Brad, Me, Tulea, Richard and Tina

Tina, Brad, Me and Brad Jr.

Brad Hillstrom is a doctor and a business man with companies involved in medical systems. Last month, he accompanied Richard and me to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale Arizona, where Richard had a full physical exam. I have been going to Mayo (in Jacksonville, Florida) for several years. Brad did his residency at the Scottsdale clinic. We both believe it is the very best medical system in the country and has been ranked as #1 by U.S. News and World Report. (Johns Hopkins and UCLA alternating for the #2 and 3 spots).

I have been blown away by Mayo’s integrated system of health care. There is a doctor who is the “team” leader and every doctor treating the patient is fully appraised of what every other doctor has found and all medications that are being given. The team leader summarizes all the findings at the end of the entire process (we were there for 3 days)…I could go on about all this. Suffice to say, the level of expertise of every single doctor was mind blowing and I have now been at two of the Mayo Clinics and found this to be true in both of them. The first flagship Mayo Clinic is, of course, the one in Rochester, Minnesota. Brad was with us the whole time and having him present as a friend with a doctor’s eye was invaluable. Everyone should have such a friend.

Tina, Me and Brad Jr.

Last night he, his wife Tina and son, Brad Jr. came over for dinner. I was very interested in talking to Brad Jr. a marine who went twice to Iraq. I learned years ago from Harry Belafonte who was in the Army as a young man, that for many, the military experience can help them find their way in life, discover their talents, learn discipline and the value of structure in life. This was clearly the case with Brad Jr. He expressed such caring and loyalty to the other men in his company, devotion to his country, and kindness in general.

It was a good evening.

See you next time.