Category: United States healthcare system

From the O.R. to the Oval Office- 3 Docs Who Ran

Three medical doctors ran for President of the United States in 2016. Read about one of them in this article from a two part series.

updated June 27, 2026

The 2016 United States Presidential campaign was one of the most unexpected, unpredictable, and contentious races in history, starting with the individual parties.

The qualifications for President are fairly simple

U.S. Constitution Requirements for a Presidential Candidate:
  • Be at least 35 years old
  • Be a natural-born citizen of the United States
  • Been a resident of the United States for 14 years

How to become President inforgraphic
The Presidential pathway from USA.gov

The election process is anything but simple as illustrated by the above graphic. The candidates must first campaign for votes in the states’ primaries or caucuses to become their party’s choice at the convention.

In the general election, voters are technically voting for electors to the Electoral College, which casts its states votes for President.So it is possible with the candidate with the fewest popular votes gets the most electoral votes and becomes president.

Holding the office of the President is our country’s highest honor but the job of president has become so thankless I wonder why anyone wants to do it. But I am grateful that people volunteer for and seek the position, and in 2016 three of the candidates were physicians.

This post was originally a non-partisan look at those candidates, and still is.

In medical jargon, progress notes are Records kept by health care workers to indicate the course of the patient’s care

I have written some “progress notes” about each candidate that will give you a glimpse into their professional, personal, and political lives.

statue of George Washington in Manhattan
statue of General George Washington, first President of the United States of America – New York City

Jill Stein, M.D.- Green Party  

  1. Dr. Stein graduated from Harvard Medical School.
  2. Her hobbies include writing and performing music.
  3. She ran for President in 2012, also on the Green Party ticket.
  4. She is a physician’s wife, mother, internal medicine physician/teacher and “environmental-health advocate.”
  5. She developed the “Healthy People, Healthy Planet” teaching program.
  6. She has been interviewed on the Today Show, 20/20 and Fox News network.
  7. In Massachusetts she ran for Governor, State Representative and Secretary of State.
  8. She co-founded the Massachusetts Coalition for Healthy Communities, a non-profit organization.
  9. She likes to walk with her Great Dane Bandita.
  10. She has advocated for several environmental issues in her home state-
  • Mercury contamination of fish
  • The “Filthy Five” coal plants clean up
  • Mercury and dioxin contamination from burning trash
The Presidential Oval Office at the Reagan Library
a replica of the White House Oval Office at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

Part 2 of this article continues here.

I’d love for you to follow this blog and follow me on social media.

I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr. Aletha

Are you “Alert and Oriented”?

These blogs open a window into the medical community. You may be surprised that physicians have the same concerns about health and medical care as you , and some that you are unaware of. Most importantly, you will find they are on your side; they care about you,their patients, probably a lot more than you care about them.

updated August 5, 2024

As a blogger, I enjoy reading and supporting other bloggers, especially others who write about health, fitness, nutrition, and medical science.

These bloggers’ viewpoints often surprise and challenge me; I don’t always agree with them and you may not either.

Here is a blog I followed which is now dormant but still available with some interesting topics.  

“Alert and Oriented”

medicine-philosophy

Michel Accad, MD, practices internal medicine and cardiology in San Francisco.

” ‘Alert and Oriented’ is a medical phrase that describes the mental status of a patient who, despite being in serious shock from trauma or disease, maintains clarity of mind and focus of thought.

EKG tracing of heart activity on a cardiac monitor.
Based on the heart rhythm, this patient is likely alert and oriented.

Dr. Accad blogs about the healthcare system, the doctor-patient relationship, medical ethics, medical economics, and healthcare policy.

In this post he explains the

evolution of the food pyramid to the healthy plate nutrition recommendation.

healthy plate of vegetables , pita bread and hummus
photo by Dr. Aletha

In another interesting post, he explains

why mammograms may be over diagnosing breast cancer.

Breast cancer screening and treatment: One size doesn't fit all. bras hanging on a clothes line

exploring the HEART of health

I’d love for you to follow this blog and follow me on social media.

I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr. Aletha

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