'Her Passion Was Taking Care of Her Patients'

As many of you know, I love reading the obituaries in the daily New York Times because I get to read about the accomplishments of many people that most of us have never heard of.  Since most of us never brag about what we have done in our lives or the other people that we have gone out of our way to help, it is nice to know that someone will learn what our lives were about.

Today, I read of the passing of Dr. Jody Ross Birns, a pediatrician  who practiced in White Plains, NY and who succumbed to breast cancer at age 60. In the obituary we read:

"She loved family and friends. Her passion was taking care of her patients with who she developed a very strong bond. This was attested by the large number of second generation patients who brought to her by parents that she took care of when they were children."

There is no greater appreciation shown to a doctor than having multiple generations of patients to treat at the same time. In our office, we have seen THREE GENERATIONS of patients which is something that may never happen again because the oldest generation is passing on and the younger generations often do not return to their parents geographic location after college.

I am most honored to have taken care of my patients for a very long time...many for almost 40 years.
As I have said many times..... The doctor/patient relationship is one of the most special of human relationships. It is not husband and wife or parent and child but it is right up there when a patient asks you to take care of them and TRUSTS that you will do so.

Sadly, for most patients this relationship  is coming to an end with my generation of physicians and dentists. Patients move around between dental offices to 'find the best deal' which is often not the same as 'find the best care.'

This ,like many things in American life, saddens me a great deal because taking care of you has been my life's work and not just a job.