JG: Was it hard, when you had been in the profession for so long, for it to be continually evolving? Or did you enjoy the process of learning things like ultrasound or new techniques that were always popping up?
CC: Oh, yeah—I enjoyed learning. [The advances] were all exciting to me. They weren’t hard to understand either. CTs—there are so many tutorials online now, which has helped make it easy for us to learn how to read CTs and be able to at least get an initial diagnosis until we got an official radiology reading. There have been so many good changes, and they were not hard to adapt to. Actually, I often wondered, “How did I practice without them? Without MRI? Without ultrasound?”
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ACEP Now: Vol 39 – No 03 – March 2020JG: Many physicians struggle with burnout. You had such a long tenure. How did you stay fresh and enthused and maintain it for so long?
CC: I don’t have any secrets. Just keep reading and learning new things. Everything is just so exciting! In fact, [reading and learning is] the one thing I miss. I had wonderful support from my family, especially my wife. When I couldn’t go to a social function, she was the one helping everyone understand why I couldn’t be there. She was probably the most helpful thing. And she enjoyed emergency medicine. She’s not a physician, but she was excited about all of my stories. I think keeping up with your family life as much as you can and, at the same time, reading and learning new techniques are the most important things to fend off burnout.
JG: That’s interesting what you said about having a support system—in your case, your wife—that helped you avoid burnout.
My wife made everyone understand why I couldn’t be at a particular function, and she understood herself. My children also understood and were extremely supportive. That was the most important thing. I still found time to ski, ice skate, roller skate with my kids. And I was team physician for my kids’ high school football team. There were lots of times where we missed important things we would have liked to have gone to, but that’s part of the business of emergency medicine. Yes, it’s true that we have so many times we have to work weekends and have to work night shifts, have to work on holidays. But at the same time, we’re not on call, and when we come home, we’re home.
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6 Responses to “Emergency Physician Dr. Cataldo Corrado Jr. Reflects on 53-Year Career”
March 30, 2020
Mary GarrityI worked with “Doc” for 18 years in the Uniontown Hospital ED. Learned so much from him and am so proud to have worked with such a compassionate, brilliant doctor.
March 30, 2020
Scott LaClairWas a medic under Doc Corrado from the early 80s to the late 90s. Words fail to express what an asset he was to EMS and the community. He was a mentor that you were blessed to have! The guy is truly a Superman in the eyes of the EMS community in Southwestern Pennsylvania. In almost 20 years I never witnessed him rattled regardless of how injured or how many injured we delivered to his ER. The manner in which he assisted EMS people and his own staff was always in a kind manner, I never heard a raised voice. I loved putting in volunteer hours in the ER when he was on duty. Doc is just a tremendous man with an integrity second to none.
During his time at Uniontown Hospital he passed on many prestigious, high paying positions to remain in Uniontown. He is a legend in the community of emergency service and without question it was the greatest of my life’s opportunities to serve under him! Thank You Doc for all the years.
Scott LaClair
March 31, 2020
Roger MitchellI am certainly proud to have benefitted from your excellent teaching! Doc, you are the reason that emergency medical services are able to provide today. Thank you!!!
March 31, 2020
KarenDr. corrado saved my life at 6 yrs old!! I fell sick for a couple weeks, saw a couple other Dr.s in the ER! Was diagnosed with tonsillitis! I got so bad I was not able to swallow my own spit! My mom took me too Uniontown’s ER, where I was meant by Dr. Corrado!! He ran a new test for mono, and it was positive! My spleen was so enlarged I had to stay home from school for weeks! I was days away from it bursting! Years later he became my family Dr.! Thank you for the amazing care! Much love, & prayers sent to you! God bless!
March 31, 2020
Debra MasonI worked with Dr. Corrado for 10 years at Uniontown Hospital. He was the best ER Doctor. I was impressed with all of his knowledge and kindness he showed everyone.
March 31, 2020
SANDY SEXTONI worked with Dr. Corrado for over 23 years. First, he was my son’s dr. My son had problems and was under ole doc’s care, when young doc took over his practice. Everything I have learned over the years, doc is one of the kindess caring human beings around. He loved his paients and would go up on the floors to check on them after he had admitted them, 2 0r 3 days earlier. I have seen doc go to peoples home to make sure they were ok. Thank you doc for all your kindness, your worring, your love for your staff. We all love you. Please take care of yourself and Carol thru this awful thing we are all going thru. Please know you were loved and when we get together, your name is always brought up in a positive mannor. God bless you.