Few of the tasks beholden of an editor can match the delightful serendipity of being one of the first to read Professor Leon Piterman’s insightful articles
One of the great pleasures of editing a publication such as The Medical Republic is the interactions we have with our dedicated band of wise, witty and all-round wonderful contributors.
None more so than with the peerless Professor Leon Piterman, who contributed a monthly column, called “There’s a lot if it going around”, to our magazine and website between 2016 and 2018.
Very few of the tasks beholden of an editor could match the delightful serendipity of being one of the first to read Professor Piterman’s entertaining and insightful articles.
And now the good folks at Melbourne’s Black Pepper Publishing have collected 25 of these contributions into a book, providing a handy repository of valuable information, anecdotes and advocacy for the critical roles GPs play in the healthcare of our society.
But don’t take just our word for it.
“All doctors and medical students will identify with this precious book from an inspirational GP. It will make you laugh, cry and celebrate the unique and valuable role of the generalist in comprehensive patient care,” writes Clinical Professor Leanne Rowe AM.
“Sometimes poignant, sometimes hilarious, the stories in this GP’s odyssey are filled with what makes general practice unique – pumpkin scones, family tragedy, those determined to live and thr stoic humble elderly coming to terms with their fate. Ever the great educator, Leon Piterman’s stories have learnings for us all,” Professor Danielle Mazza says.
By way of background, among other things, Professor Piterman AM, MBBS, MD Mmed, MedSt FRCP (Edin) FRACGP, is Professor of General Practice at Monash and Director of Monash China GP Training. He is also the Foundation Head of the School of Primary Health Care and past Pro-vice Chancellor of Monash’s Berwick and Frankston campuses.
He also maintains a part-time clinical general practice in Moorabbin, Victoria.
“General practitioners, both established as well as those in training, are encouraged to be reflective in their day-to-day practice,” Professor Piterman writes in the preface to this collection.
“As I reach the twilight of my clinical career, I have had an opportunityto reflect on my time as a GP and recall patients and clinical encounters that have had a lasting effect on me.
“This book of short stories, based on real but de-identified clinical encounters, is designed to capture aspects of patients’ stories, their emotional response and to explore my parallel response as their treating doctor.”
“There’s a lot of it going around” – A GP’s Odyssey, ($24 incl. postage) can be purchased from blackpepperpublishing.com
