Physician

A cold evening and the lesson a child selling eggs taught me

Physician

February 27, 2025

I was leaving the mall after purchasing a gift for a friend. Her birthday was the next day, and after spending hours searching for the perfect present, I finally bought an expensive wallet that I was sure she would love.

It was a chilly evening, and as soon as I left the mall, I immediately felt the real intensity of the cold. The heating system inside the mall had masked the …

The cost-driver in every medical malpractice lawsuit

Howard Smith, MD

Physician

February 26, 2025

“Whatever is measured is managed” is the fundamental principle in management science. Nowhere is this better exemplified than in a small, obscure reciprocal insurance company in Washington, D.C., once the provider of choice for two-thirds of all doctors in Washington, D.C.

For it, the writing is on the wall in 2001. It is rated “AMB3” by AM Best. This corresponds to an “adequate ability to pay short-term financial obligations.” In 2004, …

How do you know when it’s time to leave clinical practice?

Maureen Gibbons, MD

Physician

February 26, 2025

Some physicians have a clear moment when they know they’re done with clinical practice. A good friend of mine left emergency medicine just five years after residency—she simply knew it was time. There was no doubt, no wavering. She saw the road ahead, and it wasn’t one she wanted to keep traveling. When I said my ego loved the job, one of her comments resonated deeply: “But there’s more to …

Patient choice vs. patient life: Which is the greater good?

M. Bennet Broner, PhD

Physician

February 26, 2025

In a 2023 study, researchers explored the medical needs of elderly, mentally deficient individuals who lived alone. A common comment by interviewed physicians was that they knew some patients required greater supervision or care, but they acceded to patient choices to return home. Are clinicians placing too great an emphasis on competency and patient rights rather than on patient well-being?

Everyone knows the phrase: “First, do no harm.” Yet today, deciding …

Why diversity in medicine saves lives

Pamela Buchanan, MD

Physician

February 25, 2025

When I was a brand-new doctor, I was fresh, eager, and determined to succeed. I grew up poor, so I worked and worked—full-time during the week and taking travel assignments on weekends to make ends meet. Many of these travel assignments were in areas with less diverse populations, places where I was often the only Black doctor in the hospital.

One such assignment took me to Hannibal, Missouri, the …

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Why diversity in medicine saves lives

Defining my own future: a doctor’s journey through health care turmoil

Dr. Hong Bi Yoon

Physician

February 25, 2025

I was an aspiring internist, then became an aesthetic physician, and now I am preparing to train abroad. This is the story of how I had to make life-changing decisions as a doctor to survive in this ever-changing world.

In August 2020, as a fifth-year medical student, I experienced my first doctor’s strike. I remember standing under the scorching summer sun, chanting slogans in protest. The conflict? A standoff between medical …

Transform your year: How movement and self-care change everything

Stephanie Wellington, MD

Physician

February 24, 2025

Moving into the new year, I’m carrying forward the lessons that help me stay aligned with my goals and take meaningful action. But this time, I’m doing it differently. I’m moving with ease and flow. The years of stress and striving? That phase of my life is over, and I am fully embracing a new way of being.

How do I know?

Because stress does not serve me. …

Beyond chemotherapy: a story of resilience, faith, and quality of life

Rita Assi, MD

Physician

February 24, 2025

In 2023, Peggy, a vibrant 63-year-old woman, entered my life under the most challenging of circumstances. She was diagnosed with inv(3) acute myeloid leukemia (AML), an aggressive and relentless disease, and faced a grim prognosis. From our very first conversation, I knew Peggy was different. She exuded strength, determination, and an unyielding zest for life.

AML with inv(3) is a rare and particularly life-threatening subtype of acute leukemia associated with primary …

First, do no harm: Now is the time to fight mental health stigma and advocate for residency reform

Claire Bise, MD, MPH

Physician

February 22, 2025

As a pathology resident, much of my time is spent looking down a microscope, searching for clues that will guide a final diagnosis. Some diseases, however, cannot be seen at 100x magnification. Mental illness is one such disease. Its impact is profound, yet it often remains invisible to the naked eye. In fact, the National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates that one in five adults in the U.S. lives with …

How childhood pain shaped a neurologist’s path to healing

Dr. Wafaa Al-Shehhi

Physician

February 22, 2025

Childhood medical challenges can leave lasting imprints, not only on the child but also on those inspired to turn their personal struggles into a path of healing. This narrative explores the transformative journey of a pediatric neurologist whose early encounters with debilitating pain shaped a career rooted in empathy and innovation. Three key themes define this journey: The influence of personal adversity on career choice, the role of resilience in …

How to know if your leadership is effective

Stephanie Wellington, MD

Physician

February 21, 2025

What sets great physician leaders apart? How do they ensure their leadership remains sharp, effective, and impactful?

Physicians often recognize the need to refine their leadership skills when they notice breakdowns in communication, delays in response times, or a lack of team cohesion. If you’re experiencing these challenges, it may be time to evaluate how you’re engaging with your team.

A common leadership misstep

Imagine …

When every second counts: the evolving challenges of pediatric transport

Kyle Willsey, DO

Physician

February 21, 2025

The most difficult transport I have ever encountered was during my pediatric critical care fellowship. I traveled to an outside hospital with a fully equipped pediatric critical care transport team, including a critical care nurse, respiratory therapist, and myself—a third-year pediatric critical care fellow—to pick up a toddler ejected from a vehicle during a high-speed collision. Upon arrival, we found a child who had undergone an open laparotomy, open clamshell …

My personal experience in medical malpractice litigation

Howard Smith, MD

Physician

February 20, 2025

In 2004, the AMA declared a “medical malpractice crisis.” At that time, 34 percent of all physicians in the United States had been sued. The practice of medicine was at risk. Hospitals were closing. Coverage for certain high-risk specialties was unaffordable. Medical services were unavailable. Some malpractice carriers were on the verge of insolvency.

This has been the case since the mid-1970s. Coincidentally, so has a political initiative for national health …

Advocating for immigrant children: a doctor’s perspective

Fiorella Castillo, MD, MSPH

Physician

February 19, 2025

As a rising developmental pediatrician, I often become a small part of a life-changing moment in my patients’ lives. I help them navigate the challenges of autism, ADHD, and other developmental disabilities. I celebrate their successes and offer support during their struggles.

Like myself, most of the patients I serve come from immigrant backgrounds, and English is not their first language. We work through tears and frustrations but also hang onto …

How medicine is evolving: Bridging generational divides in the profession

Nicole M. King, MD

Physician

February 19, 2025

I recently came across an ongoing “discussion,” or rather aggressive bantering, in an online physician platform regarding the old guard versus the alleged newer, more entitled, and lazy generation of doctors. Years ago, I would have more staunchly fallen on the side of the old guard. Though I am a solid elder millennial, my “bootstrap” upbringing and Navy career fully encouraged the concept of medicine as a calling vice a …

What if insurance companies were held accountable for health outcomes?

Tomi Mitchell, MD

Physician

February 18, 2025

Picture this: You’re sitting in a courtroom, and the defendant in front of you is a major insurance company. The charge? Denying a life-saving claim that led to devastating consequences for someone’s health. The prosecutor stands up, looks toward the jury—a group of everyday people like you and me—and declares, “They prioritized profits over the lives of people.” Doesn’t that statement hit differently this morning, especially as you sip your …

Why does leaving medicine feel like escaping a cult?

Chelsea Turgeon, MD

Physician

February 18, 2025

“Shame on you for glorifying people leaving such a noble profession.”

That’s a little … intense.

I was jolted but, unfortunately, not surprised by this negative comment on my LinkedIn post—a post sharing my story of resigning from residency.

Backlash like this is not new to me. Anytime I speak publicly about leaving clinical medicine, I am met with an odd mix of “That’s so brave of you to share” and “How dare …

Communicating with your doctor online could cost you

Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD

Physician

February 16, 2025

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated medical communication as patients and doctors utilized computer technology to manage health care that was not available a decade ago.

Hospitals and doctors maintain online medical records that enable patients to access personal information about ongoing issues. “Portals” allow users to view lab tests, imaging results, pathology reports, and progress notes. The computer “message” system also enables patients to communicate with their physicians or other health care …

The Faustian bargain of modern medicine

Corinne Sundar Rao, MD

Physician

February 15, 2025

The concept of a “Faustian bargain” originates from the legend of Dr. Faustus, a figure from German folklore who trades his soul to the devil in exchange for worldly knowledge and power. Doctor Faustus is Christopher Marlowe’s most renowned and controversial work. The play depicts the sinister aftermath of Faustus’s decision to sell his soul to the devil’s henchmen in exchange for power and knowledge. It serves as a timeless …

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The Faustian bargain of modern medicine

Reviving the lost art of family history

Anokhi Saklecha, MD

Physician

February 14, 2025

In my medical career thus far, I’ll admit family history is something I routinely brush aside. It was never a focus in my medical school or residency training. In my primary care clinic, I spend a couple of minutes asking new patients about their parents’ medical conditions but rarely revisit the topic in future visits.

This approach made sense to me. We’re taught to treat each patient as an individual—to focus …

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Reviving the lost art of family history