THE BEGINNING...

"I was nervous, enthralled, overwhelmed and eager to start the new TV show. "

Rogers TV wanted a medical show, but there were already too many medical shows and I did not want to be next Dr. Sanjay Gupta or the next Dr. OZ. It is not about marketing; it is about medicine.

In Ottawa, there was the famous Dr. Barry Dworkin who had an incredible show dealing with evidence based medicine. He taught people to critically think about the fantastic cures being touted by advertisers disguised as medical researchers. There was Dr. Peter Lin of CBC radio. The voice of medicine simplified with humour and panache every Wednesday morning. Of course, who can forgot the larger than life personality and medical documentaries of Dr. Brian Goldman. White Coat, Black Art is a staple in my life. These were mentors to emulate, but I wanted to do something different.

On another thought, society tends to value and idolize film and music celebrities, sports heroes and politicians. One can argue that media celebrities offer very little to our lives except escape and gossip. In many ways they are the antithesis to personal health and well being. Sports heroes perform miraculous physical achievements for their own fame and tremendous fortune but there are very few that exemplify the values for which we should all strive: preventative health measures, non promiscuity, balance in life, and public service. There are only a few Clara Hughes' and Daniel Alfredssons out there. Finally, politicians provide public service and intellectual challenge. They are involved in representing us while at the same time governing us. They are walking a fine line of special interest groups, popular opinion, loyalty to the their party, lobbyists, financial supporters, and their constituents. This is an extremely fine tight rope to balance upon.

Finally, I work day in day out with many great doctors that work extremely hard to improve people's lives. They share their patient's pains, sorrows, fears, joys, and bewilderment. These men and women work quietly in the background. They skip meals, finish paperwork late into the night, answer phone calls at there children's birthday parties, work on holidays, and use their free time to improve the lives of Ontarians with medical issues.

                                                 I am talking about doctors that let you in when they are having lunch to suture up your child's chin. I am talking about the doctor that visits homeless people under a bridge. I am talking about the doctor that goes to your home in the middle of the night because your wife is vomiting blood from metastatic liver cancer and is suffering from pain. I am talking about the doctor that holds your hand as you try your hardest to push out your first child and explains why you need a c-section after working with you all night to deliver your baby. I am talking about the doctor that explains why you don't need an antibiotic when you have a viral infection. I am talking about the doctor that goes to the crime scene with dismembered body parts and investigates what happened without throwing up.  

 "These are your true heroes."

I look forward to bringing their stories to you.
Humbly, DR A squared.

To be continued...