Personal Reflections: Another Year of Living

Thank God for another year. On Saturday, May 17, I will be 64 years old. It is not often that the discipline of medicine addresses the impact of religious faith and how we, the practitioners, are influenced by our faith. My introduction to my faith came from my parents who were great believers in Jesus Christ. As I get older and, hopefully, wiser I grow stronger in my relationship with God. I still work every day on strengthening that relationship. What does this have to do with medicine? The answer, for me, is everything. When I don’t have answers that are comforting to patients, as is often the case, I have to go to my higher authority who is God. Unfortunately, medical school does not teach students how important religion is to the overall behavior of Humanity. If the medical provider does not understand this relationship, the provider misses the opportunity of using another source to help patients play an active role in improving their health. Some physicians may not be willing to recognize the greatest of power and some patients may not appreciate it. Patients will tell you, however, that they feel comforted by a physician having respect for their religious belief. I ask patients to pray for me as I will pray for them. As my Grandmother always used to say to me, “Bless your Heart”.

I am Dr. Thaddeus John Bell --- Closing the Gap in Health Disparities for African Americans.

Bell Update Volume 3, Chapter 18

Copyright May 2008