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 April 21, 2020: COVID-19: The sacrificial lamb
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: The sacrificial lamb Someone had to go. We needed to decide. Why should we both be in harms way, when the other could remain safe? … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary April 20, 2020: COVID-19: The invisible older adult
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: The invisible older adult Older adults are vulnerable and disproportionally suffer more during the COVID-19 crisis. Technology took a fast lane and passed many … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary April 19, 2020: COVID-19: Connecting the hospital / nursing home dots
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Connecting the hospital / nursing home dots The coronavirus is running rampant through senior residential facilities, especially nursing homes. One source: Hospitals. Ten years ago … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary April 18, 2020: COVID-19: Sympathy commercials
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Sympathy commercials How very nice. TV commercials telling us how sad it is to see us suffer, but “We are there for you.” (Insert sad-face … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary April 17, 2020: COVID-19: Leadership
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Leadership Leadership during this crisis has been powerful from the City of Santa Clarita, City and County of Los Angeles, and the State of California. … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary April 16, 2020: COVID-19: Flattening the curve while protecting mom
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Flattening the curve while protecting mom An abundance of hope has been placed in “flattening the curve”, which is indeed an important concept that must … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary April 15, 2020: COVID-19: Uniting to fight
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Uniting to fight The 1996 movie Independence Day depicts an alien invasion of Earth, defended by united countries of the world battling as a team. … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary April 14, 2020: COVID-19: The coffee table of enticement
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: The coffee table of enticement As coronavirus rules evolved and increased, and the threat of viral spread became ubiquitous, anxiety and stress levels escalated while … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary April 13, 2020: COVID-19: Wear a mask, yet be careful
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Wear a mask, yet be careful Forty years ago while operating on a trauma victim who fell asleep at the wheel, I became more tired … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary April 12, 2020: COVID-19: The magnificent human antibody machine
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: The magnificent human antibody machine Immunology is one of many medical frontiers we have yet to fully understand. One poorly understood question: How does the … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary April 11, 2020: COVID-19: “Don’t spike the ball on the 5 yard line!”
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: “Don’t spike the ball on the 5 yard line!” In haste to get across the goal line, or where the field is not marked clearly, … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary April 10, 2020: COVID-19: A “cloud” of germs
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: A “cloud” of germs Living near a freeway can be hazardous to your health. A cloud of exhaust and particulate matter infiltrating skin and lungs … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary April 9, 2020: COVID-19: The fine print
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: The fine print A showcase for prescription medication can be seen on television daily promoting benefits, yet side effects are reserved at the end with … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary April 8, 2020: COVID-19: Guardians of the solar system
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Guardians of the solar system Stardate: 2120 Location: US Pluto outpost “Charon, take this pill to your brother. He’ll feel better.” “What’s it for dad?” … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary April 7, 2020: COVID-19: PTSD in my healthcare colleagues
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: PTSD in my healthcare colleagues I have vivid memories of patients dying. Some I did not know as they came through emergency room trauma. Others … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary April 6, 2020: COVID-19: A scary nursing home
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: A scary nursing home I visit nursing homes once a month. With the COVID-19 crisis, they can easily be a nidus for community infection. My … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary April 5, 2020: COVID-19: Comforting your hospitalized loved one
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Comforting your hospitalized loved one Hospitals do not have enough PPE (Personal Protective Equipment – gloves, masks, gowns, shoe coverings), nor sufficient access to COVID-19 … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary April 4, 2020: COVID-19: Stigmatized by a cough
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Stigmatized by a cough I was pushing my shopping cart in an aisle with other nearby 6-foot-socially-distant customers. Close by was an employee stocking shelves … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary April 3, 2020: COVID-19: Sweethearts
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Sweethearts They were childhood sweethearts. Married for almost 60 years, and inseparable. Their neighbor was ill, and hospitalized. Because of the COVID-19 crisis and hospital … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary April 2, 2020: COVID-19: Shucks
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Shucks My daughter works in an endemic area, with 7 colleagues and 5 patients positive for COVID-19. So when she became ill, the test was … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary April 1, 2020: COVID-19: On being a senior
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: On being a senior Before they initiated one hour senior headstart at the groceries when toilet paper disappeared, all I wanted was gatorade. Shelves were … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary March 31, 2020: COVID-19: Mother Earth
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Mother Earth I run…slooow. Being athletic as a youth and growing up in smoggy Los Angeles meant daily discomfort attempting to take a deep breath. … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary March 30, 2020: COVID-19: Show us the numbers!
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Show us the numbers! Hospital healthcare professionals are dying. Many because they do not have adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like gloves, masks, gowns, shoe … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary March 29, 2020: COVID-19: Housecalls – what are the rules?
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Housecalls – what are the rules? I do housecalls. Most of my patients are older than 65. Some are bedridden and immobile. They could be … Continue Reading →
Doctor’s Diary March 28, 2020: COVID-19: The struggling doctor’s office
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: The struggling doctor’s office For 32 years, I have been in private practice in California’s Santa Clarita Valley. I run a small business, have employees, … Continue Reading →