Ecology Rescued the AMA and Medical Professionalism Beginning in 1870.

Mike Magee The results of their 1851 survey of 12,400 men from the eight leading U.S. colleges had to be shocking. The AMA was only four years old at the time and being forced to acknowledge a significant lack of public interest in a physician’s services. This in turn had caused the best and the […]

What A Month For Big Pharma As Biden Triggers Congressional Cooperation.

Mike Magee In President Biden’s State of the Union Address, the most oft repeated phrase was “Let’s Finish The Job!” This came as part of an appeal for partnership as well as an assertion that in his first two years as President much had been accomplished. Last week, with some fanfare, The President announced Lilly […]

American Medicine: Off On The Wrong Track From The Beginning.

Mike Magee When your focus is on the History of Medicine, it is natural to think that every story will center on the rise of the Medical profession, or the hospital industry, or breakthroughs in pharmaceuticals. But the reality is, as sociologist Paul Starr suggested, “The development of medical care, like other institutions, takes place […]

Understanding America’s Unhealthy Beginnings: 1826.

Mike Magee Historians of 19th century America have well-documented that, as compromised as our population’s health was at the birth of our nation, it deteriorated markedly between 1830 and 1860. Those clearly at greatest risk were enslaved Blacks, forcibly relocated native Americans, and subjugated women. But entitled white male citizens also experienced significant declines in […]

The “Antebellum Paradox”: Why are Native White American Males Falling Behind in Health?

Mike Magee I recently made the case that “Health is foundational to a functioning democracy. But health must be shared and be broadly accessible to be an effective enabler of good government.” I also suggested that the pursuit of good health is implied and imbedded in the aspirational and idealistic wording of our U.S. Constitution, and that […]

Missouri Plays Brass Knuckles With Women

Mike Magee A case has been made that a logical approach to reforming America’s violent and racist leanings would be to adopt the values and practices of Health Care for All. These include a commitment to compassion, understanding, and partnership; extending the linkages between individual, family, community and society; addressing fear and worry for individuals […]

The Danger of Stroking a Tiger – Learning From Churchill and FDR

Mike Magee On the evening of December 29, 1940, with election to his 3rd term as President secured, FDR delivered these words as part of his sixteenth “Fireside Chat”: “There can be no appeasement with ruthlessness…No man can tame a tiger into a kitten by stroking it.” Millions of Americans, and millions of Britains were […]

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