“Video Profiles.” An Interview with A. Hamblin Letton, MD by N. Don Macon. An MDA-TV Presentation. Department of Medical Communication. Presented by The University of Texas System Cancer Center. M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute. MDAH #778-1-77. Video recorded 8/11/1977. Runtime is 26:34 minutes.
(0:20) Don Macon introduces the program and A. Hamblin Letton, a surgeon from Atlanta, Georgia, and the 1972 President of the American Cancer Society.
(1:10) Letton notes his presidency was dubbed “The Year of the Patient.”
(1:43) Letton offers some details of his biography, beginning in Florida. He was educated at and joined the faculty at Emory University. He discusses his children.
(2:38) He discusses his recent visit to China and the state of medical care there, including “barefoot doctors.”
(7:49) Letton describes the process for pursuing medical education in China.
(9:57) Letton speaks to the quality of medical care in China.
(12:20) He offers his observations on the general health of the population in China.
(14:34) Letton relays details of his 21-day trip to China. His group from the American Cancer Society was invited by China.
(17:35) He offers additional observations on Chinese society.
(18:32) He speaks about his perception of the mental health of China.
(19:35) Macon prompts Letton to consider lessons from China that might be applied in the U.S. Letton cites China’s success in getting healthcare to people in the countryside. They mention the Regional Medical Program. Letton cites his neighbor Willis Hurst, president of the American Heart Association. Letton brings up the ideas of pharmaceutical representatives or television networks playing a role in communicating health information.
(23:29) He returns to the topic of the organization of Chinese society.