Just before winter break, AP Language students had the unique opportunity to hear from Dr. Christopher Keroack, a renowned physician and owner of his own practice. The talk focused on the role of rhetoric in medicine, providing students with a real-world connection to the concepts they’ve been studying in class.

Dr. Keroack, with years of experience in the medical field, shared insights on how rhetorical strategies like ethos, pathos, and logos are crucial in effective communication with patients. These are the Greek terms that refer to credibility as a speaker (ethos), emotional appeal (pathos), and logic (logos).

“I personally think ethos is the most important,” Dr. Keroack explained, “But for communication to be truly effective, all three rhetorical strategies—ethos, pathos, and logos—are necessary.”

This visit was particularly timely for students working on their research projects related to healthcare, as they were able to ask Dr. Keroack specific questions pertaining to their topics. His responses not only helped to deepen students’ understanding of the project but also provided valuable insights into how rhetoric plays a role in the real world.

Brady Fisher, another AP Language student, was particularly impressed by Dr. Keroack’s experience and insight. “He’s an American hero,” Brady exclaimed, “It was clear that he knew what he was talking about, and it was a great experience for all of us.”

Mr. Cangemi, AP Language teacher, said “I was amazed at how Dr. Keroack was able to bring rhetoric to life with real-world examples related to healthcare. He was very generous with his time and all of the students appreciated his insight.”

Dr. Keroack shared his views on many topics, including some controversial issues that have recently come into the public sphere due to the recent appointment of Robert Kennedy Jr. as head of Department of Health and Human Services. These include vaccinations, gender-affirming healthcare, food dyes, drug abuse, and more.

He also talked about media influencers: “Gwyneth Paltrow as one of the largest audiences regarding healthcare with her website Goop. She has ethos only because she is a celebrity.”

Students were most impressed with Dr. Keroack’s range of knowledge, which went well beyond medicine: “He was very knowledgeable, he had an amazing ability of breaking down complex ideas into scenarios we could understand by coupling his experiences as a doctor with historical and scientific references that we knew,” said junior Samuel Pontes, “His problem-solving process was fascinating, and eye-opening that he uses rhetoric in his work every day. It helped me think about how essential the rhetorical situation is to most occupations.”

Overall, Dr. Keroack’s visit was a valuable experience for the students, helping them see the importance of rhetoric outside of the classroom and its direct impact on fields like healthcare. The session allowed students to apply their learning in a practical, engaging way and fostered a greater understanding of how effective communication is essential in both medicine and everyday life.