Thank you MCV Foundation for the Recognition and Support on All Things COVID19 Related

 

It is an honor to be included and recognized in this MCV Foundation video.   The support is invaluable.

Bravo!

Until Proven Safe: The History and Future of Quarantine

The golden age of blogging is long past but I am not yet ready to shut down my blog.  Admittedly, I post much less frequently given the ease and impact of Twitter.  This blog nevertheless serves as an extension of my personality and interests.

Books are hugely important to me.

Until Proven Safe- on the  history and future of  quarantine is well worth the read.  This is not an academic tome but rather a compelling narrative of quarantine, from a medical, social and political perspective, starting in the renaissance to the modern era, including agriculture,  radioactive waste and even space travel.

The better we understand quarantine, the more selectively and precisely we can apply it in the name of safety and with the goal of minimizing collateral damage.

Kudos to the authors on a well researched and even better written book.

Medical Society of Virginia Salute to Service Award. What an honor!

 

It was a huge honor to receive the Medical Society of Virginia Salute to Service Award, for my work in infection prevention and safety. Thank you to all the collaborators over the years for their invaluable service to patient safety.

Last but no least, a special thank you to Drs. Michael Edmond and Richard Wenzel, for their second-to-none mentorship in my professional career as both an infectious diseases specialist and epidemiologist. 

No one succeeds without the guidance and support of others.

Time Management for Mortals

Four thousand weeks is the average human lifespan, which on reflection is not much, making time management an important aspect of existence.  But, Time Management for Mortals is no ordinary book and offers no secrets on how to increase productivity or to better integrate work and home life. Productivity geeks beware.

The book compellingly argues what we know, or should know: that there is never enough time for our hyperactive lives and the sooner we accept that the less we will suffer. It comes down to choosing what not to do, or being highly selective in what to do, to pause and focus on what really matters, to avoid the busy trap- a never ending cycle of anxiety.

This is a short yet powerful read, especially for those who are pressed for time.

Lost In Thought: A Bookworm's Delight

Idle time on the couch with a book in hand should not be thought of as unproductive work. 

In fact, in this beautifully written book by Zena Hitz, the numerous benefits of intellectual pursuits (such as reading and reflecting) are compellingly argued. These include a refugee from distress; a reminder of human dignity; a source of insight and understanding; a source of inspiration and a 'place' to seek a broader perspective on nearly all matters of existence.

Slow down, read, reflect, re-orient, for self-benefit and for the good of others.

Energy Expenditure in Rock/Pop Drumming: It's More Than You Think

 

I read many scientific publications in my role as Chief of Infectious Diseases at Virginia Commonwealth University, as an epidemiologist, and as Editor in Chief of Antimicrobial Stewardship and Healthcare Epidemiology, but this article, on the energy expenditure during rock and roll drumming, published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine, was particularly intriguing to me and definitely caught my attention.

Bottom line:  Drumming is a physical activity and can burn up to 600+ calories per hour during a performance.

I will keep this in mind and turn on the exercise calorie counter on my iWatch the next time I perform with Vagabond Dandies. 

This publication confirms what we drummers already know, that a proper gig is physically draining.

Dale's Drum Shop: Well Worth the Detour

On my drive home from Central New York  (for the OHS Soccer Classic),  I took a small detour and made a brief pit stop at the famed Dale's Drum Shop.

This unassuming, converted home in a Harrisburg, PA suburb is one of the largest drum shops in the USA. The place is a visual and percussive feast! Equal parts exhilarating and intimidating.

The staff: super friendly and helpful.

I will be visiting again in my jaunts between Richmond, VA and Syracuse, NY.

Images from the visit are above.

My band, Vagabond Dandies, are back in action later this month....images, videos and gig dates are found on our website, accessible here.