Class Notes: Oh, How We've Changed

brag·ga·do·ci·o

ˌbraɡəˈdō(t)SHēˌō/

noun

1. 1. boastful or arrogant behavior.
2.      2. Of or related to Weill Cornell Medical College

Hard along the East River estuary in New York City, stand the hospital and medical school which are my alma maters. Modeled after a papal palace, ensconced  on the chic Upper East Side, modesty has never been a virtue for which anyone there has striven. 
But the arrival of my alumni quarterly magazine brought fresh reminder of the value of that lost virtue--modesty--especially in the dog days of Trump.

Typical of the ability to spin almost anything into bragging rights is this gem among the alumni notices:

"Paul [M] MD, '75, clinical professor of medicine...was featured in a CBC Cares public service announcement televised nationwide and watched by some 75 million viewers during March, Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Dr. [M] is a longstanding consultant on health topics to CBS Cares...His appearance follows previous successful televised public awareness programs such as the 'Colonoscopy Sweepstakes,' where winners were given a free vacation in New York City along with a screening colonoscopy."

Well, there is something to tell your grandchildren about.

In prior years,  announcements in the Class Notes section of the quarterly reported publication of a new textbook by some alum or the winning of a Nobel prize, or appointment to the chairmanship of an academic department at some famous medical school, or retirement after a 40 year career tending to the needs of doyens of Park Avenue and the Upper East Side. 
Now it's come to this.

But better, here's another:

Charles [F], MD '89: "After barely surviving the economic downturn of 2008 I eventually sold my LASIK practice in San Diego in 2012 and took a consulting position to set up a LASIK center in Guam."

Now there is something to inspire medical students of today.

There was one item which must be inspirational, noted in passing: 
"When I am not working I am introducing my 6 year old daughter (yes, that is right) to the adventures the city has to offer."  

By my back of the envelop (actually hand held calculator) she had that child at age 46, which should tell prospective interventional radiologists what that career path will do to your basic life choices.

But, somehow my favorite:
"I will be moving to a 7,600 square foot building with two fully accredited operating rooms and a full service medical spa."
This alum was, presumably, too modest to say he owns this building, clearly the crowning achievement of his entrepreneurial career.

But he hardly compares to the man who reports (in the 3rd person): 
"After having started 28 new companies over the past twenty years, he is proud to commit most of his entrepreneurial talents to growing his NBI companies located in Montana...He has a new grandson, who will become a physician like both his parents--extending the..dynasty of physicians that started in Toulouse, France, over 100 years ago."

Which left me wondering: This "new" grandson, is he an infant, for whom plans to extend the dynasty are already being laid, or is he a 20 something "new" grandson by marriage or adoption? Not clear. If he is really a new person, i.e., a baby new grandson, I'd say he has a very tough road ahead of him in that family, especially if he is strong musically and wants to become a rock star. 

Well, that's the report from the alma maters, where all the women are strong, all the men good looking and everyone is very much above average.