BOOSTED BY MEDIUM

How I Pissed Off Six Separate Medical Specialists During One Emergency Department Encounter

If I’m the point of the spear someone is going to get poked

I’m simple but effective. Photo by Crawford Jolly on Unsplash

In 2003 I was the only Board-Certified Emergency Physician in Holland, hired as a change agent, the so-called point of the spear.

Evolution of the questionable decision to hire me

Although I worked as an academic Emergency Physician (EP) at a University Hospital physician training program, I’d had an interest in International Emergency Medicine (EM) for a long time.

I’d already done several international medical missions, each about a month in duration, in Honduras, Brazil, and Kenya. I’d also staffed a medical clinic in Belize, again for about a month.

What I desired though was an international posting at the intersection of meaningful longitudinal involvement, education, and innovation. Throw in a dash of adventure, or the unexpected, I always thought, and I’m yours.

Then I saw it.

A small ad in an International EM newsletter.

Are you a culturally sensitive, experienced academic EP interested in…