The Art of Pimping

It has long been my observation that this rather unassuming blog fields an enormously diverse demographic. And, as I seek to fulfill my mission of writing compelling prose that appeals to all of my readers, I have begun to realize that my subscribers fall into two distinct categories, the medical and the non-medical. It is for my non-medical audience that I craft this entry with the intent of clarifying the "jargon" of the healing arts.

For you readers who are unfamiliar with the practice of "pimping," allow me to define the term. Taken from The Kwintessential Abridged Medical Dictionary (TKA,MD):

Pimping ('pim-ping). [noun] [slang, in the setting of the medical professional]: the practice where one member of the medical team (often the attending physician or other senior house staff) asks a series of questions of another member of the team (most likely the third year medical student or other unsuspecting bystander) with the alleged intent of teaching but often with the unspoken intent of intimidation and/or embarrassment.

Pimping has traditionally carried a negative connotation, but the actual practice varies in its forms, from refreshingly constructive to mind-crushingly brutal. To be honest, I have never yet been subjected to the horror stories that my friends tell me about (although, to be fair, I have not yet done my surgery rotation). However, I came across an article, originally published in the July 7, 1989 edition of JAMA that encapsulates, with a bit of humor, the art of pimping. Enjoy, my medical/non-medical friends!