Real Lessons From the Liver Queen

By MARTIN SAMUELS, MD In 1970 I had the opportunity to spend time at the Royal Free Hospital in London.  One of my professors at The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, the late Leon Schiff, a renowned liver expert, arranged for me to work under Professor Sheila Sherlock.  I was placed in a laboratory that was investigating the presumed immune basis of primary biliary cirrhosis.  Roy Fox and Frank Dudley, the faculty in the lab, warmly welcomed me and taught me the basics of immunology research.  My first scientific paper in Gut, was based on this work.  But, I was a budding clinician and I was drawn to the charismatic Professor Sherlock, so I took every opportunity to attend her rounds and teaching conferences.  In many ways a fearsome figure, The Prof dazzled me with her clinical acumen, rhetorical skills, sense of humor and drive.  Though only a lowly visiting medical student, she including me in the exercises and even turned to me as a local “expert” on American culture.  The entire experience is remarkably memorable.  The Prof was filled with pearls, anecdotes, stories and caveats.  Here are a few. The “outpatient” consisted of the Prof seeing patients while the students watched.  The room was arranged with six cubicles, three on each side of her desk, each guarded by a watchful nurse (sister) with a neat uniform and starched hat.  In front of The Prof’s desk were several rows of chairs; perhaps a total of 16, for students who were to sit ...
Source: The Health Care Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: THCB Source Type: blogs