Physician

How embracing vulnerability transforms pain into power

Physician

August 23, 2024

Regret. We often think about it because of an action or lack of action. We regret having done something or perhaps not doing enough. Regret is filled with “shoulds,” which soon spiral down into guilt, remorse, self-judgment, anger, and depression.

To me, I think about the actions often. Do I regret having trusted or opened my heart to others?

The thing is, I don’t have ANY regrets. I have experienced many circumstances …

A life of purpose: free from societal pressures that lead us astray

Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD

Physician

August 22, 2024

When you allow yourself to truly see and sit with the fact that we are only here for a short period of time, it can feel scary and also freeing.

My world became small when I started developing profound anxiety about dying. It was a good sign, actually, as I came from a place of apathy to wanting to live. Truly live. …

The resilience of international medical graduates

Dr. Kanwarmandeep Singh

Physician

August 21, 2024

“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that count.”
– Winston Churchill

In this vast world of hopes and dreams, few would shine as brightly as the dream of becoming a physician and saving lives. Each year, amidst tough competition, millions of young, eager minds compete for the limited spots in medical schools in their respective countries. After this first stepping stone, they continue to …

The practice of delayed gratification in medical training: a double-edged sword

Ben Reinking, MD

Physician

August 21, 2024

As I led small group sessions during our medical school’s recent orientation, I was struck by the nervous excitement and hope radiating from our new first-year students. Their enthusiasm was palpable yet tinged with apprehension about the challenging journey ahead. Two themes emerged from our discussions. The first was a desire to dive in and tackle challenges ahead. As one student stated, “Enough talking, let’s start doing.” The second was …

When a patient’s story hits close to home: a doctor’s emotional journey

Dr. Damane Zehra

Physician

August 20, 2024

It had been a busy day. He was the last patient of the day.

In the oncology outpatient department, we have forms for documenting a patient’s medical history. The form has specific sections that need to be filled out in a set order. First, we start with the presenting complaint, followed by the history of presenting illness. Next, we document the patient’s past medical and surgical history, followed by sections for …

How physicians can fix media bias with science

Howard Smith, MD

Physician

August 19, 2024

The assassination attempt is the straw that breaks the camel’s back. The “gaslighting” is over. The rules for truth by legacy media are never examined for objectivity. We do not have the Inquisition in the United States; we have the legacy media.

One “fact-checker” measures truth by “Pinocchios.” There is a better way—hypothesis testing. Who better to know about hypothesis testing than a physician?

What if the facts about how Medicare is …

Why I won’t let my wife see her EOBs anymore

Sandy Brown, MD

Physician

August 19, 2024

Today, in the mail, I received a claim summary for medical care that my wife received. She saw an orthopedic PA for an achy knee and got a shot of a slippery substance that was supposed to be superior to steroids. “Is this stuff expensive?” she asked him. “Don’t worry about it,” he said. “You have Medicare. It will cover it.”

It didn’t help her knee, though, and she moved on …

Caring for our caregivers: Addressing the burnout crisis in health care

Miriam Zylberglait Lisigurski, MD

Physician

August 18, 2024

The public health crisis of burnout among health care workers is more severe than many realize. With 49% of physicians experiencing burnout, patients face a 1 in 2 chance of being treated by an exhausted, unmotivated, and underperforming doctor. This issue affects all areas of health care, from emergency and urgent care visits to surgeries, deliveries, and cancer screenings. A patient’s well-being hinges on health care professional’s ability to …

A doctor’s eye-opening journey as a patient

Stephanie Degen, MD

Physician

August 17, 2024

In 2022, I sought out mental health care, finally able to say, “I need help.” During this experience, my doctor’s brain churned, and a new patient’s brain grew. These allowed me to see both sides of the world of medicine, and the contrast, unfortunately, disappointed me. Below is a spur-of-the-moment writing inspired by a series of unfortunate patient experiences. In sharing these words, I hope I can help the patients …

The rise of at-home medical tests: Can the hype meet our health care needs?

Aneesha Dhargalkar, MD and Deanna Lernihan, MPH

Physician

August 17, 2024

Recent news feeds are packed with consumer tips for navigating the abundance of at-home medical tests. Within the past month, Healthline, Fortune, Self Magazine, and the New York Times, to name a few, have published articles on “best of” medical tests for a range of health conditions, from herpes and HIV to COVID-19 and thyroid function.

At-home medical tests are a booming market, expected to reach …

Why curing baldness remains as elusive as putting a man on the moon

John C. Hagan III, MD

Physician

August 16, 2024

If they can put a man on the moon, why can’t they cure male pattern baldness? It’s not easy being bald. In winter, you freeze; in summer, you burn. New follicles never “spring” up, and hair continues to “fall.” That pretty much describes the seasons of my discontent.

You would think that at age 80, I would have come to grips with my shiny dome. After all, I had the highest …

A night of stars: Finding solace in the vastness of the sea

Michael J. Collins, MD

Physician

August 14, 2024

An excerpt from The Shieling.

The sun had set an hour earlier, but the light in the western sky lingered, as if nature itself couldn’t bear the thought of ending such a beautiful day. David stood on the shore, waiting until the last bit of light had faded away leaving a dark, moonless night with not a breath of wind, not a ripple on the smooth surface of the silent …

Breaking barriers: the urgent need for disability inclusion in medicine

Dr. Dinesh B. Palipana

Physician

August 13, 2024

Diversity and inclusion—we talk about them. Some organizations have targets. Some even have communication campaigns on them. Yet, in medicine, like many other professions, we lag. According to American Medical Colleges (AAMC) data, “Only about 3 percent of doctors in the United States have a disability.” As an emergency department doctor with a spinal cord injury who uses a wheelchair, this data is thought-provoking.

Why are we not moving the …

The heartbreaking decision that taught me the power of boundaries

Laura Suttin, MD, MBA

Physician

August 13, 2024

Many years ago, our family rescue dog’s health began to decline quickly. He was around thirteen years old at the time, so we knew the end was coming soon. If you’ve ever experienced an aging pet, you know how extremely difficult it is to make the decision to say goodbye. To add to the difficulty, I felt like I was making the decision alone since my divorce. I had a …

Find fulfillment: Reject societal pressures and embrace simplicity

Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD

Physician

August 12, 2024

Such calmness,
Groundedness,
Beauty,
Standing tall and mighty.
The sense of peace in your presence—
Protected,
Safe,
A patient teacher.
No rah-rah, motivational fluff.
Quiet, yet confident,
Not rushing,
Not chasing,
Not running around striving.
Still, grounded, present.

In a world where people tell me I need to take big financial risks to be fulfilled, I say bullsh*t.

My inner fulfillment is felt when still, calm, and trusting that this simple life I cherish is the most fulfilling of all. Connected to humans, connected to …

Bridging the health gap: Empowering Latino communities for a healthier future

Ricardo Correa

Physician

August 11, 2024

As an endocrinologist, internal medicine physician, and public health leader, I have witnessed firsthand the health disparities that affect Latino communities. The COVID-19 pandemic has only magnified these issues, especially with chronic diseases, emphasizing the pressing need for culturally competent health care to address these inequities.

In Arizona and across the nation, my efforts have been dedicated to educating and protecting our communities through media outreach, training community health workers, and …

Am I an internist or a milkman?

Ryan McCarthy, MD

Physician

August 11, 2024

I have too many important tasks during my workday to leave anything to chance in the hazy, slanted dawn. Failure is not on my schedule for tomorrow. So tonight, I will once again pack a lunch, lay out my clothes, and set up the coffee pot.

Before arriving at work in the morning, I will know who I will be seeing and—often—why they are coming to me. If, for some reason, …

Read more…

Am I an internist or a milkman?

A cardiologist’s urgent call to combat heat-related health risks

Shuchita Gupta, MD

Physician

August 9, 2024

As I drive to work and back, my eyes are on the ambient temperature reading in my car—it has been creeping up every day. I routinely listen to NPR, and extreme heat in various parts of the world comes up in daily discussions.

As a heart failure cardiologist in the clinic, I routinely ask my patients about their activity levels. Most of them complain about the heat and how it impacts …

ER doctor’s adrenaline-fueled night: from life-saving procedures to unpredictable chaos

Veronica Bonales, MD

Physician

August 8, 2024

From the beginning of medical school, you are taught the rules of patient assessment; you are taught the “ABCs” – airway, breathing, and circulation. You don’t move on to B until you have established A. You don’t move on to C until B is established. If at any time you lose A or B, you go back to the beginning. Emergency medicine doctors are all about A. My first patient …

How corporate health care is failing physicians and patients alike

Anonymous

Physician

August 8, 2024

A large part of patient care in the modern corporate setting is working within your restrictions. Most corporate health care settings will limit how wide your scope can be, and this often determines how you treat patients. As a family physician working within a huge corporate setting, this oftentimes leads to alternate outcomes, such as referring a patient to another office where a procedure can be done safely or having …

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