Dear Patients,

It's hard not to like Ellen DeGeneres; the Ellen we see is funny, kind, no pretenses. I rarely watch her show, but a while back, this clip caught my attention. Ellen was photographed enjoying herself at a football game, seated near George Bush and his family. Almost immediately, the cancel culture called her out for associating with Bush. Ellen very quickly went to her viewers and social media with a very well-done monologue; it's worth viewing using the link above. The summary is that just because you politically disagree with someone does not mean you cannot have a friendship. Friendship can lead to sharing and learning different points of view which sometimes leads to a change.

More about Ellen... she was the product of a broken home, abused as a child by her stepfather and came out in the '90s. Ellen has helped many people understand the complexities of life. She has become wealthy and successful and with this comes other challenges. We are now hearing that behind the scenes of her show that maybe Ellen is not so kind, not so nice, has rather odd habits and can be downright mean.

There is a German (also used in Yiddish) word "schadenfreude." It means finding pleasure in other people's misery. Some people love this Ellen story of hypocrisy on steroids. The media pines for take-down pieces like this as they are aware of schadenfreude. Make no mistake about it, there is a little piece of schadenfreude in many of us and if that bubbles up in you, let that be your signal to find compassion and empathy for the affected person.

The Ellen story is a reminder that we all have our 'stuff' and sometimes when 'stuff' hits the fan, it can create a pivot point in our life. Bad press can trigger self-awareness, it can help us see ourselves the way other people see us. And then, when we really see our true reflection, actions, deeds, and bad habits, we can make positive adjustments. I think that self-awareness allows us to create a true concordance between who we think we are and who we really are. And further, if we see something we don't like in our self, we can change. Unfortunately, we are not always the best judge of who we are; we tend to soft-pedal when it comes to our own self-evaluation. So, who do we turn to for a clearer picture? Our confidantes, family, friends, colleagues. They see our actions more realistically and can give us valuable feedback. We need to ask and listen to them. In the end, we are our actions, not our words. Walk the walk, don't just talk the talk.

The numbers:

Maryland: This site continues to show that our mitigation techniques are working. Yes, every day, we see more cases, but our death rate, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions are stable, with the exception of the expected spike after the July 4 holiday. The fatality rate in Maryland continues to fall and is now 3.39%.

Maryland Rt: Now 0.93, much better. Wear your face mask, wash your hands frequently, and social gatherings <10 people.

The science of COVID:

Here's more food for thought on hydroxychloroquine (HC) early use in other countries or as a preventive medication, read thi

• If you are really interested in the HC story, this is a must read, authored by Norman Doidge, the author of The Brain That Changes Itself, a favorite book of mine.

• A Stanford study shows an increased risk for young adults getting COVID if they vape.

• Hopkins reports that getting a COVID test too early leads to many false negatives. Do not get tested if your pre-test probability of having COVID is low.

• At University of Texas, they are reporting that the current antibody test may not detect the antibody responsible for immunity.

On a lighter note:

As a reminder, I am no longer sending out daily updates and instead, I'm updating you periodically as things change. Just like yesterday, face masks, social distancing, hand washing and/or sanitizer whenever you need to leave your safe zone. Stay home if you display any symptoms.

I continue to enjoy writing these updates. Initially, these were only sent to my patients, however, I've been humbled to learn that, through social media, these writings have been forwarded and re-forwarded to many. This has brought me great joy to know that this simple act of sharing facts, thoughts, opinions, and hopes have touched you in some way. Hopefully I've been able to reassure you, maybe make you smile and laugh, soothe your worries, and comfort you. And maybe, just maybe, I've helped you to be in the moment!

Reach out. Stay connected. Be well. Be smart.

Feel free to forward this on - spread the word, not the virus.

HAO 24/7

Harry A. Oken, M.D.

Office: 410-910-7500, Fax: 410-910-2310, Cell: 443-324-0823

Adjunct Professor of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine