Interview with Diane Batshaw Eisman, April 6, 2018

Partial Transcript: Hi, I'm Karen Clancy and I'm sitting here on April 6, 2018 in beautiful Miami with Dr. Diane Eisman.

Segment Synopsis: Eisman gives an overview of her life and career. She describes how she was run over by a truck at age five and hospitalized for three months and could not walk for a year. She says that she started school late as a result of the accident, although once she started she skipped several grades. She says that she wanted to be a concert pianist and was a musician. She describes how she applied to the University of Chicago and was a admitted with a full-tuition scholarship. She began college at the age of 14. She then describes her undergraduate experience and her professors. She also describes meeting and marrying her husband. She then talks about studying music and physics while also performing in theater. Eisman then talks about how her husband went to medical school at the University of Kentucky. She says that she then got pregnant and entered the medical school at the University of Kentucky.

Keywords: Childhood; Family; Health; Hospitals; Marriage; Medicine; Piano; University of Chicago

Subjects: Childhood; Families.; Health; Hospitals; Medicine; Music; University of Chicago.

Partial Transcript: I decided to get pregnant and apply to med school.

Segment Synopsis: Eisman discusses her educational experiences at the University of Kentucky during her time in medical school. She discusses her classes as well as her professors and classmates. She discusses how she may have been treated unfairly because she was a Jewish woman. She discusses how she performed in each of her classes, describing which ones she did well and which ones she did not. She talks about her rotating internships and her various operations she conducted.

Keywords: Discrimination; Health; Higher education; Kentucky; Medical schools; Medicine; Rotating internships; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Education; Health.; Medicine.; Universities and colleges--Departments; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Medicine; University of Kentucky. Medical Center

Partial Transcript: And, um, I have to tell you some interesting stories about Kentucky.

Segment Synopsis: Eisman tells various stories about her family's time in Kentucky. She discusses how the people at the University of Kentucky took great care of her family and her daughter.

Keywords: Health; Higher education; Medicine; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky College of Medicine; University of Kentucky Medical Center

Subjects: Education; Families.; Health.; Medicine.; Universities and colleges--Departments; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Medicine; University of Kentucky. Medical Center

Partial Transcript: And it was wonderful. And then, when she was in Vietnam, I came here 'cause my parents had just moved in a tiny place 'cause they were eventually coming here.

Segment Synopsis: Eisman discusses how she lived in Miami while her husband was in Vietnam. She says that she got a job at the health department as acting head of disease control. She describes communicating with her husband while he was in Vietnam. She then describes living in Columbus, Ohio before moving back to Miami. She then says that she and her husband went into practice together before she passed the family medicine boards. She talks about the difficulty of opening a practice with her husband.

Keywords: Disease control; Family medicine boards; Health; Medical offices; Medical practices; Medicine; Miami Health Department; Miami, Florida; Physicians (General practice); Vietnam War

Subjects: Family medicine.; Health; Medical offices.; Medicine.; Miami (Fla.); Physicians (General practice); Vietnam War, 1961-1975.

Partial Transcript: Um, now we came into practice.

Segment Synopsis: Eisman tells of the difficulties of owning and operating a medical practice. She discusses the changes in medicine that she finds annoying, including paperwork and coding. She also talks about dealing with insurance.

Keywords: Health; Medical offices; Medical practices; Medicine; Physicians (General practice)

Subjects: Family medicine.; Health; Medical offices.; Medicine.; Physicians (General practice)

Partial Transcript: So why did you go into medicine?

Segment Synopsis: Eisman talks about why she went into medicine. She says that she always wanted to be a doctor and be successful. She also says that she loves problem solving. She says that she likes being around people and talking.

Keywords: Accidents; Cousins; Diagnoses; Diagnosis; Doctors; Patients; Personality; Problem-solving

Subjects: Education; Health; Women physicians

Partial Transcript: Now tell, tell me some things that you've done with your career in, in recent years.

Segment Synopsis: Eisman discusses her recent activities and accomplishments. She says that she has been teaching medical students. She also talks about how she likes to write, and her various books, articles, documentary scripts, and columns that she has written. She describes in detail her columns. She also talks about her dog and tells many stories about him.

Keywords: Dogs; Health; Hobbies; Medicine; Pets; Teaching; Writing

Subjects: Education; Health; Medicine; Recreation; Teaching

Partial Transcript: So, y--tell me about your daughter.

Segment Synopsis: Eisman discusses her daughter, Claire. She says that she was speaking at six months old. She describes how she was very advanced growing up and very intelligent. She tells of how she got a bachelor's of fine arts from Barry University. She also says that she changed her name to Electra. She says that she then got a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Florida International University and a PhD in international relations.

Keywords: Barry University; Children; Electrical engineering; Family; Florida International University; Higher education; International relations

Subjects: Barry University; Education; Families.; Florida International University; International relations

Partial Transcript: Tell me about your music career. Your music--

Segment Synopsis: Eisman discusses her love of music. She describes how she started playing the piano at a young age and soon became very good. She says that she had many good teachers and went on to be very good. However, she says that she has not been able to play in years because she has been so busy with her career.

Keywords: Childhood; Education; Hobbies; Music; Music education; Piano

Subjects: Childhood; Education; Music; Music education; Piano; Recreation

Partial Transcript: Let's swi, switch gears just for a minute.

Segment Synopsis: Eisman discusses her greatest accomplishments. She says that passing her boards, being named a distinguished practitioner, and her training at the University of Kentucky are her proudest accomplishments. She also talks about the influence of women on medicine. She gives her advice for medical students.

Keywords: Family medicine boards; Health; Insurance; Medical offices; Medical practices; Medicine; Miami, Florida; Physicians (General practice); Physicians and patients; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky College of Medicine; University of Kentucky Medical Center; Women physicians

Subjects: Family medicine boards; Health.; Medical offices.; Medical practices; Medicine.; Miami (Fla.); Physician and patient.; Physicians (General practice); University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. Medical Center; Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Women physicians.

Partial Transcript: Let me ask you another question.

Segment Synopsis: Eisman makes her final remarks and discusses how she has became more cranky since entering medicine. She says that she hates dealing with paperwork and insurance companies. She describes her relationships with patients.

Keywords: Family medicine boards; Health; Insurance; Medical offices; Medical practices; Medicine; Miami, Florida; Physicians (General practice); Physicians and patients; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky College of Medicine; University of Kentucky Medical Center; Women physicians

Subjects: Family medicine boards; Health.; Insurance; Medical offices.; Medical practices; Medicine.; Miami (Fla.); Physician and patient.; Physicians (General practice); University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Medicine; University of Kentucky. Medical Center; Women physicians.