Dear Friends,
January 20th marks Martin Luther King Day. We all know him as a champion of civil rights who drove change in our country. He was also a champion of the importance of service. Philosophers through the ages have helped us to realize that the act of being of service is intrinsic to the act of being human.
The idea of service is core to humanity. In Matthew, Jesus says to the crowd that "The greatest among you shall be your servant." Almost 2000 years later, Mahatma Gandhi told us that "the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." Similarly, in Judaism, Moses is described as "the most humble man on the face of the earth." Within Islam, it is stated that "the leader of a people is their servant."
In other words, leaders are the servants of those that follow. I didn't invent the idea, but those are the rules, and I certainly believe firmly that our highest purpose can be found in the service of others.
Let us all keep this in mind as we start the New Year, and let us all make a pledge that we will choose to be servants.
Let's get started.
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My new video series "Ask A Neurosurgeon" seems to be a bona fide hit. The idea is simple... it's straight answers to challenging questions that some patients, medical professionals, and others are uncomfortable about asking. I've always believed that educated patients enjoy better outcomes as they actively participate in their care and understand the rationale for treatment. They are also, in my experience, more likely to follow advice and stick to a recovery program.
Last month on YouTube, I tackled the question of "What do doctors really think about 2nd opinions?" This month starts off with a quick answer to the question, "What do you really think of Dr. Google? Would it be better if patients didn't search for their own info?"
My answer may surprise you.
Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel and you won't miss future videos in this series.
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My annual video shows highlights and memories from this year. Extra special was a visit to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Incroyable!! (My French accent isn't great, but it truly was incredible.)
Watch the video on Instagram
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I strongly recommend that you consider following me on multiple social media channels. As this Newsletter demonstrates, I'm committed to sharing a broad variety of information and content. Some content may be suitable for a fun Facebook video; some might be found only on a site like LinkedIn.
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Trenton Youth Wrestling & Learning Center
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Sharing the news about Trenton Youth Wrestling & Learning Center
2024 was a year of incredible progress for the Trenton Youth Wrestling & Learning Center initiative. We gained important support from the government of New Jersey and from the generosity of private citizens who understand the mission and purpose of the Center. We'll need help in 2025 as we continue to push forward towards ambitious yet attainable goals.
Watch this powerful video to learn more about changing lives
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Good Souls Television Special
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Did you miss the December broadcast of Good Souls 2024 on WYHH? I'm thrilled to learn that it has been posted to the Internet, and you can watch it now at your convenience. Host Cherri Gregg introduces Trenton area "Good Souls." It was an honor to see Trenton Youth Wrestling featured with an update on the TYWLC progress.
Watch the entire program now from your phone, tablet, or computer.
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“What’s it like to tell someone they have a brain tumor?”
A high school friend of mine asked me once "How do you tell someone they have a brain tumor? How do you tell them they have brain cancer?". It’s actually a very common question that I am asked.
My reply has always been, “It is incredibly difficult, but I wouldn’t want anyone else to do it.”
This is the absolute truth. When it comes to delivering bad news, I prefer to do it myself. Not because I have an intrigue with the macabre, but rather I believe I can deliver it better than anyone else. To me, it’s as intricate a procedure as any of the most complicated operations I perform. The script needs to be clear, just the right length, and delivered perfectly.
Neurosurgery isn't always about huge wins and life-altering surgery. Sometimes it's about tough conversations, unpleasant diagnoses, and hard slogs over a long haul of treatment.
It was a conversation I've never forgotten, and it led to my writing a 3-part series in the Patient Library of my website. Whether you're a patient, a professional, or an aspiring med student, it's an important subject, and I invite you to take the time to read the series of articles.
We opened this month's Newsletter with an observation about service and the act of being a servant. One thing I have learned over the course of my career is that sometimes, being a servant in medicine doesn't mean curing the disease; sometimes it means walking alongside the patient, offering support, compassion, and care as they navigate the course of the disease.
Read the Article.
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NeuroRounds
Our next event is February 4, 2025, at 7:00 AM EST
Our first event of the year was a remarkable session where participants shared transformational moments in their lives. In NeuroRounds, future and current doctors from around the world are meeting and building professional networks that will last for decades. We talked about surgical challenges, personal growth, professional hurdles, and major accomplishments within this incredible world of medicine.
In 2025, we're continuing to grow NeuroRounds into a cannot miss event that will have real impacts on the practice of medicine. Want to a part of that?
Click here for your invitation to attend.
NeuroRounds provides CME credits, virtual shadowing credits, and the opportunity to review real cases with leading medical experts from around the world. It's for Med students, Pre-Meds, Practicing Professionals, and more. It is always free... always live.
You are cordially invited to join NeuroRounds with co-hosts Mark McLaughlin, MD and Med Student Maggie Fitzpatrick, MS on the first Tuesday of the month.
Request your NeuroRounds invitation here. If you know someone who should be attending, please share this newsletter or the direct link with them. They will receive a warm welcome when they join us, and we're confident you will receive their thanks.
To stay up to date on all the latest NeuroRounds news, join our Facebook group here.
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This is YOUR Newsletter. It covers a wide range of topics, and it's intended to educate and keep you up to date on topics of interest. If you have ideas that you would like me to explore in the Newsletter, on my website, or in social media, consider this your invitation to reach out and let me know. Visit the website or any of my social media channels to reach out to me. Also, if you know someone who might enjoy the Newsletter, please feel free to pass it on.
Warm regards,
Mark
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