The noon conference at Southeastern State Hospital was the medical school’s most important teaching conference. It was always well attended by a host of specialists who took turns presenting topics of medical interest to the entire staff. The conference took place in the hospital’s newly constructed auditorium, which boasted a thirty-foot ceiling, stadium-type seating and a state-of-the-art audiovisual system.
Jack arrived a few minutes before twelve and was escorted onstage by one of the senior neurology residents. Helen Morales stood up from a table she shared with several senior physicians and greeted him with a warm handshake.
“I hope you’re ready. I saw the cases the residents have chosen to present to you. They’re pretty tough.”
“I’ll do my best,” he replied, knowing he’d been in the same situation dozens of times. He was an adept speaker and had never had a problem thinking on his feet, especially in an impromptu venue.
The conference began on time with the chief resident in neurology presenting an unusual case of an elderly man with a sudden loss of his sense of smell. Jack led a discussion on the topic, which included commenting on the principle causes of the man’s symptom. He then went over the possible causes of the illness until finally coming up with the correct diagnosis.
About halfway through the conference Hollis Sinclair ascended the stage and took the final seat at the table. Jack couldn’t figure out if he was trying to make an entrance or he was simply being his usual ill-mannered self.
Jack had no problem figuring out the illnesses being presented to him. The final part of the conference allowed questions from the audience. When Jack had answered the last one, he stepped away from the lectern. Hollis Sinclair stood up and walked over. As Southeastern State’s chief of neurology, Jack assumed he was about to thank him and close the conference. His assumption couldn’t have been further from the truth.