Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Medicine can be done with words, actions, or a smile

Edwin Acevedo, Jr., MD
Education
February 9, 2014
Share
Tweet
Share

They say medicine is a hard science, based on heavily scrutinized theories and proven postulates.  Medicine is supposedly made up of differentials, diagnostic workups, and medications aimed to alleviate or cure.  Everything is based on evidence, everything. But, today, something happened that hasn’t been researched using IRBs; something intangible that restored my faith in humanity.

I was on my way home from a long day of being intensely questioned by residents and attendings, and the tiring hustle of being on rotations. It was a long day, but fortunately, I’m a firm believer in that ‘break your neck to keep your head up, if that’s what it takes’ ideology. On my way home, I was stuck in traffic for over a half hour.  As I inched up at a snail’s pace, I notice that there was a car broken down in the middle of the road. Cars would pass, but no one would offer help.  When I looked in the car, I saw a brittle, old woman complete with an osteoporotic kyphosis and walking shoes, and I immediately felt a primal need to help.

I got out of the car, garbed in a shirt and a loosened tie, remnants of my long day in the hospital.  I ran up to her window, plainly stated my intentions, and got behind her car to get to work.  Cars passed, and no one would let me push her to the side of the road.  Then, like a scene from a movie, a man got out of his car, and wordlessly started helping me push.  Before I could blink, a truck pulled up and blocked the two lanes of traffic, not allowing anyone to pass.  At the same exact time, a third man got out and ran to help with the car.

Together, we pushed the car to the side in less than 15 seconds, and traffic was able to run smooth again.   When I ran up to her window to ask her if she needed anything else, I saw that twinkle that builds up in your eyes right before you cry, and with the sincerest words I’ve ever heard uttered from a stranger, she said, “I love you.” I was taken aback, and felt my eyes well up with tears as I walked back to my car.

The thought of what occurred gave me the chills on the rest of my way home. Four strangers got together to help this old woman get off the road safely.  We worked without words, like a machine. We worked quickly and efficiently — like brothers — all without even making eye contact.

What occurred today is what medicine feels like. It’s not hard science. It’s not protein transcription, chest CTs, and pre-operative clearance. It’s not stethoscopes, big words, or fancy $3,000 medications.  Medicine is healing. And it can be done with words, actions, or a smile.

Those men made my day better. And together, we made her day better. And I don’t even know their names.

That’s medicine.

Edwin Acevedo, Jr. is a medical student who blogs at the AAMC’s Aspiring Docs Diaries.

Prev

Why the FDA should approve the MenB vaccine

February 9, 2014 Kevin 0
…
Next

Can texting help children with inflammatory bowel disease?

February 9, 2014 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Patients

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Why the FDA should approve the MenB vaccine
Next Post >
Can texting help children with inflammatory bowel disease?

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Edwin Acevedo, Jr., MD

  • Our work goes beyond the hospital

    Edwin Acevedo, Jr., MD
  • Today, I hugged a stranger

    Edwin Acevedo, Jr., MD
  • Working in the ICU, I now know what hell feels like

    Edwin Acevedo, Jr., MD

More in Education

  • What it means to be a woman in medicine today

    Annie M. Trumbull
  • How Japan and the U.S. can collaborate for better health care

    Vikram Madireddy, MD, Masashi Hamada, MD, PhD, and Hibiki Yamazaki
  • The case for a standard pre-med major in U.S. universities

    Devin Behjatnia
  • From rejection to resilience: a doctor’s rise through the Caribbean route

    Ryan Nadelson, MD
  • The hidden cost of professionalism in medical training

    Hannah Wulk
  • The cost of ending shadowing in medical education

    Matthew Ryan, MD, PhD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • How AI, animals, and ecosystems reveal a new kind of intelligence

      Fateh Entabi, MD | Tech
    • Why kratom addiction is the next public health crisis

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Meds
    • A physician employment agreement term that often tricks physicians

      Dennis Hursh, Esq | Finance
    • Why taxing remittances harms families and global health care

      Dalia Saha, MD | Finance
    • The hidden moral injury behind value-based health care

      Jonathan Bushman, DO | Physician
    • Nurse-initiated protocols for sepsis: a strategic imperative for patient care and hospital operations

      Rhonda Collins, DNP, RN | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • Affordable postpartum hemorrhage solutions every OB/GYN should know

      Frank I. Jackson, DO | Conditions
    • Why kratom addiction is the next public health crisis

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Meds
    • Why taxing remittances harms families and global health care

      Dalia Saha, MD | Finance
    • How are prostate exams done and why you shouldn’t avoid them

      Martina Ambardjieva, MD, PhD | Conditions
    • Airlines’ policy ignores your do not resuscitate (DNR): Discover why and some ways to protect yourself

      Althea Halchuck, EJD | Conditions
    • A dual citizen’s choice between two imperfect systems [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 3 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • How AI, animals, and ecosystems reveal a new kind of intelligence

      Fateh Entabi, MD | Tech
    • Why kratom addiction is the next public health crisis

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Meds
    • A physician employment agreement term that often tricks physicians

      Dennis Hursh, Esq | Finance
    • Why taxing remittances harms families and global health care

      Dalia Saha, MD | Finance
    • The hidden moral injury behind value-based health care

      Jonathan Bushman, DO | Physician
    • Nurse-initiated protocols for sepsis: a strategic imperative for patient care and hospital operations

      Rhonda Collins, DNP, RN | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • Affordable postpartum hemorrhage solutions every OB/GYN should know

      Frank I. Jackson, DO | Conditions
    • Why kratom addiction is the next public health crisis

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Meds
    • Why taxing remittances harms families and global health care

      Dalia Saha, MD | Finance
    • How are prostate exams done and why you shouldn’t avoid them

      Martina Ambardjieva, MD, PhD | Conditions
    • Airlines’ policy ignores your do not resuscitate (DNR): Discover why and some ways to protect yourself

      Althea Halchuck, EJD | Conditions
    • A dual citizen’s choice between two imperfect systems [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Medicine can be done with words, actions, or a smile
3 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...