Dear Friends,
Every year around this time I watch the 1946 classic movie "It’s a Wonderful Life" starring James Stewart. It is a Christmas ritual for me.
One of my favorite quotes ever appears in the movie and is on the screen for just a flash. But if you carefully watch the scene when George Bailey is in his father’s office, you can catch it. The words are written under a portrait of his father, which hangs in the office. It’s a profound statement and one I have made my mantra. It reads: "All you can take with you is that which you've given away." That quote has been my mantra ever since I learned of it. I wanted to share it with you, and I hope it affects you in the way it did me.
Pa Bailey appears only briefly in the movie but his role in expressing a philosophy and way of life is critical.
Let's get started.
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My new video series "Ask A Neurosurgeon" looks like it's a hit. The series is intended to answer questions that some patients and even medical professionals may find awkward or uncomfortable to ask. The truth is that asking questions, even when they feel awkward or uncomfortable, is essential for growth and understanding. It takes courage to voice uncertainties, but those questions often lead to the most meaningful insights and solutions. In the end, the willingness to ask is a powerful act of curiosity and humility.
In this recent and popular video, I tackle the question of "What do doctors really think about 2nd opinions?"
Be sure to subscribe and you won't miss future videos in this series.
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Mike Snyder was a friend of mine. He loved wrestling and working with kids. Mike has passed, but his legacy lives on in the annual Iron Mike Classic event.
See photos and learn more on Instagram
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The Iron Mike Youth Sports Foundation is dedicated to the idea that no child should be left on the sidelines of sport due to a cost barrier to participation.
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Trenton Youth Wrestling & Learning Center
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Sharing the news about Trenton Youth Wrestling & Learning Center
On December 7th, and in conjunction with the Iron Mike Classic, we were able to share parts of the paradigm-changing vision for the Trenton Youth Wrestling & Learning Center. Learn more on the TYWLC website, and join us in making a difference in the lives of Trenton Youth.
Learn About the Bold Vision for A New Facility
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Good Souls Television Special
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Don't miss the Annual WHYY Good Souls TV Special on December 17 at 7:30 PM
The program will feature an update on the progress and mission of the Trenton Youth Wrestling and Learning Center
Watch on WHYY TV-12 or livestream to your computer, tablet, or phone.
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A Different Kind of Giving
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Medical research can be challenging. There are diseases and conditions which remain very difficult to diagnose and to treat. The brain is a particularly challenging thing to understand. We are making slow progress in understanding the effects of contact sports on the brain, As a neurosurgeon, as an ex-NCAA DIV I wrestler, and as a coach, I have looked for ways that might allow me to make a difference both in life and in death.
Last year, I formalized the arrangements to donate my brain to science after my passing. My neurosurgical alma mater (University of Pittsburgh) is leading the way in this research with the National Sports Brain Bank and the fit makes sense. If you were a participant in contact sports you may also be interested in learning more about this bold initiative and joining me, and a mix of former professional and college athletes who have chosen to support the research in a very personal way.
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Learn about the National Sports Brain Bank initiative and the drive to understand the relationship between contact sports and brain injuries.
Follow this link to the University of Pittsburgh.
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Winston Churchill once observed that Christmas is not just a season of rejoicing... it is a time of reflection. Accordingly, I would like to share again a three-part video series from the website.
A Ukraine Story is a very personal reflection by my wife Julie and me. It consists of three short video episodes.
Episode One "The Good Samaritan, Vespers, and Babcia" will introduce the story and some of the characters. We'll talk about questions of mercy and faith. We'll ask "What does it mean to be a Good Samaritan?" and "How does one choose to be a Good Samaritan?" The story takes place during the chaos of late World War II and resonates to current-day New Jersey. Please take the time to watch all three episodes, or bookmark it to return over the Christmas season.
We reflect on how the decision of an unlikely hero changed multiple lives over the next 80 years.
I hope you might consider this as our family's Christmas gift to you and your family, and that it might also inspire you to consider the simple ways available to each of us, to make a difference.
Visit the website and watch now.
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NeuroRounds
Our next event is January 7, 2025, at 7:00 AM EST
We wrapped up the year 2024 with a spectacular session with John Y. K. Lee, MD (Medical Director, Penn Gamma Knife at Pennsylvania Hospital). An extended Q&A shared residency and specialty tips for a very curious group of med students and premeds.
In 2025, we'll be expecting to see fresh and old faces alike as students, residents, and other medical pros strive to improve their skillset. NeuroRounds will challenge you to expand your technical, philosophical, and interpersonal toolbox. If you're serious about medicine, I recommend RESOLUTION NUMBER ONE for 2025 to join us monthly.
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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