If the Walls Could Talk Podcast ™ – Episode 1 “The Marvelous Dr. Mazel”

If you are one of the over 50 million people who listened to the true crime podcast Dr. Death, you’re familiar with Dr. Christopher Duntsch — a neurosurgeon whose incompetence injured 30+ patients and killed two others. Dr. Duntsch’s actions left many asking: “how could this guy get away with it?”. Now, what if a group of doctors and even hospital management resorting to the same type of fraud on their patients? You don’t have to imagine it…because that’s exactly what happened at Chicago’s Edgewater Hospital.

In the premiere episode (“The Marvelous Dr. Mazel”), hear how this once premiere Chicago hospital gave way to the economic and moral decay that ultimately caused its collapse. Edgewater Hospital was luring in the elderly, poor and those suffering from homeless and performing medically unnecessary tests on them…just to ring up their medical bills.

If the Walls Could Talk Podcast unravels how this happened, who let this happen and whether something like this could ever happen again.

Hear what happened on the morning of December 6, 2001 when employees of Edgewater Hospital arrived at work to learn the hospital had abruptly closed. Some employees were shocked by the news while others said they saw this coming.

The hospital’s co-founder, Dr. Maurice Mazel, was there when Edgewater Hospital opened in 1929 and steered it for the next 50+ years. Employees said he ran “the tight ship” with an “iron fist” until his death in 1980.

Dr. Mazel wanted the hospital to look and operate like a five-star luxury hotel. He even employed young men to work as bellhops, or “page boys”. It even boasted large private suites that catered to the wealthy and elite. Mazel grew the hospital from one small building into a sprawling campus of nine buildings complete with dormitories and apartments — all tucked within a residential Chicago neighborhood.

Hear why Dr. Mazel collected urine from his employees and managed to turn it into a revolutionary wonder drug. You’ll also learn why employees said Mazel put the fear of God into them whenever he walked into the room. One former employee shares how she learned to dish it back to him – which ultimately earned her his respect.

Two of the biggest names to be born at Edgewater Hospital are Hillary Clinton and John Wayne Gacy. In fact, Gacy not only was born there, but also returned as a patient and, most disturbing, Gacy is said to have performed as a clown at Edgewater Hospital in order to entertain sick children. 

Former Edgewater nurses, doctors and administrators share what it was like to work there — including the Cuban-born Dr. Rogelio Maynulet. He explains how Dr. Mazel afforded him the American Dream and how another Cuban-born doctor named Andrew Cubria managed to destroy that dream.

After Dr. Mazel’s sudden death in 1980, Edgewater Hospital struggled mightily. Running the hospital proved to be too much for Mazel’s widow — a former circus performer. You’ll hear the rumblings of employees embezzling cash and how the hospital had to take out a loan just to make payroll.

The Board of Directors warned that without a buyer or merger, Edgewater Hospital would close its doors and throw 700-plus people out of work. That’s when a healthcare consultant named Peter Rogan “rescued” the hospital. The Board of Directors chose to sell to him in 1989 for the bargain price of $1 million. When Rogan rescued the hospital and hundreds of jobs, he wound up saving the hospital in the worst possible way.

While the hospital had a solid reputation for over a half century, what happened in its final decade would forever scar its legacy. Episode 1: “The Marvelous Dr. Mazel” of If the Walls Could Talk Podcast is now available.

*A warning that If the Walls Could Talk Podcast – Episode 1 “The Marvelous Dr. Mazel” shares content intended for a mature audience.

If the Walls Could Talk Podcast on Patreon

Unlock bonus content, interviews and behind-the-scenes stories by supporting us on Patreon. Get access to hours of bonus content including our weekly “Second Opinion” episodes. This week we’ll learn more about the well-respected Dr. Mazel and our bizarre connection to his wife’s hometown. We’ll talk a bit more about Dr. Maynulet who came to Edgewater Hospital in the 1971 and worked there until it closed. His story alone is worthy of a book. We’ll also share our “Cut for Time” segment of the podcast that involves a creepy clown and the cemetery where Dr. Mazel and Dr. Cubria were laid to rest. 

Please support the small businesses mentioned in Episode 1 of If the Walls Could Talk:

Tapas-Marketing, Sarah Hoag Photography, m Henry, For Papa’s Sake Home Care

The entire series of If the Walls Could Talk Podcast™  is now available. This podcast is independently produced and the best way to promote the series is to write a reviews. Please leave a review for If the Walls Could Talk on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Thank you for your support!