By Dr. Jim Ferguson They say that people look like their dogs. That’s obviously an over statement, but I have to admit I’ve occasionally noticed some resemblance in folks who walk their dogs in the neighborhood. For a long time I’ve observed that a doctor’s medical practice is a reflection of his attitude and care. […]
By Dr. Jim Ferguson Sometimes I have more to say after I’ve finished an essay. This week I was going to write about new research on the mechanisms of aging, but the turmoil in our nation and the lies of our leaders can’t go unchallenged. So I’ll stick my neck out again as the battle […]
By Dr. Jim Ferguson A liberal friend of mine recently asked me if I’ve gone soft. Perhaps he was surprised by my Travel Trilogy published in September. I don’t go out of my way to pick a fight, but I learned long ago on the school yard that a bully cannot be reasoned with or […]
By Dr. Jim Ferguson October in Knoxville is wonderful– or as they say in Italian, “bellissimo.” About the time you get sick of one season, another comes along. I went out the other day and I felt it. The cooler, dryer weather made me know “Fall is in the air.” I’ve been on five continents […]
By Dr. Jim Ferguson For a long time I’ve had a metaphoric vision of my life as a cross country airplane trip. As a young man, I packed my bags and hustled to the airport to make my life-flight. As I fastened my seat belt as I buckled down in college and medical school before […]
By Dr. Jim Ferguson At this time of my life I’ve learned to ask, “Why?” when confronted by issues or perspectives. This is certainly true of politics, but applies in medicine as well. Our word politics comes from the Greek term polis or city-state. The great statesman, Pericles, of ancient Athens said that the business […]
By Dr. Jim Ferguson Recent remarks in the media and by our leaders regarding the Zimmerman trial caused me to reflect on a paper that recently appeared in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). I first heard of the fight or flight response in health class which we all had to take in […]
“To go against conscience is neither right nor safe.” Martin Luther By Dr. Jim Ferguson Perhaps it’s a bit late to talk about Independence Day, but I wanted everyone to know that Knoxville Tennessee was named the most patriotic city in the United States according to a recent USA Today poll. I realize most polls […]
By Dr. Jim Ferguson A song by Kathy Mattea resonates with me this week because I’m “home alone.” Mattea described the lifelong relationship of Claire and Edwin, whose byline was, “Where’ve you been? I’m just not myself when you’re away.” This September Becky and I will have been married thirty-eight years, more than half our […]
Last week I heard someone complain that our state legislators just don’t understand the Supremacy Clause. If that statement is true, I am sure they are not the only ones so I thought it might be worth briefly discussing the Supremacy Clause in this column. The Supremacy Clause is found in Article VI, Section 2 […]
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