Welcome back to Pediatric Meltdown Today we are on our 100th Episode, once again we have Dr. Robert Saul, Dr. Saul is a pediatrician and medical geneticist, and has been guiding parents and their children’s physical, and behavioral, and mental care for over 40 years. He is a Professor of Pediatrics (Emeritus). Dr. Bob Saul developed the Parental Awareness Threshold, a simple framework that guides parents and guardians to actively parent with self-awareness, empathy, and compassion. Parents who use this framework create a healthy environment where children learn to build safe, stable, and nurturing relationships as well as exhibit love and respect for others in their community.
In the medical world of high-tech imaging and laboratory testing, the true practice of taking a comprehensive medical history and the laying on of hands gets forgotten or brushed aside relegating physicians and advanced practitioners to the role of technicians. We must never underestimate the skills of listening and the power of shared humanity. After four decades of pediatric practice, Dr. Robert Saul shares his wisdom and his insights about practicing the art of medicine.
[02:00 – 10:29] The Art of Medicine: Dr. Saul on the Relationship between Science and Art
- Dr. Saul is a pediatrician and medical geneticist who has been guiding parents and their children’s physical behavioral and mental healthcare for over 40 years.
- He is a professor at the Medical University of South Carolina and has authored four books.
- Dr. Saul is also a very prolific writer and has blogged about leaving the Columbine world and how to be the best parent you can be.
[10:30 – 18:22] How to Connect with Patients
- Medical things that need to be done may not be able to be done because of socioeconomic status or what is happening in a person’s life at the time.
- The art of medicine is to ask routine medical questions and then let the patient know how much they matter to the physician.
- It takes years of training and experience to become a good physician.
- It is important to remember the patients’ names and what is important to them, in order to connect with them.
[18:22 – 26:08] Doctor Shares What brings Him, Joy, When He thinks About His Career
- The importance of a physical exam and how it can be used to diagnose medical conditions.
- Talks about the importance of establishing trust with patients and how this can be done through listening and providing reassurance.
- The joys that come with practicing medicine say that it is especially rewarding to see the positive responses from patients years after their encounter.
[26:09 – 33:42] Lessons from a Career in Medicine
- Seeing patients and helping families down the line. Remembering him as their doctor before.
- He finds being in his clinic for several decades in practice rewarding
- What Dr. Saul learned the most is what the families go through and learning to be with them and reassure them.
[33:43 – 42:46] Closing Segment
- Connect with Dr. Robert Saul,
- See links below.
- Final Words
- Thank you to Dr. Saul for his return to this podcast.
- Use your professional pedestal or pulpit to be the voice of children
- It is easy to think our job is to tell others how to live better, but our job is really to listen first and then offer advice, guidance, insights experience hope, and empathy.
- Do not underestimate the power of the literal touch of the sacredness of the laying on of hands.
- If you are not humbled or hourly as Dr. Saul said, because he is an overachiever you may not be paying attention.
- Pediatrics is advocacy use your voice, use it loudly, and use it proudly.
- 5 pieces of advice from Dr. Saul
- Trust parent intuition.
- Leave biases and assumptions at the door and start anew when you enter the exam room.
- listen, intently look at the patient and family, step away from the computer when you can, and ask forgiveness when you can’t
- Smile and engage.
- Remember your shared humanity
- Dr. Saul’s next project will be an examination of what a society needs to thrive and he includes, Truth, Trust science, Civility, and Faith.
- I will you there, Enjoy your art and the practice of medicine as I noted at the beginning of this takeaway. “This is an incredible privilege that we have an opportunity to serve to make a better place for children,
Dr. Robert Saul’s Books
- My Children’s Children
- Thinking Developmentally
- Conscious Parenting
- Bowling Alone
- Conscious Leadership
- All About Children
- From Age-ing to Sage-ing
Resources Mentioned:
Tweetable Quotes
“When I started in medical practice, people would come to me and they came to you and say, tell me what I should do here, Doc, how do I do this? And so my first instinct. Was to tell them what to do. Well, it’s taken me four decades, but I finally realized that my job is not to tell them my job is to help them, to empower them, enable them. And that only comes with a long-term trusting relationship.” – Dr. Robert Saul
“Some people say it’s a spiritual thing. Some people will say it’s something else or it’s personal. I think it helps define what we need to be doing as a society to make a difference going forward. And so for me, it’s a logical extension of the work I’ve been doing in terms of promoting citizenship, promoting community improvement, promoting parenting.” – Dr. Robert Saul
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
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If you’d like to connect with me, you can find me on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or email me at [email protected] or [email protected]. To learn more about me visit https://www.medicalbhs.com/
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