There are endless life lessons to learn from people around us. Our friends’ opinions on what they think about a product, a certain cuisine, or how they view life not only gives us a glimpse of who they are, but also can impact our own views. As a doctor, it is always fascinating to me how two patients with the same oncologic diagnosis can have such different views of life: one can be pessimistic and feel defeated before the battle even begins, and the other remains optimistic and grateful. Dr. Moshe Weiner certainly was the latter.
Over the years I learned a lot from Moshe. He was a colleague, a friend, and an avid pilot. When I was a brand-new attending physician, I joined a five-doctor group practice. One day, I felt overwhelmed with the number of consults I had in the hospital and the complexity of many of the patients. Moshe did not hesitate to lend his hand. He rushed to finish up his office hours and drove to the hospital to help me. This not only made my day less stressful, it also reassured me that I was working with people I could trust and rely on.