Get to know the Doctor

If you read my blog regularly you've read "The doctor is in" articles submitted by Marc Rowe.

Marc is a fascinating guy and he's going to be included in a book. The following are from a draft sent to him about a conference and the book, both of which focus on how adversity in the workings of the mind are dealt with, resulting in personal success.



Proposed Title (up to 250 characters): “Never Trust a Surgeon Who Can Spell or an Astronomer Who's a Fast Reader" -- Recognizing the Advantages and Paradoxes of Dyslexia in Medicine, Surgery, Astronomy, Physics, Molecular Biology, Paleontology and Other Sciences: Neurological, Developmental, and Educational Implications.



The new book will feature profiles of dyslexic scientists such as the late William J. Dreyer, a Caltech professor who used his highly visual imagination to see things in molecular biology and immunology well before others -- and in so doing helped to start the biotech revolution, developing one new theory 12 years ahead of others in the field, creating new sets of data by inventing his own new instruments (first automated protein sequencer, 1977) and starting seven new biotech companies. Another profile in the new book will focus on John R. (Jack) Horner who flunked out of the University of Montana seven times but is now known as one of the three most important paleontologists in the world. The new book is to include a review of the advantages of dyslexia and strong visual and 3D thinking in a range of occupations: surgery, radiology, dermotology, molecular biology, nanotechnology, physics, astronomy, engineering, navigation and piloting of boats and ships, stunt pilots, military pilots, architecture, industrial design, among others.



Marc I. Rowe, MD, currently retired, was Benjamin R. Fischer Professor of Surgery and Chief, Division of Pediatric Surgery University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Surgeon in Chief, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. He is a graduate Phi Beta Kappa with High Honors from Brown University, received his M.D. (AOA) from Tufts University School of Medicine, and trained in general and pediatric surgery at Boston City Hospital and Columbus Children’s Hospital. He is past President of the American Pediatric Surgery Association, was Associate Editor of Journal of Pediatric Surgery, and was the winner of the prestigious Ladd Medal for Pediatric Surgical Excellence from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The editor of 5 books, he is the author of 186 articles in peer-reviewed journals and of 98 book chapters. Currently living in Florida, he is Visiting Professor at the University of Miami Department of Surgery. In his early schooling, Dr. Rowe had severe learning problems. He was warned never to even try college and he was signed up for a welding course to begin when he graduated from high school.



If learning is difficult for you, take heart from the proposed titles;



In Medical school, Surgery Was Like Coming Home or Surgery Was Easy -- But Elementary School Was Murder!

Dr. Rowe will discuss how he rose from the "dumb class" in elementary school to become Professor of Pediatric Surgery and winner of the highest national award for surgical excellence.