This is interesting, but it doesn't say what area of medicine he hopes to enter. I have to admit that if a blind physician practiced in my area I would not go to him/her. I hope this doesn't cause an uproar. <smile> Sue S. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cindy" <popularplace@xxxxxxxxx> To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, April 03, 2005 4:41 PM Subject: [bookshare-discuss] Fwd: Fw: A New Doctor who is blind Another article sent by my wants-to-remain-anonymous friend. This is amazing. We saw a segment a while back on one of the news magazine programs about a little person who also became a physician -- I think a surgeon -- despite the perceived handicap of his size. Cindy > > This article runs in the Sunday Lexington KENTUCKY > newspaper: > > New doctor doesn't let blindness stop him > > HE RELIES ON GADGETS AND DETERMINATION > By Sharon Cohen > ASSOCIATED PRESS > > MADISON, Wis. - The young medical student was > nervous as he slid the > soft, thin tube down into the patient's > windpipe. It was a delicate > maneuver -- and he knew he had to get it right. > > Tim Cordes leaned over the patient as his > professor and a team of > others closely monitored his every step. > Carefully, he positioned the > tube, waiting for the signal that oxygen was > flowing. > > The anesthesia machine was set to emit musical > tones to confirm that > the tube was in the trachea and carbon dioxide > was present. Soon, > Cordes heard the sounds. He double-checked with > a stethoscope. All was > OK. He had completed the intubation. > > Several times over two weeks, Cordes performed > this difficult task at > the University of Wisconsin Hospital and > Clinics. His professor, Dr. > George Arndt, marveled at his student's skills. > > "He was 100 percent," the doctor says. "He did > it better than the > people who could see." > > Tim Cordes is blind. > > He has mastered much in his 28 years: Jujitsu. > Biochemistry. > Water-skiing. Music composition. Any one of > these accomplishments > would be impressive. Together, they're dazzling. > And now, there's more > luster for his gold-plated r?sum? with > a new title: Doctor. > > In a world where skeptics always seem to be > saying, 'Stop, this isn't > something a blind person should be doing,' it > was one more barrier > overcome. There is only a handful of blind > doctors in this country. > > Cordes finished medical school at the University > of Wisconsin-Madison > in the top sixth of his class (he received just > one B), earning > honors, accolades and admirers along the way. > > Without sight, Cordes had to learn how to > identify clusters of > spaghetti-thin nerves and vessels in cadavers, > study X-rays, read EKGs > and patient charts, examine slides showing > slices of the brain, > diagnose rashes -- and more. > > He used a variety of special tools, including > raised-line drawings, a > computer that reads into his earpiece whatever > he types, a visual > describer, a portable printer that allowed him > to write notes for > patient charts, and a device called an Optacon > that has a small camera > with vibrating pins that help his fingers feel > images. > > "It was kind of whatever worked," Cordes says. > "Sometimes you can > psych yourself out and anticipate problems that > don't materialize. ... > You can sit there and plan for every > contingency, or you just go out > and do things. ... That was the best way." > > That's been his philosophy much of his life. > Cordes was just 5 months > old when he was diagnosed with Leber's disease. > He wore glasses by age > 2 and gradually lost his sight. At age 16, when > his peers were getting > their car keys, he took his first steps with a > guide dog. > > Through the years, plenty of people have > underestimated Cordes. > > That was especially true when he applied for > medical school and was > rejected by several universities, despite > glowing references, two > years of antibiotics research and a 3.99 > undergraduate average as a > biochemistry major. > > Even when Wisconsin-Madison accepted him, Cordes > says, he knew there > was "some healthy skepticism." But, he adds, > "the people I worked with > were top-notch and really gave me a chance." > > Cordes says some of his most valuable lessons > came from doctors who > believed in showing rather than telling. > > "You can describe what it feels like to put your > hand on the aorta and > feel someone's blood flowing through it," he > says, his face lighting > up, "but until you feel it, you really don't get > a sense of what > that's like." > > > > > > > -- > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.8.7 - Release > Date: 2/10/2005 > > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Get it on your mobile phone. http://mobile.yahoo.com/maildemo