“If I can nudge them a little mo

4S Ranch doctor is writing and singing personalized songs to heal his cancer patients’ souls.

“It’s very healing for the patients,” said Dr. Steven Eisenberg. “They are much more than just a person with cancer. They are unique souls who are loved deeply by their families.”

The song he writes specifically for each patient is meant to remind them of that during their most difficult times, he said. Often a gathering is planned for the patient at his or her home, where friends and family can come to celebrate the patient and during that time Eisenberg performs the song while playing the guitar. The song is also recorded at a studio so the patient and family can listen to it whenever. The celebration is scheduled as “a very special rallying point ... something to look forward to,” he said.

“They are the co-creator (of the song),” he said. “That is what is very unique.”

“He doesn’t treat your illness, he treats you. And that’s the way medicine should be,” said patient Debbie Hallmark, who was serenaded with her song to celebrate that she completed a grueling round of chemotherapy.

Eisenberg, an oncologist with cCARE (California Cancer Associates for Research and Excellence) in its 4S Ranch office, said he was inspired to write music based on his patients’ lives after winning a contest about 10 years ago. The story writer’s prize was a song written by his favorite musical artist, Peter Himmelman, who used the winner’s story as inspiration.

“It was during a period ... when I was stressed because I was doing my internship and residency,” Eisenberg said. Himmelman turned what Eisenberg wrote into “Mission of My Soul.”

“I would listen to the song during my 3 a.m. calls in the ER, remembering my mission was medicine,” he said.

Eisenberg said the experience “forever changed me” and helped him cope with stress and the realities of his profession.

“When I first started my medical training I was this bright eyed ... will change the world (person),” he said. “But then I ended up in survival mode as a new oncologist. It was a very stressful time, but hearing my song that he wrote nudged me back to the highest part of my soul. There was joy in the music ... (reminding me) of the reason I became a doctor in the first place.”

He said, “I started to feel better about myself and take better care of myself.” According to Eisenberg, what he was feeling was not unique since “one out of every two doctors experiences burnout.”

Eisenberg added, “Not only did the song start to alleviate (my stress) but I discovered why I wanted to be a doctor in the first place. ... The song changed me at my core.”

Knowing his patients struggle with tremendous stress upon learning their diagnosis and going through cancer treatments, Eisenberg said he decided to likewise lift their spirits through music. Among treatment appointments he includes a song writing session.

“I’m interested in their life, what they love and inspires them to laugh, live and be strong; what touches and inspires their soul, ” he said. For example, Eisenberg learned during one such session that a patient with Stage 4 breast cancer had written poetry her whole life. It was an aspect of her that he said a doctor would not normally learn during a medical interview.

“Anxiety and depression can have a significant impact on cancer patients,” he said. “It can affect the way cancer patients heal. It is little known that songs have deeper meaning. (They) can help (patients) deal psychologically. ... Every little bit helps in cancer treatments.

“If I can nudge them a little more (to remember) what they love, there is less fear. It’s not a cure ... but they can give up a little of the fear ... on such a scary journey,” he said.

Eisenberg said he took piano lessons as a child, but did not pick up the guitar until medical school, when the Pennsylvania native found his father’s guitar in their attic. He played the guitar to relax at home while attending Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and continued during his fellowship at Georgetown Medical Center’s Vincent T. Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in Medical Oncology and Hematology.

As for writing music, Eisenberg said he “always sort of wrote lyrics and songs,” but became an oncologist because “I wanted a specialty where I could impact the most.”

His efforts have become known in the medical community and Eisenberg said he has heard of some other doctors doing something creative to help their patients. “Art and medicine are tightly linked,” he said. “I hope (my) story helps them break through the normal patient/doctor barrier. I was taught to keep up the barrier, but I say break down the barrier ... because it may help (patients) heal.”

From：https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/pomerado-news/news/local-news/4s/sd-cm-pow-news-singing-doctor-20170208-story.html

“If I can nudge them a little more (to remember) what they love, there is less fear. It’s not a c... “If I can nudge them a little more (to remember) what they love, there is less fear. It’s not a c...