A PR Web press release today, Wizards Teach Medicine to Doctors, announces a pairing of between Lee Grotte, M.D. and McBride School of Magic:

An unlikely alliance between two famous magicians and a physician has led to a program at the McBride School of Magic in Las Vegas to help doctors improve their communication skills. Their proposal: “modern medicine could use a little magic.”

Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) August 02, 2005 — A magic school in Las Vegas may seem an unlikely place to instruct doctors on how to improve their communication skills, but two world-class magicians and an expert in Oriental medicine think otherwise. Each is convinced that modern medicine could use a little magic.

Lee Grotte, M.D, the non-magician of the trio, points out that the goal of all systems of medicine, whether ancient or modern, is to establish a good relationship between the doctor and the patient. Once this “therapeutic relationship” is established, the common goal of improving health can begin.

Grotte adds that doctors must not only have the technical skills to diagnose and treat, but also need to master communication skills to help the patient understand the doctor’s viewpoint as well as how to change negative emotional habits, dietary, and exercise behaviors that contribute to disease.

The press release goes on a bit further down:

In response he has begun working with Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger, two of the faculty of the well known McBride School of Magic in Las Vegas, to offer classes for doctors. Grotte met them when they were visiting Cleveland for last year’s International Brotherhood of Magicians convention.

Grotte had been exploring the interface of ritual magic and medicine in Oriental culture for many years, and wanted to compare notes with McBride, who received some of his training in Asia and also widely performs there. “Soon we were discussing techniques for establishing rapport between members of different cultures and ages as they relate to both medicine and magic. Our perspectives were very similar.”

The Dean of the Magic School also had a remarkable viewpoint to share: “On Friday night, Eugene (Burger) had given this powerful presentation on compassion, kindness, and mindfulness in magic, all subjects of great relevance to medicine, also.”

“Here were two men who had developed tremendous skill at changing people’s belief systems,” he said. “They could even convince people that impossible events are happening right in front of them.”

It’s long been tradition that the world of magic includes many doctors. Some, over the years, have found incorporating tricks in their practice to be useful for any number of reasons. This, I think, is the first time I’ve read a doctor using magic in this direct, particular manner.

There’s lots more in the release, and a link to the web site. Worth a look if you have a moment.