Physician

The shifting landscape of gastroenterology manpower and compensation

Physician
September 21, 2023

The field of gastroenterology in the United States has undergone a significant transformation over the past 5 to 10 years, driven by a confluence of historical changes in training programs, changing demographics among GI doctors due to the relatively new specialty of GI endoscopy, and a dwindling supply of gastroenterologists. These factors have culminated in a notable impact on gastroenterology physician salaries and have raised important questions about the future …

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Surgical procedures for inpatients: Addressing socioeconomic urgencies

Physician
September 20, 2023

Inpatients require surgical procedures, raising the question of whether these procedures should be scheduled as elective or emergent. Traditionally, surgeries were deemed emergencies solely when there were physical, psychological, or rarely, spiritual imperatives, necessitating immediate action to avert irrevocable harm to patients’ bodies, minds, and souls. Now, the debate centers on whether surgical procedures can be considered emergencies to mitigate socioeconomic risks. These risks could lead to profound and lasting …

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I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

Physician
September 19, 2023
YouTube video

There is an alarming health crisis happening in the U.S.–– Black women are dying at a disproportionate rate during pregnancy and childbirth.

According to the CDC, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women. Though childbirth complications are not exclusive to Black women, these shocking statistics underscore systemic challenges and distinct issues that other racial groups may not encounter. These …

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A message of hope for physicians

Physician
September 17, 2023

Physicians are struggling with challenges navigating the health care system while trying to provide the best possible care for their patients. Sometimes, struggles at work are compounded by struggles at home as we all face stressors during our travel through life; doctors are no exception.

Many physicians who went through a period of burnout have sought and are seeking help. They are feeling hope for the future. I asked three physicians …

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From aversion to office politics to embracing independence

Physician
September 17, 2023

Though often described as friendly and a great team player, I sometimes find myself harboring strong opinions. When pushed, my personality occasionally veers towards the rebellious. I disdain formal meetings, struggle with office politics, and lack the art of flattery. These qualities collectively render me less than an ideal candidate for any conventional employment, or so I surmise.

Antecedent to the culmination of my residency and fellowship, a pivotal decision crystallized …

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Navigating medical decision-making: Embracing limits and growth

Physician
September 16, 2023

“Ms. Smith is going to the MICU,” the resident on the other end of the line informs me.  My stomach tightens as that visceral sense of guilt and frustration sets in, familiar by now but this time with a newfound intensity.  It is my second week as an attending physician during my chief residency year, and Ms. Smith will now be the first patient transferred to the intensive care unit …

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Ethical considerations in medicine: unity and open discourse

Physician
September 15, 2023

Navigating the complexities of medical ethics in our modern world can present significant challenges. It’s worth considering a deeper examination of this issue. In the year 2023, the global landscape is rapidly evolving across various spheres. As a former pediatric resident physician in New York City, I had the opportunity to witness an extraordinary range of social diversity. The city is truly a melting pot, embodying a diverse tapestry of …

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Man’s search for meaning is spiritual, and relevant to medicine

Physician
September 14, 2023

Viktor Frankl’s Holocaust memoir, Man’s Search for Meaning, is an extraordinary essay on resilience and spirituality, a reminder that human life, under any circumstances, never ceases to have meaning. At the risk of mentioning Bob Dylan in the same sentence as Viktor Frankl, it was Dylan who said: “When you ain’t got nothing, you got nothing to lose.” I suppose Bob Dylan read the book too, ranked …

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Change, accept or leave: wisdom for physicians who feel stuck

Physician
September 14, 2023

Often in coaching sessions, a client will bring to the session a problem or obstacle in their path forward. In life, challenging situations can make us feel stuck and unable to move. We find ourselves remaining in relationships, jobs, or patterns that no longer fulfill us.

Years ago, I came upon a powerful mantra: “change, accept, or leave.” This wisdom shifted my focus from my problems to the possible solutions for …

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Unlocking emotional freedom and empathic communication

Physician
September 13, 2023

Has there ever been a time you judged yourself? Or that one time you resented yourself and repeatedly went over that event, thinking, “Gee, I wish I could’ve changed that one thing.” Has there ever been a time where you’ve said, “I’ll never be able to forgive myself”? Then, you begin to complain incessantly and blame others. “I see too many patients. There’s too much paperwork. Can you believe that …

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Bridging attorneys and doctors: the role of medical/legal consultants

Physician
September 13, 2023

Engaging in medical/legal consulting offers a valuable opportunity to apply your medical training in a non-clinical capacity that genuinely benefits people. Physicians across the nation are increasingly embracing medical/legal consulting as a rewarding part-time endeavor.

Among the array of services that medical/legal consultants offer, one prominent role is that of a liaison between attorneys and treating doctors. Additionally, we occasionally serve as intermediaries between attorneys and families, and more frequently between …

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Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

Physician
September 12, 2023

I am rattled as I read the headlines. Another bright, incredible physician has ended her life. I feel numb with horror as I read the details. I want to scream, cry, and punch the wall. Wiping my tears away, I try to focus on the needs of my whining toddler as she tugs at my dress.

I am in mourning for every doctor’s death by suicide. Yes, for every one of …

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Arrogance and lack of business education in medicine

Physician
September 11, 2023

Dr. Osler was a physician who believed that dignified opinions in the medical profession created a destructive potential for the facts and truth about medical knowledge. The wisdom of his belief has traveled far beyond his time. In fact, his view of arrogant opinions has been dominating the medical profession far worse than one could imagine.

A profound example of the ignorance of the medical school education structure and the omissions …

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Job search sabotage: Avoid common mistakes

Physician
September 11, 2023

People can inadvertently sabotage their job search efforts in several different ways when searching for jobs. This can happen in a variety of ways.

An unfocused job search results from not having a clear vision of what you are looking for or which industries and roles match your skills and interests. The goal and position you are aiming for should be clearly defined. It’s not enough to say, “I want to …

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Challenges of prolonging hospital stays

Physician
September 11, 2023

In a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine, a rheumatologist at a teaching hospital lamented about “hospital problems,” a phenomenon where patients are not allowed to stay in the hospital when they no longer have a medical necessity for hospital care, even though the physician may want to keep the patient longer to wait for test results or get prepped for a test. He proceeds to …

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Doctor convictions: Unmasking the 3 threats you need to know

Physician
September 10, 2023

Why would anyone lie about you? And what makes you prone to conviction? There are three types of people that will absolutely bring your world crashing down on you, and you need to know who they are. But first, we need to understand the formula that prosecutors have developed to target doctors.

Prosecutors go after doctors because they are easy targets. The formula developed by prosecutors has three steps: First, make …

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A season of emotions: spring, trauma, and healing

Physician
September 9, 2023

Spring is an interesting time of the year for me. April 15 may actually be my favorite day, but certainly not because income taxes are due. My dad was born on April 15, but that’s not the reason either.

Let me set the scene. I lived in a beautiful home in a wooded area outside Philadelphia for ten years. The area is known as the Brandywine Valley. It’s the site of the …

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Artificial intelligence in mental health care shows how lonely we really are

Physician
September 7, 2023

Like many psychiatrists, I have scoffed every time I’ve heard about artificial intelligence providing psychotherapy or other mental health care. How could patients not notice the difference between me and a bot, or how could they not care? Yet this is a direction that is being actively explored in mental health care as a way of increasing access and reducing stigma, with multiple AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants on the …

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The essence of medicine: genuine connections in practice

Physician
September 6, 2023

Remember organic chemistry?

I have a distinct memory of a rainy December day many years ago. I am standing in the hallway of the chemistry building at UC Davis, looking at a list taped to the wall of social security numbers and corresponding grades. I have just found my grade in organic chemistry, which is a C minus. For a visual person like myself, OChem (as we called it then) was …

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