Mayo Alumni Magazine 2012 Spring - MC4409-0312 - Mayo Clinic

The Doctors Mayo Society
Lifetime Achievement Distinguished Lecture
Established to highlight significant achievement by a Mayo alumnus/alumna
John Woods, M.D., Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor of Surgery
College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic
Lessons Learned in Attitude
and Integrity
John Woods, M.D., Ph.D. (S ’66,
PLS ’68), shared the lessons he has
learned about integrity and attitude in
five decades at Mayo Clinic, treating
more than 20,000 surgical patients.
He said his parents instilled in him
the importance of integrity from the
earliest age, but he still describes himself
as “very much a work in progress.”
“I’ve learned a lot through errors
and mistakes. In fact, more from
mistakes than I have through my
successes,” said Dr. Woods. He also
pointed out the importance of learning
from others’ mistakes and the role of
honesty in integrity.
“As a professor, I saw how costly it
was to doctors’ careers when they had
discrepancies and inaccuracies in
publications. It took years to recover,”
he said. “I once canceled a national
presentation when I discovered some
errors in my statistics. Another time, I
had already presented when I learned
about a statistical error. I felt honorbound
to correct the mistake, so I sent
a letter to the attendees of the meeting,
pointing out the inaccuracy and
providing the correct information.”
Dr. Woods described the importance
of fairness as a component of integrity.
“Giving recognition to others for their
contributions can be a pleasurable
experience and may even encourage
others to contribute,” he said.
He also discussed the importance
of attitude. He cited the example of a
patient who requested a referral to a
different oncologist because the
previous one lacked compassion.
“Under the care of the new oncologist,
the patient expressed gratitude for the
warm bedside manner,” said Dr. Woods.
“Attitude can be a stumbling block,
and arrogance can be palpable. The
physician’s attitude can make a great
difference to the patient. A good
bedside manner can be learned even
when it is not a natural part of the
physician’s armamentarium.”
Dr. Woods highlighted the indomitable
spirit of patients who have made
significant impressions on him —
patients with significant deformities
who regarded the obstacles they faced
as opportunities.
“Many of my patients have
inspired me with their memorable
attitudes,” he said. “Despite many
years of medical procedures and
disfiguring conditions, they didn’t
consider themselves handicapped. I
never heard them complain. I believe
their attitudes contributed to their
healing and survival.
“The Mayo Clinic perspective
is that we should give every patient
the very best. Being human, we not
infrequently fail. But in my 60 years
of practicing surgery — 50 of those
years here at Mayo — despite failures,
I continue to pray and hope to be
positive in my attitude and to live
with integrity.”
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