Each year, the American Academy of Dermatology honors Dr. Clarence S. Livingood with a lecture in his name at the annual meeting.
Dr. Livingood’s Legacy
Dr. Livingood had an enormous and lasting impact on the specialty of dermatology, having served for years as director of the American Board of Dermatology. Working through the American Board of Medical Specialties, he made it possible for dermatologists to become certified in dermatopathology. This was no easy task, as one could imagine the potential for turf battles with pathologists.
People who knew Dr. Livingood hold him in the highest reverence. To be selected as the Livingood Lecturer is one of the highest honors bestowed by the American Academy of Dermatology.
The Livingood Lecture Focus: Broader Issues
The Livingood Lecture is unique, the only presentation during the Annual Meeting that is specifically dedicated to issues other than the science and practice of dermatology. This lecture was established to present views on the broader issues facing physicians, such as ethics, medical economics, and sociological trends that affect the practice of medicine. Many past Livingood Lectures have subsequently been published as articles in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Controversy Surrounding the 2006 Lecture
The 2006 Livingood Lecture contained material that was so controversial, however, the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology would not print it.
The Topic — Importance of Perception
That lecture, titled “Looking Beyond the Borders of Our Own Specialties,” described how dermatologists are experts in the management of a wide variety of skin conditions, but how patients and colleagues see only the image of our expertise. This presentation discussed the importance of perception and its impact on the physician-patient relationship and on outcomes of care, inter-specialty relationships, and conflicts in the larger community. A key element of the lecture focused on how two people could look at a single observation and see totally different things.
The Response — A Matter of Perception
That was borne out in the feedback the lecture received. Although it was the highest rated of the plenary talks that morning, with 87% of the respondents rating the talk outstanding, three people gave the talk the lowest possible score.
Positive comments included that the lecture was “superb,” “thought-provoking and worthwhile.” One colleague called it “timely and appropriate . . . an excellent choice for this hour, “ adding “I am proud of knowing someone with such a unique perspective of dermatology, life and the world.” Another said, “The lecture was tremendous. I have never had my mind stretched like that in such a short period of time. Thank you.”
But others expressed a very different view. One said the religion and political comments were inappropriate. Another said it was “terrible and very disappointing . . . inappropriate . . . should have been screened and reviewed by the AAD. Material and presentation were poor. Comments about religious and ethnic groups, very inappropriate.” Still another complained that “the talk was a disgrace and an embarrassment.”
The Point of it All
Well, that at least proves the point of my lecture. All these audience members saw and heard the same lecture. Yet, their perceptions of the lecture couldn’t have been more different.
Dermatologists, and people in general, need to keep this in mind. Magicians know the importance of managing their audience’s perceptions. Doctors, too, need to keep in mind that medicine is not only about making the right diagnosis and prescribing the right treatment, it’s also about making sure patients know we care about them, realize we did a thorough examination and trust the medication we prescribe.
When we see conflict within our specialty, or between ourselves and other specialties, or even with other people in the world, we should understand that much of the conflict stems from the different perspectives from which people view issues, rarely if ever from evil intent.
Decide for Yourself
Not everyone got to hear the 2006 Livingood Lecture. While the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found content in the article unsuitable for print, you can read the entire print version of the lecture in the November 2007 issue of the Dermatology Online Journal: Feldman SR. Looking beyond the borders of our specialty: The 2006 Clarence S. Livingood MD Lecture, Dermatol Online J 13:20, https://dermatology.cdlib.org/134/opinion/livingood/feldman.html.
Each year, the American Academy of Dermatology honors Dr. Clarence S. Livingood with a lecture in his name at the annual meeting.
Dr. Livingood’s Legacy
Dr. Livingood had an enormous and lasting impact on the specialty of dermatology, having served for years as director of the American Board of Dermatology. Working through the American Board of Medical Specialties, he made it possible for dermatologists to become certified in dermatopathology. This was no easy task, as one could imagine the potential for turf battles with pathologists.
People who knew Dr. Livingood hold him in the highest reverence. To be selected as the Livingood Lecturer is one of the highest honors bestowed by the American Academy of Dermatology.
The Livingood Lecture Focus: Broader Issues
The Livingood Lecture is unique, the only presentation during the Annual Meeting that is specifically dedicated to issues other than the science and practice of dermatology. This lecture was established to present views on the broader issues facing physicians, such as ethics, medical economics, and sociological trends that affect the practice of medicine. Many past Livingood Lectures have subsequently been published as articles in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Controversy Surrounding the 2006 Lecture
The 2006 Livingood Lecture contained material that was so controversial, however, the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology would not print it.
The Topic — Importance of Perception
That lecture, titled “Looking Beyond the Borders of Our Own Specialties,” described how dermatologists are experts in the management of a wide variety of skin conditions, but how patients and colleagues see only the image of our expertise. This presentation discussed the importance of perception and its impact on the physician-patient relationship and on outcomes of care, inter-specialty relationships, and conflicts in the larger community. A key element of the lecture focused on how two people could look at a single observation and see totally different things.
The Response — A Matter of Perception
That was borne out in the feedback the lecture received. Although it was the highest rated of the plenary talks that morning, with 87% of the respondents rating the talk outstanding, three people gave the talk the lowest possible score.
Positive comments included that the lecture was “superb,” “thought-provoking and worthwhile.” One colleague called it “timely and appropriate . . . an excellent choice for this hour, “ adding “I am proud of knowing someone with such a unique perspective of dermatology, life and the world.” Another said, “The lecture was tremendous. I have never had my mind stretched like that in such a short period of time. Thank you.”
But others expressed a very different view. One said the religion and political comments were inappropriate. Another said it was “terrible and very disappointing . . . inappropriate . . . should have been screened and reviewed by the AAD. Material and presentation were poor. Comments about religious and ethnic groups, very inappropriate.” Still another complained that “the talk was a disgrace and an embarrassment.”
The Point of it All
Well, that at least proves the point of my lecture. All these audience members saw and heard the same lecture. Yet, their perceptions of the lecture couldn’t have been more different.
Dermatologists, and people in general, need to keep this in mind. Magicians know the importance of managing their audience’s perceptions. Doctors, too, need to keep in mind that medicine is not only about making the right diagnosis and prescribing the right treatment, it’s also about making sure patients know we care about them, realize we did a thorough examination and trust the medication we prescribe.
When we see conflict within our specialty, or between ourselves and other specialties, or even with other people in the world, we should understand that much of the conflict stems from the different perspectives from which people view issues, rarely if ever from evil intent.
Decide for Yourself
Not everyone got to hear the 2006 Livingood Lecture. While the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found content in the article unsuitable for print, you can read the entire print version of the lecture in the November 2007 issue of the Dermatology Online Journal: Feldman SR. Looking beyond the borders of our specialty: The 2006 Clarence S. Livingood MD Lecture, Dermatol Online J 13:20, https://dermatology.cdlib.org/134/opinion/livingood/feldman.html.
Each year, the American Academy of Dermatology honors Dr. Clarence S. Livingood with a lecture in his name at the annual meeting.
Dr. Livingood’s Legacy
Dr. Livingood had an enormous and lasting impact on the specialty of dermatology, having served for years as director of the American Board of Dermatology. Working through the American Board of Medical Specialties, he made it possible for dermatologists to become certified in dermatopathology. This was no easy task, as one could imagine the potential for turf battles with pathologists.
People who knew Dr. Livingood hold him in the highest reverence. To be selected as the Livingood Lecturer is one of the highest honors bestowed by the American Academy of Dermatology.
The Livingood Lecture Focus: Broader Issues
The Livingood Lecture is unique, the only presentation during the Annual Meeting that is specifically dedicated to issues other than the science and practice of dermatology. This lecture was established to present views on the broader issues facing physicians, such as ethics, medical economics, and sociological trends that affect the practice of medicine. Many past Livingood Lectures have subsequently been published as articles in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Controversy Surrounding the 2006 Lecture
The 2006 Livingood Lecture contained material that was so controversial, however, the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology would not print it.
The Topic — Importance of Perception
That lecture, titled “Looking Beyond the Borders of Our Own Specialties,” described how dermatologists are experts in the management of a wide variety of skin conditions, but how patients and colleagues see only the image of our expertise. This presentation discussed the importance of perception and its impact on the physician-patient relationship and on outcomes of care, inter-specialty relationships, and conflicts in the larger community. A key element of the lecture focused on how two people could look at a single observation and see totally different things.
The Response — A Matter of Perception
That was borne out in the feedback the lecture received. Although it was the highest rated of the plenary talks that morning, with 87% of the respondents rating the talk outstanding, three people gave the talk the lowest possible score.
Positive comments included that the lecture was “superb,” “thought-provoking and worthwhile.” One colleague called it “timely and appropriate . . . an excellent choice for this hour, “ adding “I am proud of knowing someone with such a unique perspective of dermatology, life and the world.” Another said, “The lecture was tremendous. I have never had my mind stretched like that in such a short period of time. Thank you.”
But others expressed a very different view. One said the religion and political comments were inappropriate. Another said it was “terrible and very disappointing . . . inappropriate . . . should have been screened and reviewed by the AAD. Material and presentation were poor. Comments about religious and ethnic groups, very inappropriate.” Still another complained that “the talk was a disgrace and an embarrassment.”
The Point of it All
Well, that at least proves the point of my lecture. All these audience members saw and heard the same lecture. Yet, their perceptions of the lecture couldn’t have been more different.
Dermatologists, and people in general, need to keep this in mind. Magicians know the importance of managing their audience’s perceptions. Doctors, too, need to keep in mind that medicine is not only about making the right diagnosis and prescribing the right treatment, it’s also about making sure patients know we care about them, realize we did a thorough examination and trust the medication we prescribe.
When we see conflict within our specialty, or between ourselves and other specialties, or even with other people in the world, we should understand that much of the conflict stems from the different perspectives from which people view issues, rarely if ever from evil intent.
Decide for Yourself
Not everyone got to hear the 2006 Livingood Lecture. While the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found content in the article unsuitable for print, you can read the entire print version of the lecture in the November 2007 issue of the Dermatology Online Journal: Feldman SR. Looking beyond the borders of our specialty: The 2006 Clarence S. Livingood MD Lecture, Dermatol Online J 13:20, https://dermatology.cdlib.org/134/opinion/livingood/feldman.html.
