treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
From: Joe! To: Burrascano, Joseph MD Cc: [email protected] ; [email protected] Sent: Monday, August 14, 2006 6:29 PM Subject: mmi From Dr. B-VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Dear friends,
I have a major announcement to make.
After over twenty five years of medical practice, I have decided to close my office and retire from the clinical practice of medicine.
Last week I mailed out letters to my currently active patients to make this announcement, and I now wanted to share this news with my friends on-line.
This has been a very difficult decision for me. The rewards of medical practice have been tremendous. I have met and helped many wonderful people, and have had great fun too! It will be very very hard to say good bye. On the other hand, there is so much more that I would like to see done, on a larger scale, for the benefit of more patients. By closing my office I will have more time to focus on these broader problems.
I have become more and more frustrated of late, because I have had to turn away up to ten prospective patients a day- clearly, more Lyme-literate physicians are desperately needed. I feel that my experience with the management of patients with tick-borne illnesses would be better served by my spending more of my time on physician education and on completing my current, very important, research project. I want, once and for all, for the ILADS point of view to be the recognized standard for all professionals. I also wish to remain active in the political realm, as political reform and a more realistic view of our illnesses have to be addressed at the government and public levels.
I realized that it is impossible for me to run a full time medical office and also pursue these other goals. In addition, because of the high cost of running an office, I cannot simply see patients part-time, because many fixed costs do not decrease simply because fewer patients are being seen.
My decision comes at a good time for me personally. I feel well, my prostate cancer seems to be in a remission, and I have not had any bad news from the state Medical Board lately. In other words, this decision has not resulted from any secret problem that I am trying to hide. Of course, rumors will fly, but I say sincerely to all of you that there is no hidden agenda. PLEASE try to keep the gossip down, and also please don't call my office to talk about this, because I do not want the phone lines to become clogged such that important medically related calls cannot get through.
It has been an amazing 25 years! Together we have witnessed many wonderful developments, but some disappointing ones too. We have made many new friends, but have lost too many to this disease.
I am grateful to all those who have stood behind me over the years, and I will always be thinking of you- that is the point behind my decision.
I hope that my future efforts on the behalf of the Lyme community will continue to be as fruitful and personally rewarding as they already have been. I wish all of you the very best!
With sincerity and great affection,
Joseph James Burrascano Jr., M.D.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
posted
I called his office last week to see if he was taking any new patients and was curious why I was told he would not be in the future.
He is a gem of a man and if this change means that more people will be influenced by him or educated on the treatment guidlines than this is indeed a good thing.
Good Luck Dr. B...we support you all the way!!
-------------------- We are spiritual beings on a human journey...
treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
I agree with you.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
Ann-OH
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2020
posted
Here is what I wrote to my "LD E-List" when I got this news: [quote] Wow! I certainly never expected this!
But in the long run this dynamic, eloquent, brilliant guy will be devoting his time to helping all Lyme disease patients as he educates other doctors, finishes his study (s), and speaks out for all of us.
I know he will not leave his patients high and dry. He most likely (I have no positive information on this) refer them to doctors he has trained in his area.
His published works will still be available on the www.ilads.org site.
This is a big step for Dr. B. and for all of us. [end quote]
Anyone know where his patients are being directed?
posted
Tree, thanks for posting this. I was reading some of the SEEKINGS DRS. posts last night and someone said DR. B. WAS QUITTING, and I couldn't believe it, and asked the poster for a clarification which I'll read when I get done w/medical.
I agree with every word Ann wrote! Look what he can DO FOR US LYMIES STILL, and not be as restricted as he's been in the past.
Another vocal POLITICAL VOICE that will not be silenced. Good for you Dr. B!
I'm also glad he addressed this is HIS CHOICE to quit his practice, and not the health depts. choice, etc. with all the witch hunts of good LLMDs going on.
Dr. B; I never met you but have only heard good things about you these last 2 years since my official, correct diagnosis of CHRONIC LYME. Perhaps someday we will meet; who knows! Bettyg
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posted
Dr. B was an powerful speaker at the Hartford rally. I understand his decision and think he will ultimately help even more people by educating more Doctors and fighting for the cause. I'm sure it will be hard for his current patients though. hats
Posts: 956 | From MA | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
I'm really sorry for his patients, but this is great news for all of the Lyme community!
Dr B sounds excited about his plans!!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
My local support group emailed his letter last night. In the short-term, I feel sorry for his patients. But in the the long-term, I think we will have many more LLMDs because of his decision.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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I'm one of his patients. I was very fortunate to only live about 45 minutes west of his office and have been under his care for about 5 years.
Over these 5 years I have had many ups and downs but Dr B always seems to know how to right the ship.
I realized that I was really just wasting time with my previous Drs even though they were so called LLMDs.
I am very happy that he will be working for the bigger cause, and his efforts will help the entire lyme community.
I have posted on the looking for an MD forum. My standards for an LLMD are extremely high now but I'm more then willing to travel..
so if any of you can go to that site or PM me with recommendations it would be so greatly appreciated. Thanks
Posts: 58 | From NY | Registered: Dec 2005
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posted
I feel for all of his patients also, and agree with Ann on how he might approach his leaving.
On the other hand, the glass is at least half full and/or briming to the top!! He could take the time to write a book, be interviewed on talk shows, teach more doctors about lyme, attend lyme rallys/protests, speak at conventions, research.....on and on and on.
This opens up tremendous opportunities for the lyme community!
I'm not a patient of the good Dr....but I want to voice my THANKS for all he has done and will do!!! THANK YOU DR.B
posted
For all the hundreds of you who are Dr. B's patients, I'm sorry to hear of your need to look for someone new that will hard to live up to the expectations that each of you received from his loving, supportive care.
I wish each of you luck in finding a replacement LLMD in the near future.
I'll ask my new LLMD how booked she is since she takes ONE NEW patient each month only.
I'll post on here tomorrow night. If someone is interested, they can PM me for more details. Bettyg
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OptiMisTick
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 399
posted
It is gratifying to see the many positive messages about Dr. B's "moving up" announcement.
His work, which he hopes to accomplish after he moves up from treatment of the Lyme Disease Complex of Coinfections, to research on this disease cluster and other related activities, can only benefit all of us as a Lyme community.
We, as a community, have been blessed by the courage and singlemindedness that Dr. B. has always displayed with respect to tickborne diseases and the patients who suffer them.
I know we all trust that the same gentleman who has stood up for Lyme disease patients, all these years and under the most difficult of circumstances, can be trusted to continue to do this, but in a more elevated manner and in a manner which, in his wisdom, he thinks best.
I know we all trust that this news is good news for us all, and respect and support his decision.
Lyme people have heart. You all continually show this in your support for one another and now with your support of Dr. B's decision.
What would be the equivalent of a coast-to-coast standing ovation I wonder? Perhaps a thank-you donation to the nonprofit group that supports his work, the "Turn The Corner" foundation. This is what I am going to do, anyway. If you are interested, their website is at http://www.turnthecorner.org/Posts: 1338 | From Above the Clouds | Registered: Nov 2000
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
up for weekend
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
OptiMisTick
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 399
posted
In the East we are lucky to have several LLMDs who are prominent enough that folks know them. The perception I am hearing is more of a "who can ever replace him" from people who wish to continue on with someone who will prove to be very similar and are unsure which of the choices would be best for their circumstances and preferences.
Posts: 1338 | From Above the Clouds | Registered: Nov 2000
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
Joe Ham, please read Treepatrol's copy of the letter Dr. B sent all his lyme patients.
He's retiring in Nov. 06; then NO MORE PATENTS.
Also, to Dr. B's patients, I told my midwest LLMD/HOLISTIC DR. yesterday about Dr. B's upcoming retirement. She was shocked, and asked if he would continue to TEACH about lyme...yes.
I asked her about referring E. patients to her; her 1st choice is to serve MIDWEST only since we do NOT have enough LLMDs as you eastern folks do . I'm sorry, but wanted to report this as I promised you all.
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