Dr. Peter Kennedy, son of Leo Kennedy

I first heard of the poet Leo Kennedy from John McAuley when he read a poem about Kennedy at The Yellow Door Coffee House; if you check my page on YouTube you`ll find a video of John reading this poem. A few years later I read Patricia Morley`s biography of Kennedy, As Though Life Mattered (1994) and after that I read Leo Kennedy`s only book of poems, The Shrouding (1933; 1975). Kennedy, a member of the Montreal Group of poets, was an incredibly original and gifted poet back in the 1930s; he was also a talented advertising man, as were some other Montreal poets, for instance R.G. Everson and for a few years Louis Dudek. But there is a dark side to Leo Kennedy, it is his alcoholism. I don't think the extent of Kennedy's alcoholism is developed in Morley's book, after watching Madmen on TV it is obvious that drinking alcohol, lots of alcohol, was the way of life for men in advertising at least in the 1950s. So there you are, immensely creative, making a lot of money, and knowing you've sold out to the very businesses of which other poets are critical, no wonder Kennedy never wrote serious poetry after The Shrouding. I never approved of or possibly I never understood the title of Morley's biography of Leo Kennedy. Of course life matters, even the most negative poet affirms life just by the act of writing poems. Poets, medical doctors, and others believe life matters or else how can they continue in their profession? The answer is that Leo Kennedy didn't continue writing serious poetry. On the other hand, Leo Kennedy's son, Dr. Peter Kennedy, is an eminent physician living in the Los Angeles area. His book Medicine Man, Memoir of a Cancer Physician, is an affirmation of life, fulfilling one's destiny, and being of service to the community; these are all virtues to which Leo Kennedy should have paid more attention.

     

 

The following is the write-up on Amazon describing Dr. Kennedy's book:

Dr. Peter Kennedy, cum laude graduate of Harvard University and graduate with highest honors of Baylor Medical School, was formerly head of the Metropolitan Oncology Medical Group in Los Angeles. Dr. Kennedy describes his journey in medicine in his a medical memoir MEDICINE MAN: The Making of a Cancer Doctor.

Peter Kennedy wasn’t expected to live. Born premature with serious kidney defects, he seemed like a lost cause. Yet Kennedy survived, enduring multiple surgeries and going on to become a successful oncologist and medical researcher in the Los Angeles area.

The son of an Irish immigrant and a Jewish mother, both suffering from chemical dependencies, Kennedy grew up sickly in a tough Connecticut neighborhood. His transition to Minnesota athlete, leader, and outdoorsman during high school, and his acceptance at Harvard where he graduated with honors, was nothing less than miraculous. His success in medical school, and subsequent work as an instructor, scientist, medical researcher, and medical oncologist was the fulfillment of the American Dream.

Dr. Kennedy says, “Cancer currently strikes one in two men, and one in three women. It’s treated by ‘men in white coats’ which most people know only as fairly anonymous health providers. Over my career I’ve come to realize people need to understand that their doctors are people who have known strife, hardship, challenges. That we have different skill sets and varying approaches. Patients and families need to know this. In particular, cancer patients need to realize there’s a human behind the white coat who should be their partner in treatment. Through this book readers will see inside the system that trains doctors. They will meet doctors, understand how doctors themselves perceive their patients, and be more able to decide how and by whom they want to be treated. Nothing is more powerful for cancer patients than finding the right partner to provide them treatment, care, and comfort.”

Dr. Kennedy describes how incorporating alternative medicine into his practice helped him treat patients more effectively and details how accommodating cultural norms within specific Los Angeles ethnic communities helped him identify and gain early diagnosis for hundreds of cancer patients who might otherwise have gone untreated. He reviews how and why cancer must be treated as a “family illness” and why families and support structures are critical to extending life, and providing optimal quality of life to patients afflicted with cancer.

Dr Cary Presant, Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, says “Reading this excellent book shows how difficult it is to become a physician and fight disease as well as the medical system. Dr. Kennedy’s descriptions of his feelings about his patients are richly worded, and emphasize how important it is for each reader to find a dedicated, compassionate doctor like the author. I recommend it highly.” Dr. Presant is also past President of the California Division of the American Cancer Society, and Past President and Chairman of the Board of the Medical Oncology Association of Southern California.

Medicine Man takes readers on a journey through the American medical system and gives them information and insight that may well save their life or the life of someone they love. It is the perfect read for anyone currently undergoing cancer treatment or for anyone who is considering a career in medicine.