Edward T. Creagan is an American retired oncologist, author, educator, and advocate for animal-assisted therapy.[1] Creagan is based in Rochester, Minnesota, where he has been affiliated with the Mayo Clinic for over forty years.[2][3] He taught medical oncology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine[4] and is professor emeritus of oncology and palliative and hospice medicine at the Mayo Clinic Medical School.[2] Creagan was the first Mayo Clinic consultant to become board certified in hospice and palliative medicine.[5]

Education and career

Creagan received his medical degree in internal medicine from New York Medical College in 1970. He subsequently studied oncology at the University of Michigan and the National Cancer Institute before joining the staff at the Mayo Clinic.[6]

In 1979, Creagan was the head of a Mayo Clinic study on the  effectiveness of large doses of vitamin C for cancer patients. Creagan and his team provided high doses of vitamin C to 150 patients at the Mayo Clinic with advanced stages of cancer. Patients in the controlled study either received 10 grams of vitamin C or a placebo of lactose per day. The results of the study, which found “no appreciable difference in changes of symptoms,”[7] were published in The New England Journal of Medicine on September 26, 1979.[8] The Mayo Clinic’s study disputed Linus Pauling’s assertion that megadoses of vitamin C can be impactful in prolonging the lives of patients with terminal cancer.[9]

Creagan’s medicinal work includes contributions to animal-assisted therapy.[10] As part of a Mayo Clinic’s use of animal-assisted therapy, Creagan co-authored a paper that combines anecdotal patient evidence, medical studies, and a review of existing literature titled “Animal-assisted therapy at Mayo Clinic: The time is now.”[11] He is also cited in the 2003 book, The Healing Power of Pets, by veterinarian Marty Becker, which mentions the impetus for Creagan’s utilization of animal-assisted therapy. Becker notes that Creagan initially realized the important role that animal bonding had on his patients' wellbeing when he was treating someone with stage 4 cancer. When the patient talked about her cat, her demeanor changed and she exhibited signs of breaking through cancer-related depression. Creagan is quoted in the book reflecting upon the experience, “I think it creates healing of the soul. Some of the energy and the resentment is channeled in a positive way for caring for the pet.”[12]

In 2014, Creagan was elected to the board of the American Humane Association.[13]

Advocacy work

Creagan has advocated for patient empowerment and has been cited as an expert on preventative care,[14] coping with diagnoses, and managing stress.[4][15] He has mentioned the importance of spirituality,[16] laughter,[17] and animal-assisted therapy as part of the curative process.[18] As a proponent of animal-assisted therapy, Creagan made a note of his patients’ pets as part of their medical history[19][12] and has prescribed animal bonding.[20] Creagan states that spending time around animals raises oxytocin and lowers the stress hormone cortisol.[21]

Creagan notes that stress management is a key part of living a healthy life. His advice includes good communication, exercise, a healthy diet, good sleep habits, taking a hiatus from bad news, engaging in enjoyable activities, and seeking medical help for depression.[22] Another issue that Creagan has advised on is a better work-life balance in order to avoid burnout.[23] He has also been cited advocating the importance of physicians managing stress with good healthy habits like diet and exercise.[14]

Publications

Creagan has written more than 400 research papers and published two books.[24] Creagan discusses how to become an empowered patient, expounds upon good patient-doctor relationships, and how to  deal with a serious diagnosis in his first book, How Not to Be My Patient.[25][26] His second book, Farewell, describes helping dying patients and their families dealing with the difficult choices at the end of their lives.[27]

References

  1. ↑ Willingham, Val (2009-02-06). "For the love and health of pets". CNN.com: The Chart. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  2. 1 2 "Edward T. Creagan, M.D." Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  3. ↑ "Dr. Edward T. Creagan". U.S. News & World Report.
  4. 1 2 Flatow, Ira (2007-11-30). "'Tis the Season for Holiday Stress". NPR.org. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  5. ↑ Roberts, Lindsey (2022-03-18). "5 ways to maintain healthy family relationships when caring for an aging loved one". Care.com Resources. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  6. ↑ Association, American Humane. "American Humane Association Board Of Directors Elects Renowed[sic] Mayo Clinic Oncologist And Hospice Care Expert Dr. Edward T. Creagan As New Member". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  7. ↑ Altman, Lawrence K. (1979-09-27). "Study Finds Big Vitamin C Doses Not Beneficial to Cancer Patients". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  8. ↑ Creagan, Edward T.; Moertel, Charles G.; O'Fallon, Judith R.; Schutt, Allan J.; O'Connell, Michael J.; Rubin, Joseph; Frytak, Stephen (1979-09-27). "Failure of High-Dose Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) Therapy to Benefit Patients with Advanced Cancer". New England Journal of Medicine. 301 (13): 687–690. doi:10.1056/NEJM197909273011303. ISSN 0028-4793. PMID 384241.
  9. ↑ "VITAMIN C MEGADOSES QUESTIONED". Chicago Tribune. 1988-11-10. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  10. ↑ Advocate-Messenger (2019-06-05). "Pets have the power to heal our hearts and lives". The Advocate-Messenger. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  11. ↑ Creagan, Edward T.; Bauer, Brent A.; Thomley, Barbara S.; Borg, Jessica M. (2015-05-01). "Animal-assisted therapy at Mayo Clinic: The time is now". Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 21 (2): 101–104. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2015.03.002. ISSN 1744-3881. PMID 25900612.
  12. 1 2 Becker, Marty (2002). The Healing Power of Pets: Harnessing the Amazing Ability of Pets to Make and Keep People Happy and Healthy. New York: Hyperion Publishing. pp. 96–97. ISBN 978-0786886913.
  13. ↑ "American Human Association, Annual Report, 2015" (PDF). American Humane. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  14. 1 2 Beck, Melinda (2010-05-25). "What Patients Can Learn from the Ways Physicians Take Care of Themselves". WSJ. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  15. ↑ "Health Fusion: Get stress under control or you won't be able to go the distance". Park Rapids Enterprise. 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  16. ↑ Carruthers, Mike (2007-11-09). "Today's guest: Edward T. Creagan, M.D., co-author of 'How Not to Be My Patient: A Physician's Secrets for Staying Healthy and Surviving Any Diagnosis'". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  17. ↑ Cimons, Marlene (2019-06-15). "Laughter really is the best medicine? In many ways, that's no joke". Washington Post.
  18. ↑ "Health Fusion: Hug your pet, find a purpose and boost health". Duluth News Tribune. 2022-02-16. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  19. ↑ Whiteman, Honor (2014-06-12). "Animal-assisted therapy: is it undervalued as an alternative treatment?". Medical News Today. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  20. ↑ "Dr. Oz Reveals Why Pets Really Improve Your Health". Oprah.com. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  21. ↑ "What your doctor doesn't have time to tell you - CNN.com". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  22. ↑ "How to cope in a troubled world". The Providence Journal. 2016-01-03. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  23. ↑ Creagan, Edward T. (July 2004). "Burnout and Balance: How to Go the Distance in the 21st Century". Cancer Control. 11 (4): 266–268. doi:10.1177/107327480401100411. ISSN 1073-2748. PMID 15284719.
  24. ↑ "Farewell: End-of-Life Lessons From 40,000 Patients | School for Good Living". 2021-05-04. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  25. ↑ "Interview: Dr. Edward Creagan (How Not to Be My Patient)". The Author Blurb Podcast. 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  26. ↑ "HOW NOT TO BE MY PATIENT: A Physician's Secrets for Staying Healthy and Surviving Any Diagnosis by Edward T. Creagan, Sandra Wendel, Edward Creagan". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  27. ↑ "Edward Creagan | School for Good Living". 2021-04-30. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
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