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R E F L E C T I O N S O N H E A L T H His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama paid an historic three-day visit to the University at Buffalo September 19–21, 2006, during which time he participated in a series of events on campus. The following is a report on a lecture he delivered in UB’s stadium to a sellout crowd that included many students, faculty and staff from the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. To learn more about the Dalai Lama’s visit, go to http://www.buffalo.edu/dalai_lama/. To view a video of the lecture described in the following article, go to http://www.buffalo.edu/dalai_lama/video.html. By Ann Whitcher-Gentzke I Unbiased n his formal remarks, the Dalai Lama spoke in The monk replied that he perceived the danger not to be one of English with his interpreter, Thupten Jinpa, occasionally personal vulnerability, but rather in not being able to feel sufoffering more exact phrasing for some of His Holiness’s ficient compassion for his captors. With compassion, the Dalai more complex viewpoints as expressed in Tibetan. Lama argued, the mind acquires perspective, even if the probThroughout the afternoon, the Dalai Lama advocated a lems one faces are serious. “The mental outlook is very, very compassion “that is not based on the positive attitude of others crucial to sustaining peace of mind,” he said. “I believe the most toward you,” but rather on the conviction that others are human important element for peace of mind is human compassion.” beings and thus have every right to compassionate treatment, Giving additional examples from his own life, the Dalai Lama even if they are strangers. recounted how he had seen poor children in India with no shoes “That kind of compassion can extend toward your enemy,” and running barefoot, and also an elderly individual, apparently ill, the Dalai Lama said. It also is markedly different from the “usual but left alone and utterly uncared for. That very day, His Holiness kind of compassion one feels toward a loved one—a loving developed a serious intestinal infection, and while enduring pain kindness that is very much mixed with attachment.” during the night, he was able to divert his attention from the pain Moreover, compassion, as conventionally understood, can by thinking of the people he had seen earlier in so much distress. turn to hatred when some slight disturbance Further developing his themes, His Holiness occurs in the relationship. Anger, he said, can noted that small children never care about He spoke of warmdestroy friendships—even a close friendship their playmates’ religious background, nor are heartedness as usually can’t withstand the raised voice or they aware of each other’s economic status. shouts of anger on a continuous basis. A persynonymous with the Furthermore, an unbiased compassion has nothhaps unexpected effect is that “your bad mood ing to do with pity, or the lack of respect for othfavored “unbiased serves your enemy,” he said. ers that can accompany this particular emotion. On the other hand, with “warm-heartedThe Dalai Lama described how the basis compassion” and also ness”—a term the Dalai Lama used repeatedly for this kind of compassionate understandlikened it to the during his address and throughout his threeing is biological, although the world’s religious day visit to UB—“there is no room to exploit traditions reinforce such fundamental human immune system, the or to bully others.” He spoke of warm-heartedvalues. He traced his mother’s innate nurturing ness as synonymous with the favored “unbiased health of which can role beginning at birth and how the memory or compassion” and also likened it to the immune withstand even the experience of such nurturing can be cultivated system, the health of which can withstand even through all the stages of one’s life. most pernicious of the most pernicious of influences. The Dalai The Dalai Lama noted, too, how physical Lama also contrasted “genuine satisfaction” comfort can’t subdue mental stress, as when influences. with a “false satisfaction”; that is, being overly reclining on a comfortable bed won’t bring true reliant on material possessions or comforts. repose if one is wracked with worry or concern. He described how Reinforcing the theme of compassion, he described how a he approaches the people he meets “one on one,” “as brothers and monk of his acquaintance—who had spent more than 18 years sisters,” and always with a ready smile. He maintains this smile in the Chinese gulag—spoke of the dangers experienced there. even in more reserved cultures, say in Western Europe, joking that What were these dangers, the Dalai Lama asked his colleague? some have appeared “stunned” at his easy affability. Compassion Wearing his red-and-yellow robes, which flapped in the stiff wind, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama came to the University at Buffalo on September 19, 2006, with a message of profound compassion and personal humility. “I’m extremely happy to share some of my thoughts and experiences with this large audience,” the Dalai Lama said, greeting a crowd of 31,000 gathered in UB Stadium as part of the university’s Distinguished Speakers Series. Medicine Buddha Thangka: See page 2 for story PHOTO BY DOUG LEVERE A u t u m n 2 0 0 6 B u f f a l o P h y s i c i a n 1 Buffalo Physician B Vo l u m e 41, N u m b e r U F F A L O 2 P H Y S I C I A N Assistant Vice President for News Services and Periodicals Arthur Page Unbiased Compassion Associate Dean and Senior Director for Advancement and Constituent Relations, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Kathleen A. Wiater T urning to more specific com- called “the century of bloodshed,” the 21st cenments, the Dalai Lama talked about the tury can be a “century of dialogue,” a statement importance of ecological protection (“This blue that brought audience applause and cheers as planet is our only home”) and also urged parthe Dalai Lama concluded his formal remarks. ents to extend compassion to their own chilHe then responded to several student quesdren if divorce is looming or under discussion. tions read by Stephen C. Dunnett, vice provost And to audience applause, he for international education. The mental said the solution to violence can Asked about his most never be more violence. “Peaceful admired figures, the Dalai outlook is very, resolution is the only alternative.” Lama cited Gandhi, Martin In modern education, we are very crucial to Luther King Jr. and Mother not paying sufficient attention to sustaining peace of Teresa, and said that he has so inculcating values of the heart, far received “negative signals” mind. I believe the from the Chinese governhe maintained. Citing declining church ment to his requests to visit most important influences and even family valTibet. But he said whether he ues that are “suffering little dis- element for peace ever visits his homeland has turbances,” the Dalai Lama said more to do with the welfare of mind is human it falls upon the educational of the Tibetan people than institutions to develop warmhis personal yearning. “When compassion. heartedness among the young, China starts addressing the “from kindergarten to the university level.” basic issues of Tibet and there is a reasonable And while the world has emerged from what he approach, I’m ready to go.” BP Editor Stephanie A. Unger Art Direction Alan J. Kegler Design Bob Wilder and Nick Peterson Contributing Writers Lois Baker, Ellen Goldbaum “ Production Coordinator Cynthia Todd-Flick Advertising Manager Sharon Russell-Moore (716) 863-1569 Dean, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Michael E. Cain, MD Editorial Board John Bodkin II, MD ’76 Harold Brody, PhD, MD ’61 Stephanie Chow James Kanski, MD ’60 Elizabeth Olmsted Ross, MD ’39 Stephen Spaulding, MD Kimberly Venti Kathleen A. Wiater Franklin Zeplowitz, MD ’58 “ Healing Science Catholic Health System Mercy Health System St. Joseph Hospital Sisters of Charity Hospital Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center is featuring an exhibit this fall titled “gSoba Rig-pa” Tibetan Medicine: A Healing Science. 2 B u f f a l o P h y s i c i a n of patients, as well as physical. The oaths taken by doctors in many cultures recognize compassion as a healing force. The exhibit offers an introduction to the rich tradition of Tibetan medicine. Displayed in three locations on the first and second floors of the library, it highlights the history, training and iconography of the Medicine Buddha, as well as the spiritual dimensions of healing and traditional herbal medicine. A u t u m n 2 0 0 6 Stop by and see the beautiful Medicine Buddha thangka on loan from the Amitabha Foundation in Rochester (see inset photo on inside front cover). Also on display are traditional Tibetan pills, including “precious pills,” and a “poison cup” for dispensing medications (on loan from Dr. Richard Lee). Or visit the exhibit online at http://ublib.buffalo.edu/hsl/ exhibits/tibetanmedicine/ BP —Pamela M. Rose, MLS ©UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor are welcome and can be sent c/o Buffalo Physician, 330 Crofts Hall, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260; or via e-mail to [email protected]. Telephone: (716) 645-5000, ext. 1387. The staff reserves the right to edit all submissions for clarity and length. 06-MBS-001 06-MBS-002 G was the central message of the Dalai Lama’s address at UB, but it also is a critical component of patient care. Compassion and wisdom are two Buddhist ideals that are an essential part of Tibetan physician training, allowing doctors to attend to the emotional and spiritual needs Simulators are ‘must-have’ tools for today’s medical educators By S. A. Unger Immunology Pioneer Honored Ernst Beunter, founder of dermatology subspecialty, receives international award By S. A. Unger Robert Bennett, Class of 2010, being cloaked by Edward Kim, MD ’99, at the White Coat Ceremony, held on August 11 in Slee Hall. Turn to page 34 for more on a special highlight at this year's ceremony. Cov er p ho to by K. C. K r at t. S e c o n d -y e a r me d i c a l st u d e n t M a r y O b eco m es acq ua i n t e d w i t h t h e sc h o o l’ s n e w si mu lat o r . Kaleida Health The Buffalo General Hospital The Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo DeGraff Memorial Hospital Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital In honor of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the Health Sciences Library, on UB’s South Campus, REATER COMPASSION not only 4 12 New Body of Knowledge Teaching Hospitals Erie County Medical Center Roswell Park Cancer Institute Veterans Affairs Western New York Healthcare System “gSoba Rig-pa” Tibetan Medicine: A Features Guest Column Pathways Research Advancement Classnotes 16 Pediatrician Lynda Stidham, MD ’85, writes about why she went “Back to School” 20 News about the school and its alumni, faculty, students and staff 27 Pharmaceutical metabolites found in wastewater systems 34 Scholars and donors meet at White Coat Ceremony 47 News from and about your UB classmates and other alumni 22 In Memoriam— Douglas Sinesky 23 Major grant to study best treatments for ADHD 29 Research provides key data for new field of metagenomics Inside Back Cover 36 Donors as stake- 50 Six residents holders, a converreceive Humanism sation with and Excellence Kathleen Wiater Teaching Awards at Student Clin30 BioBlower device 40 James Platt White ician’s Ceremony targets hospital donor recognition infections dinner Practice Giving— Meet Lillian Marsh, Class of 2009, scholarship recipient 42 James Platt White Society members A u t u m n 2 0 0 6 B u f f a l o P h y s i c i a n 3