The concept of the creative physician-scientist has long been with us. The assumption has been that his or her [ill]ativity derives from knowledge, exposure to other crea[ill]e people, and inner drive accompanied by good intuitions [ill] insights. We have heard talk of the creative physician-[ill]ministrator. This term is grossly abused, often to stimu[ill]e someone to do even more when given less or to adopt [ill]at is currently in vogue. But there is such a thing as [ill]ative medical administration, which involves teaching [ill]w concepts or finding effective options when the more [ill]dily available choices are unsatisfactory. The concept of the creative clinician has received less [ill]ention. Although I have been thinking about the concept [ill] some years, it was driven home forcefully during a [ill]ent serious illness when I was cared for by one of the [ill]st creative clinicians I have ever known. This discourse deals with a definition of