The Doctor Is In a Fix
Martin Cahn went into general practice to help people and unravel the mysteries of their ailments. Now he just wishes someone could do the same for a health care system gone critical.
I’VE BEEN SEEING this guy since I was a little kid,” said Cameron Ryan in amazement, sitting on the tan leatherette examining table. “Since I was 18 months old!”
He’s now a very big kid: six-five and close to 300 pounds, a high school senior with a smooth precocious basso and a passing resemblance to Magic Johnson. When Ryan first sat on this examining table, “this guy,” Dr. Martin Cahn, was a young MD struggling to establish his practice. He had a bushy beard and a halo of reddish hair and he wore a tie because doctors were supposed to. Today ties are a distant memory, and Cahn wears sneakers at the office. His hair and beard are salt-and-cinnamon. He has a middle-aged spread and an expression that flits between solicitude, exasperation, and, at the moment, glowing pride.
This visit, a routine checkup, was also a personal milestone for Ryan, and an example of the difference an old-fashioned family doctor can make in one patient’s life, above and beyond what’s commonly labeled “medicine.” Ryan is as ebullient as the toddler he was when he first saw Cahn. “I’ve lost weight,” he said proudly. “I want to get down to 280. But I assume my blood pressure is high….” Cahn checked it, frowned darkly, but said nothing; he didn’t want to kill his patient’s buzz.
Ryan had big news. Next year he’ll be attending a top-flight school, Purdue University. “And it was this guy who got me to do it,” he beamed, pointing to his doctor. “He was the one who told me, ‘Apply to colleges!’ even when I didn’t think I could do it.”
A year ago it was by no means obvious Ryan could do it. “You’ve always been an extraordinarily smart guy, Cameron,” Cahn told him. “You just needed to focus.” In junior year Ryan was flailing. Then a belated diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the resultant drug regimen turned him around. His grades and SAT scores soared.
“Any idea what you’re going to major in?” Cahn asked.
“I don’t know, probably psychology. I’m also interested in business, but I don’t know if there will be any jobs in it when I come out. I figure there will always be work helping messed-up people.”
“My advice is to have a great time at college and try as many things as you can,” said Cahn, and for the second time that day he segued into The Story, the one he likes to tell patients trying to figure out how to live their lives…
Martin Cahn grew up in Chicago, Lexington (Massachusetts), and Schenectady. His father, John Cahn, is a celebrated metallurgist; he received the National Medal of Science and was bruited as a Nobel candidate. Young Marty set out in his father’s traces. He attended MIT, where his father once taught, and majored in biology.
Next: What made Cahn choose primary care, and how he remembers every patient in his 7,356 database.
Published: August 2009
Marty is my first cousin. He inspired me to become a family physician. Thank goodness there are family docs like him!
Great article Martin !! Way to go.
Proud to be a solo family physician.
Martin is my first cousin & he is the only doctor that I know that makes house calls across the country.
When our grandmother was dying he flew clear across the country to make her last days as comfortable as possible. He did the same thing for his uncle, my dad, to help comfort him at the end.
You can’t find doctors today who put the patient first and everything else second. Martin Cahn is a real people’s doctor.
Martin Cahn has been my MD for almost 20 years since I lived on Queen Ann. He delivered my son 13 years ago and has been an important part of our lives. A quick example… I was suffering from chest pain. I went to the emergency room. They kept me under observation for 8 hours – running various tests. They concluded I had heart burn (which I felt was unlikely). They told me to avoid Tylenol as it would make matters worse. After two more days of continued discomfort I saw Dr. Cahn. He diagnosed the real problem within five minutes of seeing me. The sack around my hearty was inflamed and guess what? He prescribed Tylenol to reduce the inflammation and it worked. Think about the cost of that emergency visit… Dr. Cahn is a no-nonsense, practical MD – who always makes time to find out how every aspect of your life is going. I have the greatest admiration for him and his super friendly and thoughtful staff!
Seattle Metropolitan – you got it right! Dr. Martin Cahn is the best doc in all of Seattle! He and his wife are as genuine as anyone can ever be. Also, he and his wife are the best employers anyone can work for. The genuine care they show their patients flows right over to the staff!
For a dozen or so years, Dr. Cahn has been the family physician who is part of my family. My health has become remarkable complex due to my refusing to take it easy when I should. I had fibromyalgia before I met him, became almost perfectly healthy while in his care, but then through my stubbornness developed a rare illness, http://www.stillsdisease.org , plus others. He still comes up with new ideas that help me.
A friend of mine who had done much for me in my life was having problems with deep pain and dense doctors, so I convinced her to try Dr. Cahn. She later told me I’d repaid all her efforts by getting her to switch to him. It’s about time Seattle knew how wonderful a doctor he is.
My husband and I have been patients of Dr Cahn’s for a good 10 years. I cannot tell you how lucky we feel to have him in our lives. He is a great listener and always knows the right questions to ask to get to the bottom of your “situation”. We’ve had many over the years and he has always been incredible with his follow through… from the bloody “gardening accidents” to the more boring high cholesterol levels (which he managed to bring down beautifullly with a combo of statins and good old fish oil!) There have been a few scarier bumps along the way and Dr Cahn has guided us to great specialists everytime. This is one smart doc with a heart of gold….yes, we are very, very lucky indeed!
Great article and kudos to you, Marty. You have been a bulkwark of the primary care structure in Fremont and represent the best of Family Medicine. (Dr. Cahn has voluntarily taught trainees in my Family Medicine program in his “spare time”.
We are all hoping for meaningful reform as you are. I hope the people who read this article really look at the issues, not the propaganda and fear mongering. It is refreshing to see a story about the real life of primary care physicians like yourself.
Great article and kudos to you, Marty. You have been a bulkwark of the primary care structure in Fremont and represent the best of Family Medicine. (Dr. Cahn has voluntarily taught trainees in my Family Medicine program in his “spare time”.
We are all hoping for meaningful reform as you are. I hope the people who read this article really look at the issues, not the propaganda and fear mongering. It is refreshing to see a story about the real life of primary care physicians like yourself.
Dr. Cahn is the best. THE BEST. Our whole family goes there. I cannot even begin to explain how much he means to our family.
I remember when Dr Cahn was in an office on 6th and McGraw on Queen Anne Hill right in our neighborhood. Now that he is in Freemont we still make the trek across the bridge to see him. He is a wonderful doctor and person. He gives so freely of his time and energy to anything that has to do with educating and supporting schools and school kids on Queen Anne and elsewhere. He is the BEST! I also remember Dr Cahn making house calls to elderly people, especially Lucy Brown across the street from us. His compassion to his patients and his dedication to healing with human kindness has always made an impression on me. That is why after 20 years he is still our doctor! To see this article in his office this morning just reaffirmed to me that not only is he wonderful, but that Seattle Metropolitan Magazine tells it like it is!!
Chris McBride
Marty’s been my physician for the last 12 years. His passion for care and compassion for people redeemed the profession in my eyes. He’s handled my routine care and all the oddball stuff, and he delivered my daughter. I’m proud to be his patient and neighbor. Thanks, Marty!
Dr. Cahn has been my doctor for 9 years now. He’s seen me go from fresh out of college to marriage and is now my husband’s doctor and 1 year old’s pediatrician. He takes the time to sit down with you and see how you are realy doing. He even saw my dad when he was in town and not feeling well. My Dad’s doctor said he could get an appointment in two weeks. Dr. Cahn saw my dad the next day. Thank you Dr. Cahn! He also knows exactly which specialist to send you to.
you can always count on Dr. Cahn to put a smile on your face, keep up the steller work and we will see you soon Tim, Barb and Tim Jr :)
Great to see Dr. Cahn being recognized for the excellent patient care he provides. He’s always been there for me and has always looked out for my pocketbook as well.
What a wonderful article on Dr. Cahn. It makes me feel better just reading about his practice and the patients and employees who have made all of these positive comments. I agree with him on Oprah – too many people don’t think for themselves.
I am retiring at the end of this year and will need additional insurance (medical care.) This article gives me other avenues to pursue.
Thank you Metropolitan.
Its nice to have a Doctor who has ’got your back" Will go the extra mile filling out paper work till insurence paper,The IRS the SSI beliving the patent gets what he has coming.He is a Hero to me! David
Hi,
Good work…unique site and interesting too… keep it up…looking forward for more updates.
Thanks…….!!