Palliative Care: Something We All Want
Oct 08, 2017
As a hospice physician – in addition to my role as a doctor who treats cancer – much of my focus is on comfort care. Part of my motivation to ... continue
The Crockett Hospital’s Painful Demise
Jul 09, 2017
June 30, 2017 was a sad day for Crockett, Texas, our neighbor just 47 miles to the west. Little River Healthcare ended its management affiliation with the Houston County Hospital ... continue
The Grass is Greener in Lufkin!
Apr 09, 2017
Sometimes our medical community gets a bad rap. In any community, there can be a tendency to think the grass is always greener somewhere else. This is true whether ... continue
What I Would Like to See in Healthcare Reform (Part 2)
Mar 12, 2017
Last month, I wrote about the bloated, incredibly inefficient federal bureaucracy that eats up hundreds of billions of dollars annually in administrative costs. I mentioned that Obamacare was not ... continue
Support Raising the Smoking Age to 21
Feb 27, 2017
The 85th Texas Legislative Session is in full swing. On Wednesday, February 15, a bill was filed in the House by Representative (and physician) John Zerwas (R) to raise ... continue
Resolve to Improve the Health of our Region
Jan 03, 2017
January is a time of resolution, and often our New Year resolutions focus on diet and exercise. My friends, we need a city, county, and region resolution to lose weight ... continue
History and Medicine in Angelina County
Nov 01, 2016
I recently came into possession of Angelina County Medical Society meeting minutes dating back 80 years, from 1936 to 1954. These archives were kept by Dr. W. D. Thames ... continue
Empowered – and Inundated – by Pink
Oct 04, 2016
There is a minor malady that comes around every season. It is characterized by a drop in energy, glazed eyes, and a strong desire just to sit and do ... continue
Lung Cancer Screening Saves Lives
May 03, 2016
For more than 50 years now, we have known the dangers of smoking. That smoking causes heart disease, emphysema, and lung and other cancers is not in dispute. For ... continue
Doctors Must Reinstill Sense of Duty
Feb 02, 2016
This article was originally published at Houston Chronicle http://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/Doctors-must-reinstill-sense-of-duty-6733668.php?t=d4a64f80cb&cmpid=email-premium and is reprinted here with permission from the author (me). I am a physician. Being a doctor defines me. Whether I ... continue
Feeding the Hungry this Holiday Season
Dec 01, 2015
Our series of articles titled Business is Everyone’s Business has focused so far on various employers, both large and small, and their economic or employment impact in the region ... continue
PineCrest has Far-reaching Economic Impact
Nov 03, 2015
Mayor Bob Brown, City Manager Keith Wright, Chamber CEO Jim Johnson and other local government and business leaders recently launched a series titled Business is Everyone’s Business. The purpose ... continue
Cattle Baron's Gala Supports Local Cancer Patients
Oct 06, 2015
I always look forward to the Pineywoods Cattle Baron's Gala. Not only do I have a good time, I know the money raised is going to a great cause - ... continue
A New Generation of Leaders
Aug 04, 2015
A new generation of leadership is emerging in Lufkin. For those of us who have volunteered for various organizations over the years, there has been a hunger to see ... continue
A Texan, West or East?
Jul 02, 2013
I am a 4th generation Texan, born in Abileneand raised in Midland. Moving away from West Texas wasn't easy for many reasons, but mainly because I didn't want to ... continue