Author Archives: Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

About Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

CYNTHIA J KOELKER , MD is a board-certified family physician with over twenty years of clinical experience. A member of American Mensa, Dr. Koelker holds degrees in biology, humanities, medicine, and music from M.I.T., Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and the University of Akron. She served in the National Health Service Corps to finance her medical education.

Week 19 – Question of the Week: Do doctors seem scared by the medical establishment?

Posted on August 11, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Week 19: 2011-08-12 This week I was thinking about all the rules with which physicians must comply.  Here’s a few off the top of my head: Be licensed by state Completely annual continuing education requirements according to license and specialty … Continue reading →

Posted in Medical archives, Perennial Favorites, Question of the Week | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Photo Quiz Question – Q.004

Posted on August 5, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Photo Quiz Question – Q.004 – August 5, 2011 23-year-old white male, who says he thinks he was stung by a bee while camping, but feels fine otherwise. What does the above image depict?  Does he need a bee sting … Continue reading →

Posted in Bites-insect-bug-tick, Injuries, Medical archives, Perennial Favorites, Photo Quiz Questions, Rash, Skin, Skin infection, Symptoms | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Week 18 – Question of the Week: Does the government help or hinder personal preparedness?

Posted on August 4, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Week 18: 2011-08-05 Recently my mother was watching the National Governors Association television broadcast.  She was surprised (and pleased) that at least one governor advised taking action for personal preparedness, even if only to assure survival a few weeks. So … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Medical archives, Perennial Favorites, Question of the Week | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Week 17 – Question of the Week: Do you want your personal health information on the internet?

Posted on July 30, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Week 17: 2011-07-28 Few people realize that their computerized medical files may be on the internet. With one goal of electronic health records being easier communication from doctor to doctor, and with the need for a universal method of such … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Medical archives, Question of the Week | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Herbal medicine – a new vision

Posted on July 30, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

I woke up this morning with a new vision of herbal medicine. (I’m not sure it really was a vision, but it came to me that way.) God gave us the plant kingdom to feed us. I think we’re all … Continue reading →

Posted in Herbal and complementary, Herbal medicine, Medications, Perennial Favorites | Tagged , , , , , , | 27 Comments

Lessons from Non-Compliant Patients

Posted on July 23, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

I have seen patients die – from uncontrolled hypertension, treatable urinary infections, curable pneumonia. What do many of these patients have in common? Some (though not all) simply did not take their medicine. It’s not that they didn’t have a … Continue reading →

Posted in Antibiotics, Asthma, Asthma and COPD, Asthma/COPD, Blood pressure meds, Chronic diseases, COPD, COPD see Asthma, Diabetes Mellitus Type II, High blood pressure, Hypothyroidism, Lung disease, Medical archives, Medications, Prescription Medications, Thyroid disease, Thyroid preparations | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Photo Quiz Answer – Q.003

Posted on July 22, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Photo Quiz Question – Q.003 – July 1, 2011 31-year-old white male, circa 1951, missionary to Nigeria Illness started with fever and aching for 2-3 days, followed by development of blistering rash.  Above image depicts rash a week into the illness. … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicken pox, Education, Medical archives, Perennial Favorites, Photo Quiz Answers, Rash, Skin infection, Smallpox, Symptoms | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Clinical Laboratory Procedures under Austere Conditions: Part IV – The Gram Stain

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Could you diagnose anthrax on your own?  How about gonorrhea?  A Gram stain is often diagnostic, and can be performed with limited equipment.   The following post on clinical laboratory procedures is contributed by Pete Farmer,  who holds advanced degrees in research biology … Continue reading →

Posted in Contributors, Medical archives, Medical testing, Microscopic examination, Perennial Favorites, Pete Farmer | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Colloidal Silver – Free Download

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

The question of colloidal silver continues to pique the interest of those worried about treating infection post-Armageddon. Prof.  Ronald J. Gibbs has an interesting web site on silver colloids, featuring a free download of a 40-page booklet. He appears to … Continue reading →

Posted in Antibacterial topical, Colloidal silver, Education, Free downloads, Medical archives, Perennial Favorites | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Thyroid disease – Hypothyroidism (low thyroid) – Part 5 of 5 – Rational treatment or cannibalism?

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Image via Wikipedia At the end of the world as we know it, there is one other treatment option for hypothyroidism that I refrained from mentioning. I am not aware that this treatment is practiced anywhere in the world, though it is … Continue reading →

Posted in Chronic diseases, Herbal and complementary, Hypothyroidism, Medical archives, Medications, Perennial Favorites, Thyroid, Thyroid disease | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments