Changing Spots, a Leopard 40 catamaran
Explore the world by sail
My Ancient History - Medicine
I trained/worked for many years, including one year as a staff physician in Pediatrics, at the University of California Davis Medical Center
in Sacramento. Prior to retirement at the end of 2006, I worked as an Allergist/Immunologist, (adults and children), and Pediatric
Rheumatologist for almost 20 years (since 1987). This was with Mercy Medical Group, a large multispecialty clinic in Sacramento,
California, and a 1.5 to 2 hour drive to the San Francisco Bay area, where I sailed. Although this is probably the best job in the world, I had
a dream: - to sail the world. The staff, my colleagues, and my patients were a pleasure to work with. They made it very
difficult to leave, and turned my five year plan into nine years.
My PhD was in cancer immunology, with Dr. Julia Levy at the University of British Columbia. My Post Doctoral research was in transplant
immunology, with Dr. Rudy Falk at the University of Toronto. Both were mainly focused on cell membrane receptor biochemistry and
immunochemistry. I am Board Certified in both Pediatrics, and Allergy/Immunology. I am a Fellow of the American Academy of
Pediatrics, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, and the American College of Rheumatology. Yes, I went to school
for a long time! Hence the alphabet soup after my name.
Besides patient care I also did numerous lectures, got to travel extensively (both professionally doing lectures and speaker training, and
leisure), and published in peer reviewed journals, medical magazines, and a chapter in an Allergy Immunology textbook. I had fun writing
several patient information handouts. You may be interested in the latter, even if you don't have the problems. I tried to make them as fun
and interesting as possible. Check them out; they are free to a good home. My patients have sent copies to friends and family all over
the world.
I enjoy teaching and this site is for my patients, many of whom asked to know what I was going to do when I retired.
8/13/2008
Sometimes it is very difficult not being an Allergist and teacher. At a cafe in Newport, RI, I observed a teenage girl using her albuterol
(rescue) inhaler with the "wrong" technique. This is the package insert, twenty year out if date method, giving all the side effects and
only a small amount of the potential benefit. It was very difficult to not say anything, as I bit my tongue.
Thank you all, for all your support.
Robert Watson PhD MD FAAP FACR FAAAAI
I trained/worked for many years, including one year as a staff physician in Pediatrics, at the University of California Davis Medical Center
in Sacramento. Prior to retirement at the end of 2006, I worked as an Allergist/Immunologist, (adults and children), and Pediatric
Rheumatologist for almost 20 years (since 1987). This was with Mercy Medical Group, a large multispecialty clinic in Sacramento,
California, and a 1.5 to 2 hour drive to the San Francisco Bay area, where I sailed. Although this is probably the best job in the world, I had
a dream: - to sail the world. The staff, my colleagues, and my patients were a pleasure to work with. They made it very
difficult to leave, and turned my five year plan into nine years.
My PhD was in cancer immunology, with Dr. Julia Levy at the University of British Columbia. My Post Doctoral research was in transplant
immunology, with Dr. Rudy Falk at the University of Toronto. Both were mainly focused on cell membrane receptor biochemistry and
immunochemistry. I am Board Certified in both Pediatrics, and Allergy/Immunology. I am a Fellow of the American Academy of
Pediatrics, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, and the American College of Rheumatology. Yes, I went to school
for a long time! Hence the alphabet soup after my name.
Besides patient care I also did numerous lectures, got to travel extensively (both professionally doing lectures and speaker training, and
leisure), and published in peer reviewed journals, medical magazines, and a chapter in an Allergy Immunology textbook. I had fun writing
several patient information handouts. You may be interested in the latter, even if you don't have the problems. I tried to make them as fun
and interesting as possible. Check them out; they are free to a good home. My patients have sent copies to friends and family all over
the world.
I enjoy teaching and this site is for my patients, many of whom asked to know what I was going to do when I retired.
8/13/2008
Sometimes it is very difficult not being an Allergist and teacher. At a cafe in Newport, RI, I observed a teenage girl using her albuterol
(rescue) inhaler with the "wrong" technique. This is the package insert, twenty year out if date method, giving all the side effects and
only a small amount of the potential benefit. It was very difficult to not say anything, as I bit my tongue.
Thank you all, for all your support.
Robert Watson PhD MD FAAP FACR FAAAAI
| Disclaimer - Most of this page is written for my patients, or people with an interest in medical issues, and is not directly sailing related. It does however, contain free medical information! Opinions expressed here are my own, so I can't blame anybody else! |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
You are never better than your attitude. - RW
Some of these documents may need to be opened in "read only". Click on the underlined words to open them.
| I have no financial interest in any of the information presented here, and no bias (except my own). It is free and I am not trying to sell anything, but wish you GOOD HEALTH! |
musings on terrorism:
we must not, cannot lose the war.
The first salvo of the first battle of the Third World War, of the Third millenium has been
fired. The battle has been lost, the perpetrators have won, and they will very possibly
get away with it. BUT, they may have already lost the war, and we may win without even
firing a shot.
This disgusting act of almost unimaginable evil was not an attack on the US, but was an
attack on the world. If the attack were against the pentagon, or possibly even the white
house, then the attack would have been against the US. However, when innocent, non-
combatants, in the WORLD Trade Center, are targeted and murdered without any
possible justifiable cause, this became an attack on the whole, civilized world. The
outpouring of support and sympathy from every civilized country in the world proves it.
After the shock and disbelief, the pain, grief, and numbness set in, followed rapidly by
frustration and anger, and an over whelming desire for revenge. This battle was lost
but our resolve has been forged. We can win the war, but only if we handle the trigger
of revenge with restraint.
Before you enter a war or battle, you must have an objective. A historical and perhaps
natural reaction is to wipe out the “enemy” who is perceived to be anybody associated
with the perpetrators. Blaming Muslims and Arabs for this atrocity makes just as much
sense as blaming White Christian males for the Oklahoma City bombings!
In view of the determination, planning, and skill required to commit this attack, the
terrorists who attacked us were not stupid, and MUST have had a goal. If they achieve
it – THEY WIN. Undoubtedly, killing a few thousand Americans was not their goal. I
believe that their goal is to stimulate us to react like they do, with such uncontrolled
hatred and evil that we lose the sympathy of the world and turn it to disgust against our
people. Once the mighty US attacks with force, against a small enemy, and with
extensive collateral destruction of innocents, our enemies will gain sympathy, and we
will have lost the war.
We need to carefully determine an objective in our war against terrorism. We cannot
win their war, their way, since they willing give their lives, which they hold so cheaply.
Let us establish the battlefield, rather than waging their war on their field. Once we
establish our goal we must win, not just find a release for our pent-up frustrations and
anger. Our goal should not be to just wipe out these evil monsters. It may not even be
possible by direct assault, since, by now they are very well hidden. We don’t even
know how many people, groups, or countries were involved. Our goal is to end
terrorism for the world. The only way we can capture the terrorists is to work with their
hosts and supporters. Embarrass them with a deluge of world disgust at the actions of
their guests, and force the hosts to turn over their guests to account for their actions to
the whole world.
How does the world eliminate this terrorism scourge, which preys on the weak and
defenseless? Now is the time to try. The civilized world has acknowledged this attack
as evil, even though some of the countries or groups have condoned or even
supported terrorism in the past. Now is the time to challenge the world to denounce
terrorism and all its supporters. We must define terrorism, complete with examples of
acceptable versus non-acceptable actions. Nations, groups, or individuals, who act
outside of these acceptable limits will be ostracized, punished, and not given haven.
If we outlaw terrorism, the victims of this tragedy may not have died in vain. On our
current path, in ten years we will have security checkpoints at all national and state
monuments, major attractions, and public buildings. Even simple travel will be bogged
down, just like air travel has been. If we outlaw terrorism, someday, even the airport
checkpoints will not be needed, and we will again be able to show our freedom to the
world. Score one for the free world; the terrorists lose.
Robert D Watson PhD MD
This was written one month after 9/11, long before the invasion of Iraq.
