The Comfort of a Simple Crayon

One of the worst tragedies in our lifetime was the massacre of the children at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut by a disturbed young gunman.  That week I happened to be giving a talk on health at the Crayola Corporate Headquarters in Easton, Pennsylvania.  Below is an essay that I wrote about my feelings that week. I’m grateful to Jen Lader, Editor of Hakol, for publishing this delicate essay.  I received hundreds of nice responses from around the country.

The Comfort of a Simple Crayon

The Comfort of a Simple Crayon

Recent Posts

2026 Top Doctors in Cardiac Surgery

2026 Top Doctors in Cardiac Surgery

Honored that Philadelphia Magazine has recognized Dr. Louis Samuels, Dr. Alexandra Tuluca, and myself as 2026 Top Doctors in Cardiac Surgery. What makes this especially meaningful is that Jefferson Einstein’s legacy cardiac surgery program is the only program in...

read more
Transparency in Healthcare

Transparency in Healthcare

Patients deserve transparency, accountability, and excellence in healthcare. Public reporting of surgical outcomes isn’t about perfection; it’s about creating a culture where quality matters every single day. From PHC4 and STS reporting to Leapfrog, Vizient, Medicare...

read more
Hantavirus – A Cause for Concern?

Hantavirus – A Cause for Concern?

Recent reports of a hantavirus case linked to a cruise ship have understandably raised concern, particularly with the possibility that this may involve a variant capable of limited person-to-person transmission. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is a rare but serious...

read more
Don’t Ignore Chest Pain

Don’t Ignore Chest Pain

Chest pain is never something to ignore. This patient, at 76 years old, experienced chest discomfort for several weeks, especially with activity. Like many people, he hoped it would pass. It didn’t. When he finally came to the hospital, he was found to have had a...

read more
A Little About My Career

A Little About My Career

There are moments in a career that feel bigger than titles or accomplishments. This is one of them. I began my surgical journey at Jefferson Health, where I had the privilege of training under extraordinary mentors who shaped not only my career, but who I am as a...

read more

Featured

Pages

Questions? Comments?
Reach out to me here:

13 + 2 =

About The Author