| KevinMD.com

December 19, 2022Dec 19, 2022

An excerpt from Fifty Years a Doctor: The Journey of Sickness and Health, Four Plagues and the Pandemic. President Kennedy's assassination One cold winter morning, all the medical students had to leave the warmth of the medical school to get…

An excerpt from Fifty Years a Doctor: The Journey of Sickness and Health, Four Plagues and the Pandemic.

President Kennedy’s assassination

One cold winter morning, all the medical students had to leave the warmth of the medical school to get to Kings County Hospital across the street for “rounding” with attendings.

We didn’t have our full winter clothing on since it was only across the street, but we moved quickly to get …

Conditions and diseases

The stigma of cognitive decline: Silence has a price

Steven Taylor, OTD

December 19, 2022Dec 19, 2022

Have you ever experienced brain fog? It's one thing to reach for an extra coffee or reflect on the vagaries of age, but growing research shows that subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is a powerfully predictive indicator that many patients either…

Have you ever experienced brain fog? It’s one thing to reach for an extra coffee or reflect on the vagaries of age, but growing research shows that subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is a powerfully predictive indicator that many patients either dismiss or fail to report. About one in four people who experience SCD will have further declines – which can often be mitigated if patients report …

The Podcast by KevinMD

Primary Care 2.0: new thinking and practice redesign [PODCAST]

The Doctors Company & The Podcast by KevinMD

December 18, 2022Dec 18, 2022

"When my colleagues and I visited high-performing primary care clinics across the country, we sought insights to inform a new model for providing the most efficient and high-quality care. Here’s how we’re practicing in Primary Care 2.0." Megan Mahoney is…

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“When my colleagues and I visited high-performing primary care clinics across the country, we sought insights to inform a new model for providing the most efficient and high-quality care. Here’s how we’re practicing in Primary Care 2.0.”

Megan Mahoney is a family physician and member, board of …

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Physician voices

The jobs you hold prior to medical school are important, but not for the reason you think

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

December 18, 2022Dec 18, 2022

Most experts recommend that premed students seek medically-related jobs to gain early proficiency and support their medical school application. There is nothing like valuable hands-on experience, they say, for students to demonstrate their passion and knowledge about the field of medicine. According to the article “25 Health Care Jobs To Get Before Medical School,” written by the Indeed Editorial Team, “students who fill their resumes with volunteer work, …

Physician voices

Reflecting on health and wellness: Celebrating the wins and learning from the losses

Anthony Fleg, MD

December 18, 2022Dec 18, 2022

The game came down to the last seconds. Down by three, we scored on a layup. Now a one-point game. And then, it was over. A narrow 1-point loss in the championship game for our middle school boys team. One…

The game came down to the last seconds.

Down by three, we scored on a layup. Now a one-point game. And then, it was over. A narrow 1-point loss in the championship game for our middle school boys team.

One started crying, then another. It caught on like something infectious, and suddenly parents were tearing up as well. As one of the coaches for the team, I wondered what we could have …

Drugs and prescribing

The promises and limits of a fentanyl vaccine

Julie Craig, MD

December 18, 2022Dec 18, 20222

"Fentanyl Vaccine a Potential 'Game Changer' for Opioid Crisis," declares a Medscape headline. "Fentanyl Vaccine Delivers Promising Results in Trial," reports an industry website. "A Vaccine Against Deadly Fentanyl Might Be Near," promises US News & World Report. Only the…

“Fentanyl Vaccine a Potential ‘Game Changer’ for Opioid Crisis,” declares a Medscape headline.

“Fentanyl Vaccine Delivers Promising Results in Trial,” reports an industry website.

“A Vaccine Against Deadly Fentanyl Might Be Near,” promises US News & World Report.

Only the fourth headline I encounter puts the news into proper perspective: “New Fentanyl Vaccine

…

Physician voices

A letter to residents after the subspecialty match

Robert Spencer, MD

December 18, 2022Dec 18, 2022

Dear residents: I heard the amazing news that each of you matched today. Congratulations! That is huge. You will be outstanding subspecialists! The best part is that now you can take a deep breath and relax. The stress is over.…

Dear residents:

I heard the amazing news that each of you matched today. Congratulations! That is huge. You will be outstanding subspecialists!

The best part is that now you can take a deep breath and relax. The stress is over. Hopefully, you matched at your first choice, but please know that if you didn’t, it will be OK. I know the feeling. Although I was lucky to get my first choice for …

The Podcast by KevinMD

Physicians with mental illness shouldn’t hide [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

December 17, 2022Dec 17, 2022

"Doctors with mental illness don’t need more suicide awareness — we’re aware. And we don’t need confidential treatment opportunities. What we need is assurance from all invested parties — our employers, credentialing bodies, and licensing officials — that it will…

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“Doctors with mental illness don’t need more suicide awareness — we’re aware. And we don’t need confidential treatment opportunities. What we need is assurance from all invested parties — our employers, credentialing bodies, and licensing officials — that it will be OK if we need help, we can get what we …

Physician voices

Balancing the roles of patient and healer

Holly MacKenna, MD

December 17, 2022Dec 17, 2022

"Holly, we're really worried about you. You've been sleeping for days. Let us take you to the school clinic." I looked up at a figure in the bedroom door surrounded by a light that hurt my eyes. It was my…

“Holly, we’re really worried about you. You’ve been sleeping for days. Let us take you to the school clinic.”

I looked up at a figure in the bedroom door surrounded by a light that hurt my eyes. It was my college roommate, a sweet girl from North Carolina who had put up with my shit for most of our senior year. I wanted to bounce up and smile, to jump into …

Conditions and diseases

The Christmas miracle and the music box

Debbie Moore-Black, RN

December 17, 2022Dec 17, 2022

She was 82 years old — sweet, frail, and maybe four feet eight inches tall. She had many beloved children, grandchildren, and even a few great-grandchildren They all grew up knowing that family was their core — their base, their…

She was 82 years old — sweet, frail, and maybe four feet eight inches tall.

She had many beloved children, grandchildren, and even a few great-grandchildren

They all grew up knowing that family was their core — their base, their home where love resided.

It was only a few days before Christmas, and Mrs. Mary entered our ICU.

COPD.

She lived with this for a long time. But this time, it crippled her. We gave …

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The Christmas miracle and the music box

Conditions and diseases

Stephen “tWitch” Boss’ tragic death highlights the importance of mental health

Jennifer M. Orozco, DMSc, PA-C

December 17, 2022Dec 17, 20222

A prominent celebrity named Stephen "tWitch" Boss of the Ellen DeGeneres Show took his life at 40. Boss' contagious love of dancing, carefree spirit, and milewide grin brought joy to millions. From the outside looking in, we saw a gentle…

A prominent celebrity named Stephen “tWitch” Boss of the Ellen DeGeneres Show took his life at 40. Boss’ contagious love of dancing, carefree spirit, and milewide grin brought joy to millions. From the outside looking in, we saw a gentle soul – a successful actor and dancer with a wife and three children.

Just days before his passing, Boss shared a joyful video on social media of him dancing …

Conditions and diseases

Overcoming the epidemic of loneliness

Giulia Faison, MD

December 17, 2022Dec 17, 2022

As I drove home from work and turned right onto the familiar street that would eventually wind around like a smile to my home, I briefly closed my eyes and tilted my face to the sky, enjoying the butterscotch sunlight still peeking through the leaves framing the street. I noticed with contentment the various groups of people clustered alongside one another, walking at a leisurely pace on the adjacent sidewalk.

It …

Read more…

Overcoming the epidemic of loneliness

The Podcast by KevinMD

What does it mean to truly be an ally? [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

December 16, 2022Dec 16, 2022

"We can all work to improve our empathy towards those who differ from us. Please continue to keep an open mind and consider true allyship." Nkem Asianua is a physician assistant student. She shares her story and discusses the KevinMD…

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“We can all work to improve our empathy towards those who differ from us. Please continue to keep an open mind and consider true allyship.”

Nkem Asianua is a physician assistant student.

She shares her story and discusses the KevinMD article, “What does it mean to truly be an ally?”

…

Conditions and diseases

A blessing for health care workers

Michele Luckenbaugh

December 16, 2022Dec 16, 2022

As winter approaches and life slows down, it's a time to pause and reflect on all everyone has had to endure these past few years. To those involved in health care, it has been an especially difficult time... a test…

As winter approaches and life slows down, it’s a time to pause and reflect on all everyone has had to endure these past few years. To those involved in health care, it has been an especially difficult time… a test of both resolution and inner strength. With my hope that all will see brighter days ahead, I offer the following as my means of giving thanks to all of you …

Read more…

A blessing for health care workers

Conditions and diseases

Lessons from employer-mandated COVID leave

Jacqueline Redmer, MD, MPH

December 16, 2022Dec 16, 2022

I saw two positive lines on the home test kit. My body felt like I had been beaten with a jackhammer and the buzzing in my head reminded me of a hangover, the likes of which I had not seen…

I saw two positive lines on the home test kit. My body felt like I had been beaten with a jackhammer and the buzzing in my head reminded me of a hangover, the likes of which I had not seen for at least 20 years. Somehow, I organized my thoughts enough to call employee health and then updated the primary care clinic where I work as a physician. Clinic

…

Physician voices

Understanding your personal risk factors for burnout

Susan Biali Haas, MD

December 16, 2022Dec 16, 2022

An excerpt from The Resilient Life: Manage Stress, Prevent Burnout, & Strengthen Your Mental and Physical Health. According to a recent study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, "a dramatic increase in burnout and decrease in satisfaction with work-life integration occurred…

An excerpt from The Resilient Life: Manage Stress, Prevent Burnout, & Strengthen Your Mental and Physical Health.

According to a recent study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, “a dramatic increase in burnout and decrease in satisfaction with work-life integration occurred in U.S. physicians between 2020 and 2021.” This isn’t a surprise to anyone.

The work environment is what drives physician burnout. Excessive workloads, untenable administrative burdens, moral injury, and other …

The Podcast by KevinMD

Nutrition’s impact on pain and obesity [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

December 15, 2022Dec 15, 2022

"Both pain and obesity can have a multitude of causes. Therefore, reducing pain and body weight should be approached in a multifactorial way; nutritionally, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Failure to do so may result in short-term success but long-term failure."…

Listen on Apple Podcasts · Spotify

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“Both pain and obesity can have a multitude of causes. Therefore, reducing pain and body weight should be approached in a multifactorial way; nutritionally, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Failure to do so may result in short-term success but long-term failure.”

Francisco M. Torres is an interventional …

Health policy

Leaders who elevate diverse employees create psychological safety

Nicola F. De Paul, PhD

December 15, 2022Dec 15, 2022

When I transitioned into a new role as a training faculty member at an academic medical center a few years ago, it didn't take long to realize that the program had a problem with psychological safety. There wasn't much. As…

When I transitioned into a new role as a training faculty member at an academic medical center a few years ago, it didn’t take long to realize that the program had a problem with psychological safety. There wasn’t much.

As I got to know the trainees and heard specific feedback, I began to understand why. The trainees felt criticized and unsupported by the training faculty. And every time there was a …

Physician voices

Ethical consumerism: How to shop responsibly for the holidays

Recha Bergstrom, MD & Spencer Kelly

December 15, 2022Dec 15, 20222

After record-setting sales of $889.3 billion last holiday season, the National Retail Federation predicts that Americans will spend between $942-960 billion this year. Deloitte forecasts that each American will make $1,455 worth of holiday-related purchases individually. It is possible to…

It is possible to have your holiday spending support impactful companies and causes while getting the gifts you want your loved ones to enjoy.

What is ethical consumerism?

Business Insider defines ethical consumerism as “the practice of spending …

Physician finance

Everything you need to know about a physician mortgage loan

Loretta Kilday, Esq

December 15, 2022Dec 15, 2022

People might think having a medical degree can help you get a home loan. But it's more complex and nearly impossible for physicians. Medical professionals, especially recent graduates, often have a high debt-to-income ratio because of student loans, making it…

People might think having a medical degree can help you get a home loan. But it’s more complex and nearly impossible for physicians. Medical professionals, especially recent graduates, often have a high debt-to-income ratio because of student loans, making it difficult to qualify for conventional home loans. Doctors also have trouble when they don’t have any savings.

Fortunately, there is an alternative tailored explicitly for physicians called …