For our subscribers that read the newsletter for its medical information; that portion is now complete. We offer a sincere thank you for your time and you are now free to roam the country.  

Go on. Git, git. You're not missing a thing.   

For those still in the house...parents just went to bed...time to get...just a little bit...funky. These are the minutes from the previous WWAD Board of Directors meeting and detail how we arrived at the 2013 WWAD Song of the Year.

While there are separate committee meetings every few months; it's only one day a year that all 12 of us on the Board of Directors come together. 

December 19th, 2013 was that day.

David: "Thank you all for being here this evening. I'd like to welcome all of you from around the US and a special thank you to our foreign visitors. 

"These next 3 hours are of critical importance. The decisions made in this very room will shape not only the future of the program, but the future of medicine around the world. 

"I leave this up to the group. Would you like to start with the P&L sheets, review our policies and procedures, or discuss the status of the Executive Director search?" 

There is a pregnant pause as everyone looks around the room.  

All attendees surrounding the table burst into uncontrollable laughter.

"That's what I thought. Let's get it on! We can deal with all that other stuff at next year's meeting."

Dr. Phillip Green: "That's what you said last year."

David: "I know"

More uncontrollable laughter from around the conference table.

David: "I realize this has grown contentious in the past. I'd like to remind everyone that we are all professionals. We have pediatricians, neurosurgeons, gastroenterologists, a clergy member, ENT's, hospital CEOs, high ranking strategic planners, and 2 heads of state. Most all of you have traveled a long distance to get here and it's important we treat everyone with respect. Dr. Browning, if you could please lead us off."

Dr. James Browning: "My vote is for Katy's newest. It's inspirational with a clean message and my kids absolutely love it. I feel she has...

Dr. Amy Goodwin: "Damn it Jim!. No!" Dr. Goodwin stands and slams her open palm back down onto the table. 

"We went with California Gurls in 2010 and Wide Awake just last year. Ever since Kissed a Girl, you won't let up. We're not doing Roar!"

She takes a long, exaggerated breath, trying unsuccessfully to release her frustrations, She can't let it go.

"Jim, we looked like damn idiots last year. Call Me Maybe swept every list but ours. Makes us look like we are running around with our thumbs up our..."

"Amy, Amy, Amy - we get it. What are your thoughts?" intervenes Mike Thompson, Hospital CEO in Harrisburg,PA.

Amy wastes no time. "No question this year. Royals."

Pause. Pause. Pause.

At this point, our ENT, Dr. Michael Stone, can no longer take the elephant in the room.

"Bob, what the HE-- are you wearing?!

It's the question everyone wanted to ask. 

All eyes immediately go to the other end of the conference table. 

While 11 board members are in dark suits, Dr. Robert Witherspoon is not. Dr. Witherspoon has a full length fur coat (chinchilla), big, round black sunglasses, leopard pattern gloves that go to his elbow. and he's wearing a canary yellow fedora"

In just about every respect, he is a classic neurologist. Introverted, pensive, and of very few words. A great thinker, that's why I elected him to the board.

It's 72 degrees in the board room and from the amount of sweat that has already accumulated on his forehead, I'm worried about him. 

Dr. Stone: "Bob, you're trying to push through Thrift Shop, aren't you?" 

Dr. Witherspoon doesn't respond, sitting absolutely expressionless. 

"You are, aren't you Bob? You know that was released in August of 2012, Bob." Stone is piling on now; those surgeons get right to the point

It was almost indistinguishable through the large black sunglasses, but he looked down at his feet and I could tell he was upset. Breaks your heart.

Stone accomplished his goal and felt the time had come to shift focus, 

"Tim, what are you going with this year?"

Dr. Timothy Callahan: "I spent a lot of time over this past week reviewing my favorites and I've arrived at I Believe by Josh Groban."

David: "Okay, great. Who wants to...?"

"Hold on David. Hey Timothy, sure I can't get you a Peach Bellini and a lavender neck pillow for the rest of the discussion?

Timothy has shared his playlist with me in confidence, and let's just say that's not his only Groban song. I knew that comment would not be well-received.

Dr. Tim reaches across the wide conference table and it appears he's literally trying to strangle Michael Fasiola - the Bellini offerer.

I grab his arms, "MIKE! Please! We've all put a lot of time into this and all of us feel strongly about our choices. We need to respect that."

The booming voice of the operator pounds down from the ceiling.

"Code Blue ER Bed 99. Code Blue ER Bed 99. Code Blue ER Bed 99"

Dr. Cynthia Cordain breaks the post announcement silence,

"David, you haven't shared yours yet."

 That's a good question. There were a lot of great songs this year,

"I'm liking White Walls right now."

Our receptionist comes in, realizing not a single physician has left the board room and gone past her desk on their way to the ER.

"That announcement? Isn't that really bad?! Shouldn't you people be down there now saving a life?"

One thousand one. One thousand two. One thousand...

Amber Wilmington, owner of a large Tulsa pediatric practice, grows concerned with the meeting's direction and jumps in.

"Sara Bareiles - Brave. The song is inspirational. It's fun with a great message. We, of course, want all our Walk with a Doc guests to be brave. It's that song in the computer commercials. I think it's a perfect fit for 2013."  

Eyes in the room search for the next objection and there is none.

I stand up and pound my gavel.

"Perfect, Brave it is. Meeting adjourned - See you next December, suckers!"

Truth be told, I warned you. You will never get those four and a half minutes back. Gone.