Medicine and surgery have changed and evolved. In the past, we had fewer specialists and the doctors usually had to have a broader medical base training. While my training in that system is a benefit to my patients in assessing their overall health, I realized that a surgeon that specializes in one area is usually best equipped to handle your needs. I am one of the few area doctors that is specifically trained in breast cancer surgery. The medicine of today is just so complex. Today’s doctors need to listen to patients, teach and inform them and patiently answers their questions.

I believe doctors who have broad interests, hobbies, family and friends, have the best skill sets for insight into the patient with breast cancer.

When I am not working, my life revolves around “family, friends, and the outdoors.” At an early age, I was captured by the outdoors. My parents complained that as a young man I was forever disappearing into the woods, marshes, lakes and bays, exploring the wildlife. If I am not fishing in my free time, I am in the back country enjoying hiking with my family and four English setters. No, I do not let them sleep in my bed or even bedroom at night, but they sure like to curl up at my feet in front of the fire on a cold night. And what would I do without my soul mate? (“perfectly fine,” she kiddingly says “as long as he has his dogs!”).

I asked my good friend from childhood, who is a successful businessman, “What do you think I should add to my “bio” for patients?” He quickly replied, they need to have a “Sense of the Fellow”. When I replied “what?”, his explanation gave me pause. “Ted, he explained, these folks are putting their life into your hands, especially the ones who wind up with breast cancer. They not only want to know your surgical skills and professionalism, but what type of person you are. What you do and what is your outlook on life when you are not being a surgeon? And I would tell them how much I admire you because I have seen few people who exhibit your level of professionalism and skill and who works so darn hard–unbelievably hard. Yet, you are genuinely tender and thoughtful and who walks down life’s path with his beloved Setters..Ike, Lefty, Rocky and Garth on one side and his lovely Suzanne on the other.”