More »

Posted in Adventures in Advocacy, Anger Management, Flashbacks, On the Job | 4 Comments

Stressed? Anxious? “Your Cure Is In the Mirror”–Book Review to Start Off a Healthier 2012

By Linda | January 1, 2012

Too muich stress. Too much anxiety. Fairly common complaints in our increasingly complex and fast paced world. How to cope? Easy. Take a pill. But wouldn’t it be better just to learn to relax away your stress and anxiety? And all you would need is a mirror and this book by Dr. Murray Grossan.

Dr. Grossan is an old friend Don’t misunderstand, I have never met Murry, even though he is also an otolaryngologist and like me takes care of the ear, nose and throat problems that are so common. I first met him more than a decade ago when I found his book “The Sinus Cure”. It revolutionized my thinking about the controllable environmental effects that were causing our sinuses to be sick. Caring for oneself in a practical and very personal way resonated with my approach to the kids for whom I care. Eat right, sleep well, learn to self-regulate and optimze your health through behavioral manipulation and environmental management were underlying themes I could use in my practice. And I did, and I am glad. Read More »

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A New Year, A New Dream?

By Linda | December 27, 2011

I haven’t been slacking in post writing for this blog. No, I have been thinking and studying and reading and researching and cogitating, and, and….. About what? you might ask. Well, let me explain.

I originally started The Brodsky Blog so I could build an audience. Yes, you, dear reader, were the reason I started to write. Why? Because I needed an audience to whom to sell my memoirs.

What memoirs? The memoirs I needed to write about my adventures as a woman in surgery who dared to take on the State of New York and a large hospital system because I believed I had experienced gender discrimination. Pretty heady. Pretty crazy. Read More »

Posted in Adventures in Advocacy | 10 Comments

Growing Up With Autism–A Mother’s Journey

By Linda | December 20, 2011

Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter recounted the terrible punishment an adulterous woman had to bear. In the mid-19th century the “A” word was for adultery. One hundred and 50 years later the “A” word stands for autism. No red letter is needed. Just look at the red eyes of the parents who have just realized or been told that their son or daughter is autistic.

Almost 25 years ago, when I was just starting out in my practice, autism was not a common diagnosis. As a pediatric otolaryngologist, I saw many children with communication problems. We were asked to see them to check their ears and hearing or the structures in their mouth for something to “fix.” As time went on, more and more children were found to be delayed, and some were not “fixable.” Read More »

Posted in On the Job, Telling Stories, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Taking Stock and Moving Forward

By Linda | December 15, 2011

It’s that time of year again. Celebrations, gift giving (and receiving), end of year charitable contributions, and general “taking stock” and moving forward. We go readily from the bright lights and merriment to the self-satisfying feelings of gratitude and sharing our wealth with others less fortunate. That’s the easy part.

Aside from the usual weight loss and exercise promises we make as we recover from total exhaustion (or for the youth, a hangover and headache), how many of us really take stock and make our plans to move forward?

Indulge me while I do so with hopes that you will share, too. Read More »

Posted in Anger Management, Ask Linda, Uncategorized | 1 Comment