Is Anyone Here a Doctor?

Mahalo Wendy. Nice puzzle. This is Kook, BTW.

thanks, fun one.

Very nice, Wendy. Your clues were Sunday smooth.

Nice one, Wendy! Unfortunately, have seen too many of these professionals over the years. Thanks for the puzzle!

Fun one. Thanks.

I [heart] this puzzle. I solved it even though I've never read (or edited) a medical text.

My first hunch at the metanism was wrong, but I might try to use it myself.

Smooth little challenge!

The Thrice pedant in me has to point the Second City Chicago troupe is different from SCTV.

Solved, tho I'm not sure I saw everything. I inferred - er, diagnosed - it solely from 36down. Fun!

Very nice Sunday wake-up! Thanks

We thought of heart from 36-down and then saw Hematologist, Endocrinologist, Anesthesiologist, Radiologist and Toxicologist for the 5 clues with patients.

I had a hunch at what you were going for, but I had to Google all those specialists. Just needed to be "patient" and gradually put it together. :D Thanks, Wendy!

Fun. I needed nudge 2. But probably only because I was dreading it I subconsciously didn't even think of it (despite such should always be ones attempted step two).

Fun! Thank you!

Just as fun the second time around. :) Although I distractedly entered HEART at first this time since I didn't look at the prompt and forgot

this Wendy!

I did have to look up a number of the specialists’ names… but got there in the end. loved how you clued ELO… saw them last year here at the United Center and that was by far my favorite live version of all the classics they played that night.

Fun one! Thank you for the puzzle!

Hmm.. LIPS, EARS, EYES... yet it wasn't plastic surgeon... Fun! -- with some nice clues. Thanks, Wendy!

No nudge needed. Interesting challenge to sort out the wheat from the chaff. Originally I identified nine possible horizontal themers, as well as the telegraphed hint from 36D. After a bit, I had a flash of insight that four symmetrical themers were diseases that had specialists who spelled out HE_RT. Then I interpreted 37D somewhat wrongly, seeing that the middle letter of EAR is A, which gave me HEART - which quickly led me to the heart disease specialist as the answer.

But as I started writing this comment, I realized that there is a second ear specialty: not just OTOLARYNGOLOGIST (which led nowhere) but also AUDIOLOGIST, which of course gives A as the middle letter. Well done.

36D both times, of course

Fun one Wendy! Thanks for the reminder tonight during the last chance zoom call.

I missed doing this yesterday… day already too full because the temp was above 50 for a change! (Garden starting!). I also am one who sussed this from the EAR clue… though I did have the idea: I had P?ART. The P was phlebotomist… which was all I could think of for a blood doctor. (It’s related… but of course hematologist would have been a much better guess.). Would not have known an endocrinologist is who you see for diabetes! Great puzzle, and perfect for a Monday after a busy Sunday!

Well when they say, "that's in my wheelhouse" it seldom is as much so as this puzzle. Nice one Wendy, though I got it from EAR (I wondered for a moment if it was loose Hips that sunk ships (since that would have spelled H EAR T) but I knew there had to be another Mx. I did get a little sidetracked because I am so used to Oncologists being the Hematology specialist (although in deference to Tamara I did not use Gas Passer for Anesthesiologist) but that was quickly rectified (without needing a Proctologist!).

I feel better now.

Needed the clues. Thanks Wendy!

Interesting puzzle, Wendy. Is it merely coincidence that a "T" follows "EAR" if you jump across the black square? I tried to make 24 across into "HIPS" but decided I was on the wrong track and went to the nudges. Your Step 2 is a new one to me!

Thanks for the zoom call reminder.