Looking beyond the borders of our specialty: the 2006 Clarence S. Livingood MD Lecture
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1Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Abstract:
The following is adapted from the Clarence S. Livingood Lecture delivered at the 2006 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting. The Livingood Lecture is the only presentation during the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology that is specifically dedicated to issues other than the science and practice of dermatology. The lecture describes the impact of the compartmentalization of Medicine. Compartments prevent us from seeing certain things and make some of our own observations untrustworthy. Furthermore, compartments affect the context in which we interpret our observations. These limitations on perception impact the physician-patient relationship and outcomes of care, as well as inter-specialty relationships. Compartments may even play a critical role in world conflicts. We would be wise to follow Dr. Livingood's advice to look beyond the borders in our lives.
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