JG: When you look back on your long career, what makes you proud?
CC: What I’ve done with EMS makes me the proudest. We had no EMS community when I started. We were getting tons of patients in the hospital without having any information about what happened to them so we couldn’t prepare for anything. And they received no prehospital care. Now it’s so much different.
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ACEP Now: Vol 39 – No 03 – March 2020JG: It sounds like you were a natural problem solver since you were heavily involved in developing your emergency department and creating your local EMS. What do you think compelled you to go beyond the status quo to make things better?
CC: My feeling at the time was somebody has to do it, and I was ready to step in. I wanted to make things better.
JG: What has it been like to retire? Has that been a hard adjustment?
CC: The hardest part is I still read about medicine, and every once in a while, I say to myself, “Why are you reading this? You can’t apply it to a patient.” The hardest part is that [my reading] doesn’t make any difference because I’m not taking care of patients. I miss taking care of patients and interacting with them.
JG: What advice do you give to young physicians who are just starting their careers?
CC: My only advice is, remember you have it better than anyone else. I think emergency medicine is the perfect specialty. That’s always my advice. I know they want more big things, especially coming out of residency, but they have to realize, and I tell them, “You’re the most important thing to the person you’re taking care of. That person is so thankful you are there and that they have someone to turn to at any time. Even if it may sound like a silly thing to you, to them, it’s not.” I think that’s the great part about emergency medicine. We’re there for those people who have nowhere to go, and some of them can’t get to their doctor for weeks and weeks, and at least we can help them out and solve their problem. Even though their problem may seem minor to us, it’s not to them. It’s major for them.
JG: You’re so positive and optimistic. That has to be something that sustained you during your long career—your “glass half full” attitude.
CC: I’ve been very fortunate. I always said I was the luckiest guy in the world because I just fell into emergency medicine. I grew up with emergency medicine, and I couldn’t be any more fortunate than that.
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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.