Kathryn Marie Charnock, M.D., Major, MC, USAF: Graduate: Hart High School, Newhall ’99 Deployed: Afghanistan, 2013-2014 Present: Lackland AFB Parents: Paula Charnock Millar, George Charnock, M.D.
Doctor’s Diary: The Dam Landfill, February 16, 2024
My parents grew up on farms: my mother in British Columbia and my father in Pennsylvania. Both told me how they walked 5 miles in the snow to school. We … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary: Telemedicine Can’t Cross State Lines, February 2, 2024
Telemedicine Can’t Cross State Lines Forty years ago when I first started in medicine, there were no CT scans or MRIs. In the next forty years, I foresee cancer as … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary: Nursing Homes: Diminishing the dignity of older adults, January 18, 2024
Nursing Homes: Diminishing the dignity of older adults Call it what you want: Nursing home, skilled nursing facility, rehab center, convalescent home, or post-acute care. They are all the same … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary December 29, 2023: Medical Decision-Making – Denied
Medical Decision-Making The practice of medicine has been augmented by advancing technology. But even with 4 years of medical school and an MD degree, this only provides the foundation of … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary September 27, 2023: Auschwitz: His Dark Secret
As a medical doctor, I have peeked into the lives of many patients who have unique experiences. When I started practice 40 years ago, some of my patients had parents … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary August 27, 2023: To Lie or Not to Lie, That is the SciFi Question
Science fiction writer Ray Bradbury and I attended Los Angeles High School separated by 15 years. He once spoke there and quelled the rumor he failed English: “I got a … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary August 17, 2023: The slowing of technology by the medical-industrial complex
The slowing of technology by the medical-industrial complex How I practice medicine has changed for the better because of technology. In the future I foresee no pandemics, cancer becoming a … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary August 3, 2023: Senior Moments
We worry about politicians who trip over sandbags, walk gingerly down rain-soaked stage ramps, or have “episodes” during press conferences or Congressional meetings. Typically, these frailties are attributed to “old … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary July 22, 2023: Parades are for memories
Parades are for memories Raising children is not an easy task. But as parents, we try to provide occasional life experiences they will preserve as memories for decades to come. … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary July 12, 2023: Doin the Walk
Doin the walk On the first day of class, one of my medical school professors limped in, stopped, then proceeded to teach us specifically what ailment a patient has to … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary July 1, 2023: Buffalo and Hart Park
Buffalo and Hart Park I miss the buffalo. They always seemed so gentle. Sometimes they would roll around in the dirt kicking up a dust cloud at Hart Park in … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary June 28, 2023: Ageism and the role it plays on being a doctor
Ageism and the role it plays on being a doctor There are several certainties in the world, and one is we will age. But unfortunately, there are some unforeseen consequences … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary June 10, 2023: Lessons learned from the pandemic – a silver lining
Lessons learned from the pandemic – a silver lining Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, many Americans were unaware of the 1918 pandemic that rampaged across the United States a century before. … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary June 3, 2023: A thank you to my Los Angeles community
A thank you to my Los Angeles community I am a medical doctor in my fourth decade of saving lives, but my life was saved long before today by a … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary October 15, 2022: Pulling the Plug
Pulling the Plug How many older adults and disabled have had their “plug pulled”? Here is a recent story how a group of senior advocates fought back and rectified state … Continue Reading →
Abortion States: Facing Restrictions from Faith-based Hospitals
Abortion States: Facing Restrictions from Faith-based Hospitals Medical decision-making is not easy. A patient’s quality of life, including career and family, may hang in the balance. I have practiced … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary February 22, 2022: Avoiding Covid-19 asymptomatic carriers
Doctor’s Diary: Avoiding Covid-19 asymptomatic carriers Nationwide distribution of at-home Covid-19 self-tests kits has begun. Individually, we should be able to determine if one’s symptoms might be from the … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary January 17, 2022: There Oughta Be a Law
There Oughta Be a Law I was Chairman of the Ethics Committee at our local hospital. An emergency meeting was called at family request. The father had been brought to … Continue Reading →
Guest Commentary December 13, 2021: Dr. Thomas W. LaGrelius – Having an advocate doctor
I applaud Dr. Dorio for pointing out the potential hospitals could have to abuse the system and limit care for the sake of the hospital’s bottom line. In 2018 I … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary September 14, 2021: Strategy to Survive Hospitalization as an Older Adult
Hospitals have evolved as a business. They are bigger, have flashy newspaper and TV ads, and tout medical prowess. Arising now from their sterile halls are horror stories of compromised … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary July 29, 2021: “Breakthrough”: Contracting COVID-19 Even After Vaccination
“Breakthrough”: Contracting COVID-19 Even After Vaccination We seek perfection. Nadia Comaneci was the first gymnast awarded a perfect “10.0” in the Olympics, and Bo Derek was “10” in a 1979 … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary July 2, 2021: The nursing home crucible
(Snippets from the frontline) The nursing home crucible Harriet broke her hip and needed surgery. Post-operatively, the hospital was swift to push her out the door, while Medicare controlled the … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary May 30, 2021: A Decade of War by Hospital Administrators on the Practice of Medicine
A Decade of War by Hospital Administrators on the Practice of Medicine Medical doctors are trained professionals trying to survive in a complex system that is increasingly hostile to their … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary May 9, 2021: Saving Dodger Manager Dave Roberts’ life
(Not a snippets from the frontline) Saving Dodger Manager Dave Roberts’ life I got home late and didn’t know if the Los Angeles Dodgers had won that day, so I … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary May 7, 2021: Gallantry in the face of fear
(Snippets from the frontline) Gallantry in the face of fear I remember when my high school friend lost his father. He was a surgeon in Vietnam when their hospital mobile … Continue Reading →