Author Glen E. Miller to present Afternoon Sabbatical on doctor-patient relationships

Lecture: Afternoon Sabbatical – "Empowering the Patient" by Dr. Glen E. Miller
Date and Time: Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009 at 1 p.m.
Location: Sauder Concert Hall, Goshen College Music Center
Cost: Free and open to the public

GOSHEN, Ind. – So often as a practicing physician, Dr. Glen E. Miller saw intelligent and educated people lose their ability to communicate in the presence of a doctor. This caused him to look for ways for the doctor and patient to relate in a more open and collaborative way.

On Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. Miller will share about the value of improving such relationships and practical ways to improve healthcare during the October Afternoon Sabbatical series at Goshen College.

A 1957 Goshen College graduate and a healthcare activist, Miller recently wrote the book "Empowering the patient: How to reduce the cost of healthcare and improve its quality," (Dog Ear Publishing, 2009) about the evolving doctor-patient relationship and the effect the relationships have and could have on healthcare.

The relationship used to be "the patient acting child like. All the patient had to do was be obedient and follow the directions for the prescriptions," Miller said. "Now it is much more of a partnership with the patient entering into the decisions about their healthcare, and the end result is that there will be a decrease in cost and an increase in quality."

The book, just published at the end of September, is a collection of doctor-patient stories.With each story Miller presents a dilemma, suggests a number of ways to handle the situation and how to improve the relationship. Some of the stories are Miller's personal stories as a patient and as a doctor.

Miller went to medical school in Cleveland, Ohio. After 29 years of medical practice and at the height of his earning power as medical director at Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine, Ohio, Miller chose an alternative path – to retire from medicine at age 58 so he and his wife, Marilyn, could live modestly and devote their lives to service. They served abroad with Mennonite Central Committee in Haiti, India, Egypt, Cambodia and London. Miller received Goshen College's "Culture for Service" alumni award in 2006. And he was appointed to lead Mennonite Church USA's work at promoting healthcare and healthcare access.

Future programs in the Afternoon Sabbatical series:

Nov. 10 – "Sensational Singing and Swinging," GHS advanced Crimson Choir and Crimsonaires with Marcia Yost, 1 p.m., Sauder Concert Hall.

 

Dec. 8 – "Musical Stylings for the Christmas Season," with Professor of Music Beverly Lapp and friends, 1 p.m., Sauder Concert Hall

 

Dec. 19 – Christmas Bus trip to Chicago to see ÒIn the Heights.Ó Cost: $120

          

Goshen College's Afternoon Sabbatical program is in its 32^nd year of offering rich diversity in programs for the community. A committee of area representatives and college personnel consider the knowledge and talent at Goshen College and among Elkhart County citizens and aim to select programs that will appeal to a wide variety of interests. The program encourages the idea that people need a sabbatical from their daily lives to rejuvenate their minds and spirits.

 

Afternoon Sabbatical programs are usually on the second Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. in Sauder Concert Hall or the College Church Fellowship Hall and are free and open to the public. For more information on the Afternoon Sabbatical series call the Goshen College Welcome Center at (574) 535-7566.

-By Julie Weirich 

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college's Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron's Best Buys in Education, "Colleges of Distinction," "Making a Difference College Guide" and U.S.News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" edition, which named Goshen a "least debt college." Visit www.goshen.edu.