Ronald Anderson and Katherine Liao
Recorded
November 12, 2019
38:44 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
atl004196
Description
Katherine "Kat" Liao (42) talks with her colleague and mentor, Ronald "Ron" Anderson (83), about his extensive career in the medical profession. Topics include Ron's path to rheumatology and remembering his wife of 56 years, Barbie.Subject Log / Time Code
Ron Anderson says he feels blessed to have been able to become a doctor, as he was not the most serious student. He says he found that he enjoyed talking to people and that he fell into medicine.
Ron recalls a life altering experience during his internship at a hospital in Pennsylvania (1963-1964). He says every night he would admit 2-3 women critically ill from complications resulting from street abortions. He remembers two women that died saying they had no other options.
Ron says he does understand the pro-life position but feels there must be some middle ground. He says the people being punished are those least able to care for themselves. He says the topic of abortion does impact the way he votes.
Ron remembers being a taxi driver in New Jersey. He says it was great training for becoming a doctor. He says the first thing you do as a taxi driver is create some kind of relationship to gain your passenger's confidence - that you know where you're going, that you won't crash.
Ron says that as a physician, you have to be able to use your skills to make someone feel better. He says be believes many doctors are not comfortable showing their humanity. He says patients will understand uncertainty if they know you are trying.
Ron remembers his Wife of 56 years, Barbie. He says they never argued about goals or values, though they sometimes differed on how to get there. He remembers Barbie being fired from a bank job when she started to show while pregnant with their first child. Ron credits Barbie for their own daughters growing up believing they could do/be whatever they wanted - with no restrictions based on gender.
Participants
- Ronald Anderson
- Katherine Liao