EBP Exchange - UMB School of Social Work

I recently ”googled” Leonard Gibbs, to get a reference for something I was writing and the first thing that came up was this essay, written with his wife and doctor.  He wrote this in response to discovering that he had an unusually virulent form of prostate cancer that had spread to close to his heart and was, therefore, currently inoperable.  He observes that if he had followed what he had taught, the process of evidence based practice, he might have prevented this.  Here is an excerpt–it’s an unforgettable read, It is titled “Evidence based practice as if your life depended on it.” http://www.uwec.edu/lgibbs/Len_Letter.pdf. 

“I have been with my present physician for the past 25 years. He had always been there for me, had listened to all my concerns and had helped me through some very tough times. In fact, I give him credit for saving my life earlier. He has been, and still is, a trusted friend. Unfortunately for me and my family, we missed an opportunity to apply evidence-based practice in a way that might have benefited me and my family. If I had collaborated with him as a partner in my own care, we might have taken action early enough to avoid metastatic cancer.”

 I don’t know when it was written, but it must have been recently because he mentions Aron Shlonsky at Toronto, and Aron has not been there for very long.  I don’t know Professor Gibbs, except by reputation and writing, but this paper shows what an enormous well of talent and commitment he has.  I’m inspired and hopeful for his recovery.