What's up, doc?

Here's one thing they never taught in med school: The style of doctors'speech may affect whether patients trust their abilities. Doctors who talk too quickly and vary their pitch too often while delivering serious diagnoses are perceived as being less competent by their patients than more moderately paced peers. A team of communication experts led by George B. Ray, Ph.D., of Cleveland State University offers an advisory to doctors: Don't talk too slowly or in a dull monotone, else you'll he mistaken as undynamic and socially unattractive.

ILLUSTRATION: (DAVID ROLFE)