Dr. Charles Coram, Physician, Hero – posted by his friend and patient, Dr. Marc Hines
Dr. Coram has so altered the conversations in our community hospital that they have moved from a rigid pharmacological/surgical paradigms toward teams of therapists, community activists, patients, employers, employees, physicians, chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, religious leaders, nutritionists, and many others banding together. He is similar to many truly effective leaders, organizing and guiding but often letting others assume the credit. When conversations were initiated it was always Dr. Coram behind the introduction of change. He was driven. He would not put the topic down. He had serious resistance. He had patients and his own convictions as his allies. He had all of the arrayed rigidity of a small Midwestern conservative community, hidebound by tradition, enveloped by its distance from the centers of change and with the certainty of a righteous indignation of the truth of its position, allayed against him. He continued anyway. I think it was his patients’ needs and the angles of his better nature. He has a lot of angles and a lot of better nature, and you guessed it, it is hard to get in to see him.
What does our community want most for Charles Coram? Cloning, Seriously. I have discussed this often with him, we need to train young doctors. Dr. Coram begins with the dysfunctions of spirit, of hope, of dignity of knowledge of what personhood could mean in the patients he sees. He does this gently as he massages and stretches and repositions a few facets. In an hour spent talking to a patient while really caring for their needs he learns their needs, their worries and fears. He was a nurse before being a chiropractor before being an integrative medicine physician. When he continues to care for and about his patients he leads them to new insights of their potential. How much more likely are we to listen when we are relaxed? How about when we feel we have been able to express ourselves in the important worries of health, family and what motivates us? I have found Dr. Coram’s patients returning to me stating what could be called unintended testimonies. They express newfound strengths physically and emotionally. I wish I could send every patient to him (he is just too busy). So many actually begin to follow the advice received. This is a change in listening. This is real change. I, as a physician, listen better and more completely.
What scuttles our barely floating lives when we feel we are paddling as hard as we can? Often it is a lack of faith that there is another way; it begins with renewed belief in our power to change. Breaking dependence may be the very most disabling agenda in a life. Dependencies can be toward others, habits, harmful realms of thought. It seems Charles incorporates example, sincerity and his message of people realizing purpose they must find. Some patients seem to have epiphanies. Some patients are not ready for these messages, but they still receive benefit.
Let me give my final and greatest accolade (surely you think I have said it all). When Christ returns to the Passover feast he washes the disciples feet. He shows us by example one last time what he seems to expect of mere human beings like Charles, like myself. I have the great comfort of having Charles Coram as my Dr. and friend. My wish for you, and for everyone, is that we can train more young people to be like this man. I sincerely wish a great gift for you: may you have a Charles Coram in your life.
Sincerely, Marc E. Hines MD
