I recently had an interesting conversation with some enthusiastic students interning in our office. They seemed to wonder why a single patient usually requires a team of medical professionals to address specific healthcare needs. In the students’ minds, a single doctor should suffice. But nothing could be further from medical reality. It’s long been accepted that medical teams, working in unison, collectively perform better than individual clinicians working in isolation.

Most of us have grown up with some ingrained habits. Some good, some bad, and some just plainly stupid. Some things we do subconsciously, but we still knowingly get onto pretty unhealthy habits. Being conscious of healthier behavior steers us clear of diseases we could well do without.

I recently listened to a regrettable tale from a friend of another friend. One of their kin had been experiencing some unusual symptoms, and the diagnosis was elusive. She eventually ended up at the hands of surgeon who recommended surgery.