By Paul Goldfinger, MD, Dean of the Blogfinger Off-shore School of Medicine in Ocean Grove, NJ.

Also, I like the doctor in this Woody movie.   He’s wise and understands people.  Who cares if he smokes; he has a sense of humor.

I knew a really good GP whom I met when I first entered practice.  He smoked in the hospital and was always dropping ashes on his vest.  His name was Julie, and he knew his patients personally and he was from the neighborhood.  I liked him. But docs like him were already on their way out.

Everybody called me “Dr. G”…even the charge nurse who ruled on one of the medical floors at Dover General.  She was a fine hospital nurse and she had firm and sensible opinions.   She always wore a little sweater, and her hair was up on the top of her head with a dark ivory comb for good measure. On top of that was her nurses cap.    Her facial  skin was shiny.  She liked to talk to me about movies when I made rounds on her floor  and she especially liked Woody.  She loved to laugh.  I could trust her.

I don’t remember her name, but I do remember her.

DAVID GILMOUR    “Smile”   This is an intricate song with a variety of meanings, but at its core it reflects the power of a smile.  Doctors need to smile more as part of their tool kit, even though their little black bag contains only hardware. In my office drawer I kept a pair of Groucho glasses and a rubber cigar.  It sometimes was therapeutic.