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Balancing motherhood and medical school: tips from those who’ve done it

Physician

January 15, 2023

I was in my first year of medical school when I discovered I was pregnant. This was not a planned pregnancy, as no one would intentionally plan to have a baby during medical school, as it is extremely difficult to manage both. However, there I was, and to my surprise, I was happy about it. I had previously thought that I was infertile after trying to get pregnant for five …

Protecting reproductive rights: the importance of abortion training for medical trainees

Shreya Sridhara

Education

January 15, 2023

As I was walking between classes as a pre-medical undergraduate student in 2018, I saw that the Student Assembly for Gender Empowerment was distributing hats that read “PROTECT ROE v. WADE.” I picked one up and stepped into my classroom, only to be greeted by a classmate who said, “Protect Roe v. Wade? Why would it need protection?”

Fast-forward four years, I sat in my bedroom, selfishly thankful that I had …

Breast cancer surgery: Liking my doctor mitigates the feeling of violation

Anonymous

Conditions

January 15, 2023

On waking up from anesthesia-induced unconsciousness, I was dressed in an unfamiliar pink surgical bra with multiple Velcro straps. As if I were a doll, someone had clothed my limp body without my knowledge, and I had no idea who. Even then, I had a vague sense, groggy and feeling an odd lack of sensation on the right side of my chest that I had been violated.

“Violation” is an …

A physician shows incredible strength and resilience in an emotional moment [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

January 14, 2023

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes!

In this episode, we follow Houda Bouhmam, a radiology resident, as she struggles to deliver the devastating news to a patient that there is no cure for their disease. Despite the emotional toll it takes on her, …

Maximize your practice’s revenue: Follow these 5 billing metrics

Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Heather Signorelli, MD

Finance

January 14, 2023

Healthcare Business & Technology states that “doctors in the U.S. leave approximately $125 billion on the table each year due to poor billing and coding practices.”

As your private practice grows, don’t leave money on the table!

This article reviews the top 5 billing metrics and benchmarks you should be aware of to track your performance and set key performance indicators (KPIs) when running a private practice. Practices that make the recommended …

Emotional seasons: 3 vignettes of love, loss, and connection

Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD

Physician

January 14, 2023

At the end of a year and the beginning of another, emotions tend to run high.

Whether it be the loss of a loved one or the tangled web of interactions with relatives, an unexpected illness or travel plan glitches, wonderful moments to cherish, or joyful connections – all are wrapped up like presents topped with emotional bows.

The opening and unraveling part often takes courage and creativity.

This is a series of …

The power of communication in palliative care: How words can heal and instill hope

Sahit Menon, Alec Terrana, Kathyrn Winters, MD, and Desiree Shapiro, MD

Physician

January 14, 2023

Effective communication has the potential to promote understanding, safety, and connection. It is the foundation of high-quality health care. Our use of language to heal is important in all facets of medicine, but words may be even more powerful when patients face a terminal diagnosis. When medications and life-saving interventions are less of a priority, language can instill hope and honor the human behind the illness. As such, I believe …

How were we duped and what can we do about the opioid overdose crisis?

Ronald A. Zent, MD

Meds

January 13, 2023

Who among us as physicians and prescribers, not to mention the millions of families who have been affected and suffered deep personal loss due to the current crisis and record overdose deaths, regardless of whether the opioid was legally written or illicit.

Let’s take a step back in time and review. As physicians, how have we been duped? Now the CDC has come up with recent new guidelines on opioid prescribing …

The slippery slope of legal assisted suicide and euthanasia

Nicholas S. Tito, MBA

Policy

January 13, 2023

We began with terminally ill patients, but the slippery slope is alive and well, smothered in oil. The Western world is increasingly advocating for the advancement of legal euthanasia, and this is a huge mistake. In their quest, advocates for legally assisted suicide by way of a physician are redefining the definition of “immense suffering.” For example, Canada is considering including mental health disorders as eligible for legally assisted euthanasia. …

Don’t lose yourself: a warning from a divorced physician

M. Michelle McClelland, MD

Physician

January 13, 2023

I was going through drawers, finishing unpacking as best I could, when I stumbled upon one of those moments that feels like a puzzle piece sliding into place. I recently divorced, moved across the country, took a leave of absence from work, and changed my job. It’s been tumultuous, but grounding. I’m back in my home state, near good friends and family, and in therapy. I’m sleeping 8 hours a …

Physician speaks out about being threatened by a patient and betrayed by an organization

Anonymous

Physician

January 13, 2023

I’ve been practicing internal medicine for over a decade now. I was drawn to this field because of my admiration for Dr. William Osler and the superb physicians I have met who embody his qualities. As an internal medicine physician, I am expected to be a critical thinker and a “doctor’s doctor,” specializing in complexity and solving problems with multiple layers, like peeling an onion. However, I never imagined that …

Caught in the middle: How health insurance companies influence cancer drug selection

Paul Pender, MD

Meds

January 12, 2023

Patients may find themselves caught in the middle between their health insurance company and their oncologist when it comes to selecting the drugs used to treat their cancer. Why is this?

The American Cancer Society explains biologic drugs (derived from living organisms such as yeast, bacteria, or animal cells) and biosimilar drugs, which behave similarly to the original, patented (i.e., brand) drug. It is important to note that biosimilar drugs are …

Revolutionizing medicine: How ChatGPT is changing the way we think about health care

Harvey Castro, MD, MBA

Tech

January 12, 2023

GPT, or Generative Pre-trained Transformer, is a type of artificial intelligence that has the unremarkable ability to generate human-like text. The program is free to use during the “research preview” time. GPT gained 1 million users in under a week of being released. Keep in mind that this technology is currently in the beta testing phase.

It is important to note the limitations. The quality of the responses depends on the …

The incessant hounding of doctors: A look at the lengthy professional disclosures required of physicians

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Physician

January 12, 2023

Can you absolutely and unequivocally answer “no” to all of the following questions:

Has your license to practice in any jurisdiction ever been limited, restricted, reduced, suspended, voluntarily surrendered, revoked, denied, or not renewed?

Have you ever been reprimanded by a state licensing agency, or are any of these actions pending with respect to your license; are you under investigation by any licensing or regulatory agency?

Has your professional employment or membership in …

Who are we losing on the medical education journey? [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

January 11, 2023

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes!

“My hope for the future is to see a health care workforce that matches the diversity of the communities it serves. As we continue to push for health equity, we also continue to evaluate and reassess our …

The million dollar mistake: Why medical schools don’t teach business and how it’s costing physicians

Curtis G. Graham, MD

Physician

January 11, 2023

The fact that every physician in private medical practice, without a business education, leaves approximately a million dollars on the table and is unaware of it is well known to business experts who work with medical doctors experiencing financial difficulties. Business experts such as Dan S. Kennedy, Peter Drucker, Michael Gerber, Maxwell Maltz, Neil Baum, William Hanson, Huss and Coleman, Steven Hacker, Thomas Stanley, Chris Hurn, Napoleon Hill, and Dave …

Is success really just about wealth and achievements?

Ketan Kulkarni, MD

Physician

January 11, 2023

Success is a word that is used frequently across the globe. Almost everyone wishes to experience a great amount of success all the time. We are constantly bombarded with images of success through the internet, mainstream media, and social media. These images often depict high net worth, lavish possessions, luxurious lifestyles, impressive titles or achievements, exotic travel, and more. However, data shows that this appearance of perceived success is not …

The CHIPHIT complex and the future of health care: Can we create a low-cost, high-quality system?

Hayward Zwerling, MD

Policy

January 11, 2023

The high cost, low quality, and systemic inequities of the U.S. health care system have prompted its redesign. The current health care system is now controlled by consolidated health care institutions, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and health information technology companies (CHIPHIT complex). The CHIPHIT complex, along with the federal government, will shape the future health care system. However, independent health care policy experts, independent health care providers, and members of …

The intertwined roles of parenting and medicine: How personal experience can enhance patient care

Roxanne Almas, MD, MSPH

Physician

January 10, 2023

As a pediatric subspecialist in the division of developmental medicine at our hospital and a mother of two school-aged children, I constantly strive to find new approaches to both parenting and my medical practice. Some of these strategies work well, while others do not. Despite my attempts to believe that my roles as a pediatrician and a parent do not influence each other, the truth is that they are deeply …

Why I keep coming back to the ER: reflections from a seasoned attending

Veronica Bonales, MD

Physician

January 10, 2023

Last night, one of my work colleagues asked me how I do it. I looked over at them, a little confused. They looked back at me earnestly. How do I continue to come to work every shift and not burn out? How do I keep finding meaning in what I am doing? How?

They’re a yearling emergency medicine attending. They’re just getting started in their career, whereas I am several long …