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The Village Doctor Newsletter – Week of June 4, 2022

Healthy greetings, all!

These have been busy days at TVD! Here we are, mid June already, and only now getting our newsletter to you. Hopefully you are all healthy, happy, and enjoying these beautiful June days.

“June” reminds me, and I wish to remind you, of “Juneteenth”. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States and marks the day in 1865 that enslaved people in Texas were told they had been freed by the Emancipation Proclamation – enacted two years earlier.

Last year President Biden signed into law a bill designating Juneteenth as a federal holiday. With Biden’s signature, Juneteenth is the first holiday to be approved since Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which was established in 1983.

As we strive for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in our profession and our world, I encourage you to take a few moments to learn about and recognize Juneteenth. As a nation, this is an opportunity for all of us to remember our history and honor the culture and contributions of Black Americans. Please read more about local events at Stanford, in San Mateo County, and in the broader Bay Area. You can also read this interactive article in the Washington Post, just updated a few days ago.

In health, love, and pride,

Eric Weiss, MD, June, 2022

 

TIPS FOR WELL CARE VISITS/CHECK UPS

Spring has sprung.  And summer brings forms, lots of camp, sports, and school forms, and our check up “high season.”  Here are some tips to help make the well visit more comfortable, efficient, and meaningful for all involved.

  • Have your child/ teen wear comfortable clothing that allows unrestricted movement and facilitates a full sports/ musculoskeletal exam without feeling overly exposed (no: skinny jeans, yes: athletic shorts/ bathing suit/ sports bra).  If coming straight from school or an event, throw these in a bag to change into at the office.
  • Feel free to call or email any concerns prior to the visit.  We can discuss sensitive issues or areas of concern that you may not want to bring up in front of your child.  We can also arrange a discussion afterwards, whether a short email or longer phone appointment.
  • Remember to bring school/ camp forms with you to the appointment or send them to us in advance (having already answered the screening questions is extremely helpful, and can highlight issues to address during the visit)

Read more

CREATING POSITIVE EXPECTATIONS

Which is better?  The carrot or the stick?

Is it better to criticize someone or to try to help build them up?

When working with people of any age, we always want to be positive.

Here’s a couple of examples of this:

I knew of a teenager who got all A’s and a B+ on her report card.  When her father saw it, he asked, “What’s with the B+? Why not all A’s?”

How do you think this made the girl feel?

I would imagine she might have felt surprised, disappointed, hurt, and maybe even a bit angry.

How do you explain the parent’s question?  Perhaps it was out of love, and it was intended to motivate his daughter.  And I think it accomplished exactly the opposite.

Read more

 

Again, TVD Newsletter is a labor of love. If you enjoy reading this, please share widely! Was this forwarded to you by a friend? Please subscribe here.

*****

Yours, in health and resilience,

Eric and the TVD MD team…