In 1889, William Osler became the first Physician-in-Chief of the new Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. Four years later, he opened the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine where he would transform medical education over the next ten years. Most of our current conventions in medical teaching, including rounding and residencies, date back to Dr. Osler. He was instrumental in placing the patient at the center of the educational experience, moving students out of the classroom and into a hospital room. He was quoted as saying, “Listen to your patient, he is telling you the diagnosis”. As I began my neurology residency, 113 years after its founding, I was a member of the Hopkins training legacy and a beneficiary of Osler’s educational philosophy. I have learned more about transverse myelitis, acute flaccid myelitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder by listening to my patients than from any book, lecture or experiment. I have learned more about ADEM, AFM, NMOSD, ON and TM from the families of my patients than any medical school class.
I am blessed. I have been given the humbling opportunity to provide care and guidance to many. I am surrounded by a team of professionals who are dedicated, brilliant and passionate about our work. I am supported by institutions that are committed to the care of patients, support of families, generation of new knowledge and the education of future practitioners. I am thankful for these gifts and committed to doing my part in the global effort to heal our patients.
My hope is to make a meaningful contribution to the patients I treat and a meaningful contribution to the patients I will never meet. My hope is that we will one day close our program because there isn’t a need. My hope is that all of the amazing ambassadors recognize the incredible gift they give when sharing their story. My hope is that I will teach as Osler did, training my students to listen.
Treatments will come. Outcomes will improve. We will achieve these goals together.
Benjamin M. Greenberg, MD, MHS
Director, Transverse Myelitis, Neuromyelitis Optica Programs, UT Southwestern Medical Center and Childrens Health, Dallas, Texas
Chair, SRNA Medical and Scientific Council
Member, SRNA Board of Directors
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