Field notes: My go-to strategies for making alliances with angry patients.

The American Museum of Natural History reminded me of a trick.

Credit: Getty Images, LightFieldStudios

Last week, I visited the American Museum of Natural History in New York with my kids. As a stared at one particular giant dinosaur, I thought to myself, “Hey, that’s me!”

Indeed, the magnificent skeleton reminded me of a very important skill that I have honed in my years as an emergency room doctor: conflict resolution.

What’s the answer? And what exactly do dinosaurs have to do with keeping the peace in an ER? Funny you should ask…