Bishop Buddy Scrapbook 1946-1948

,- . MAY, 1947

T O Doctor Buddy, medicine has definitely been a life, not a job, as he so ably points out it should be in his ad-.-ice to the citizens of Teendom. His responsibilities are so numerous, they're almost unbelie-.-able: In St. Louis since 1920, he has been Chief of Medicine at Alexion Brothers Hospital, Head of the Medical Departments at St. Louis Mullanphy and De Paul Hospital, as well as Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at St. Louis Uni-.-ersity. He is also Associate Phy- sician to the St. Mary's Group of Hospitals, St. Anthony's Hospital, and ( one of his proudest positions, incidentally) physician for the Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged. In 1937, twenty-se-.-en years after recei-.-ing his M.D. from St. Louis Uni-.-ersity, h.e Jl'OS certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. And, in 1946, he was chosen President of the St, Louis Medical Society. His charity and selflessness are refl.ected in his personal life by his acti-.-e participation for many years in the Knights of Columbus and the St. Vin- cent De Paul Society. His brother, the Most Reverend Charles F. Buddy, is Bishop of San Diego.

CAREER CORNER

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Dr. Edward C. Buddy, M.D.

DO YOU

By EDWARD C. BUDDY, M. D.

A NY ambitious young boy or girl of today looks forward to a career. No nation is more progressive than its people, and it is a healthy indication when young people want to prove that they, too, are human be- ings of intelligence and perhaps want to be even smarter than Mother and Dad. The teen-age period is the time for consideration of a career, and certainly medicine appeals to many. It is best to weigh the advantages and disadvantages, the happiness and the sorrow, connected with any career. The practice of medicine should appeal to you as an opportunity for doing good, for rendering service to your fellowmen, rather than for any honor, fame or, financial reward it might bring you. There is, first of all, the reward in the joy and satisfaction you ex- perience when doing good to others and giv- ing them relief in sickness and distress. Medicine holds, without doubt, the very first rank among the several professions that are not only very noble but also very neces- sary for the well-being of human society. What priests are doing for the spiritual wel- fare of mankind, the physicians are doing for the physical welfare. Good Christian doctors are needed in this age of materialism, of apos- tacy from God, wherein man is considered as a mere animal without an immortal soul and treated accordingly. Where are there golden opportunities for a well-equipped conscientious ·physician? They await in many places-civil practice, clinics, medical schools, hospitals, institutions, public health, military and missionary fields. The doctors of medicine were heroes of both world wars, and much credit is give11, them for the success of our Armies, besides their wonderful medical accomplishments, their self-sacrifice and devotion to duty. There is the missionary doctor, so badly needed in our Catholic missions in pagan lands, who labors side by side with the priest in establishing the Kingdom of Christ. What It Takes to be a Good Doctor Oh, it sounds so inspiring to be a doctor. Immediately, you see yourself immaculately dressed in white, deftly performing an oper- ation, or in a swanky office with an ultra- modern office girl, treating patients and leav- ing the office in a new streamlined machine promptly at four p.m. for a game of golf. Listen-there is more to the medical ca- reer: First of all, you should be healthy be- cause of the enormous demands on your physical being during your student days and

your lifetime of strenuous activity. Besides, a healthy body presages a healthy mind. You should be active and of good habits and not handicapped by bodily infirmities. After you pass the physical demands, what about the financial demands? Extremely great are the financial demands imposed upon any student of medicine. Many authorities· advocate the opinion that the financial re- sources of the student should be sufficient to carry him through both premedical and med- ical school education. This opinion, how- ever, does not hold good for all students. The student should have enough initiative and energy to seek employment outside of his scholastics which not only creates diver- sion for himself, but also relieves the finan• cial stress of his benefactors. The physician has to be an energetic and a hard-working individual. This can be accomplished by the ability of being self-sustaining. You should be alert ahd keen of mind, with a good memory and a'bility to apply your knowledge wisely, Good basic education is necessary, especially in English, Latin and the cultural subjects. Yes, it takes a lot of things to be a good doctor. It takes patience; it takes physical and nervous stamina; it takes great tact; it takes understanding of people; it takes sound judgment; it takes unusual scientific and scholastic aptitude; it takes a good mem- ory; it takes the quality of imperturbability; it takes a kindness and sympathy for the un- fortunate; and, above all, it takes a spirit of humanitarianism, a sense of humor and a sense of service. These qualifications are not insurmountable, if you have the real desire to succeed and the proper faith in your ability and willingness to apply and develop your talents. You must love your profession in order to make the sacrifices necessary for achieving success: four years of premedical education, of medical college, a year or more of internship and a lifetime of study. What Is the Lure of Medicine? As Doctor Henry A. Christian so well said, "The fascination of medicine is that it is a never-ending study; each new patient is a problem for investigation." There is some- thing interesting, intriguing, all the time. Never a dull moment. To forget what you have learned cannot keep you ready for the obligation of medicine; you must continue to study or fall hopelessly behind the times. Medicine concerns itself with human be- ( Co11cl11ded 011 page 69)

Car eer Corner [CONCLUDED FROM PAGE 51]

ings. Nothing is more interesting than the human personality with which the physician comes so intimately in con- tact. The human relations of medicine, to many, prove to be its greatest attrac- tion. Opportunity for leadership in civic af- fairs and public health matters, the re- spect and esteem of the community, and the trust and confidence of patients who seek advice and help are worthy induce- ments for your consideration. Then there is the possibility of discovering something new for the cure of disease or the relief of suffering, bringing fame and renown, besides the real pleasure of ac- complishing something worthwhile. The financial reward comes to the doctor with ability and thrift, and, while not as alluring as in other p~ofessions or busi- ness, provides for a good livelihood and, in many cases, comfortable wealth and independence. The greatest lure of all is in the satisfaction of doing some good, of being able-with God's help-to at least lift a part of the burden of suffer- I ing fellow men. . THE END

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