Stephen J. Lurie, M.D., Ph.D.

I'm never quite sure what to say about my philosophy of practice. After twenty five years as a primary-care physician, I am still surprised at humbled by the endless variety of ways that people experience life. So while I may not be up to a whole philosophy, I have at least developed some practical standards that guide my daily practice.

- Everyone who comes to me is deserving of unconditional respect and decency, and of my best efforts.

- Anyone can benefit from having an advocate.

- Habits are hard to change, and health-related habits are even harder.
There are often more immediate things to worry about. Meaningful change happens slowly, and may not be apparent from one visit to the next.

- Superstition and wishful thinking can cause a lot of avoidable suffering. There is considerable research evidence for the benefits and harms of many medical interventions - my job is to help people make the best decision for themselves, informed by the best available scientific evidence.