Physician

Do residents deserve the title of physician?

Physician
March 25, 2023

I was unsettled by an email that our graduate medical education (GME) office recently sent out to all residents at my institution “sharing a friendly reminder that parking spaces identified as ‘physician parking’ are for attending physicians only” and “residents and fellows who park in ‘physician parking spaces’ will receive a parking ticket.” I have parked next to only non-physician (including non-resident physician) staff in those spaces every day for …

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When an MBA degree meets medicine: an eye-opening experience

Physician
March 25, 2023

I recently saw an ophthalmologist for my worsening eyesight. The doctor came highly recommended and was credentialed as an MD and MBA. He founded his practice, which has grown to over a dozen practitioners. His website boasts how he works with the pharmaceutical industry to help develop and market new medications “that improve the standard of care.”

According to Open Payments data, the doctor has relationships with ten …

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The hidden gems of health care: Unlocking the potential of narrative medicine

Physician
March 24, 2023

“It’s such a shame that you’ve got all this data, and it goes unpublished … others need to benefit from our results!”

This statement is often repeated, in different forms, across all medicine departments, about the abundance of data from hospitals and clinics. This data, which can be utilized for research purposes, identifying emerging trends, and drawing new conclusions, often goes unpublished, especially in underfunded settings or countries.

Medical schools worldwide place …

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The dark side of immortality: What if we could live forever?

Physician
March 24, 2023

I sat in a lecture hall at Baylor College of Medicine many years ago. It was noon, and though October had bought some respite from Houston’s heat and humidity, the air-conditioned room was still very inviting. To top it, there was lunch. The lunch came with a rider — sitting through Grand Rounds — and I welcomed the occasion to get off my feet for the next hour. With the …

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It’s time for the C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

Physician
March 23, 2023

Is your facility struggling to recruit and staff full-time physicians? Are you spending excessive amounts on staffing agencies and private management companies to make up for your shortage of physicians?

Physicians are leaving traditional clinical medicine because you, the C-suite, are not adapting to the changing times.

Do you care, or are you more focused on replacing physicians with cheaper labor?

Unlike the older generation of retiring physicians, the younger generation is not …

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From rural communities to underserved populations: How telemedicine is bridging health care gaps

Physician
March 23, 2023

Telemedicine, the practice of delivering health care services remotely using technology, has become increasingly popular in recent years. The potential for reduced health care costs, improved efficiency, and greater accessibility for patients and providers alike have driven its adoption. In this article, we will investigate the economic benefits of telemedicine, examining its impact on health care expenditure, its ability to enhance patient care, and its role in mitigating the strain …

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From solidarity to co-liberation: Understanding the journey towards ending oppression

Physician
March 22, 2023

Three weeks ago, I attended a diversity, equity, and inclusion conference, the Inaugural Kenniebriew Conference at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, where I had the pleasure of being one of the keynote speakers. To close this conference, my wonderful colleague and fellow keynote speaker Dr. Ann-Gel Palermo gave a riveting and inspiring talk on moving from allyship to co-liberation.

What I took away from this very insightful inquiry is that …

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Finding peace through surrender: a personal exploration

Physician
March 21, 2023

Words are everything.

They carry energy. They are the currency of our connection to each other. They are the currency through which we will share with future generations; they are how we communicate with people in generations past. And they carry weight in terms of how we speak to ourselves.

When we begin to grow in awareness of the words we are using and the language we choose, it sometimes becomes humbling …

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The struggle to fill emergency medicine residency spots: Exploring the factors behind the unfilled match

Physician
March 21, 2023

Five-hundred and fifty-five. That’s the number of first-year emergency medicine (EM) residency spots that went unfilled in the Match. Before discussing the implications for nationwide residency programs, applicants, and patients, we must ask how we got here?! Emergency medicine used to be a “sexy” specialty. The TV series ER ran for 15 seasons. Emergency medicine was once a part of the infamous E-ROAD (EM, radiology, ophthalmology, anesthesiology, dermatology) lifestyle specialties. …

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Beyond the disease: the power of empathy in health care

Physician
March 21, 2023

They are not just sick people in need of care. They are people with lives, hopes, plans, and dreams. A day before they showed up, they may have dropped a son at school, taken a daughter to soccer practice, made dinner, had lunch with friends, done their nails, or even bought a new golf club.

Of course, there is the drug addict with endocarditis, the perpetual drunk with intracranial hematoma, or even …

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How to overcome telemedicine’s biggest obstacles

Physician
March 20, 2023

The global health care sector has undergone a digital revolution, with telemedicine at the forefront of this transformation. Telemedicine offers promising opportunities to enhance patient care, reduce costs, and expand access to health care services. However, its widespread adoption faces several challenges that must be addressed for its full potential to be realized. This article discusses the barriers to telemedicine adoption and provides strategies for successful implementation by health care …

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The patient who became my soulmate

Physician
March 19, 2023

As oncologists, we encounter numerous patients on a daily basis and form emotional bonds with many of them, especially if they survive long enough and continue to see the same doctor for several years. This bond can grow so deep that we feel their pain, cry with them, and sometimes even realize that some of our patients are our soulmates.

According to Wikipedia, a soulmate is a person ideally suited to …

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Breaking the stigma: Addressing the struggles of physicians

Physician
March 19, 2023

The state of health care in the U.S. is widely considered to be inadequate. I recently learned in an online class that family doctors in Canada only have 10 minutes per patient. I am unsure who sets or enforces this rule and it is unclear why anyone would choose such a job. As an introvert, I understand the toll of being present for others all day, but 10 minutes to …

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Life as a physician is sometimes like a runaway trailer

Physician
March 18, 2023

It was a hot day in Northern California, and my clothes were covered with the red dust of summer. At age 9, I couldn’t take a step on our property without grasshoppers launching themselves from the dry wheat grass. Colorful ladybugs were also out in force. I searched everywhere for a container to keep my prized bugs, but my efforts were to no avail. I headed for Mr. Maryfield’s trailer, …

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From physician to patient: one doctor’s journey to finding purpose after a devastating injury

Physician
March 18, 2023

December 20, 2012, started like any other day as an OB/GYN when I was called to do a precipitous delivery. I immediately saw that the baby’s heart rate was dangerously low, and I knew I had to act quickly. Several nurses helped me maintain the patient’s position to get a vacuum on the baby’s crowning head. While placing the vacuum, the patient kicked me in my brachial plexus, and my …

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Navigating life’s zero-sum game: the struggles of competitive health care professionals

Physician
March 17, 2023

Life is often viewed as a competition where resources and opportunities are limited. This is especially true for health care professionals, who must navigate the delicate balance between their professional responsibilities and their personal lives. The challenge becomes even greater when factors such as competition among family members and the rise of artificial intelligence threaten to disrupt the traditional roles and relationships that have defined humanity.

Geography plays a significant role …

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Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

Physician
March 17, 2023

As I enter the patient exam room, the first question is no longer “When can I get my COVID-19 vaccine?” but rather, “Are you leaving? My old doctor left. You are my fifth doctor in three years. What is happening?”

Nowadays, I spend more time educating patients about the visible cracks our medical system flaunts. They were present before the pandemic and will remain as it ends. In my health care …

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The process of career transition can be confusing. It doesn’t have to be.

Physician
March 17, 2023

For physicians, the process of career transition can be overwhelming. With the potential to take you out of your comfort zone and into uncharted waters, it’s understandable why Physicians feel apprehensive when it comes to transitioning into a new role or environment.

Understanding what steps would best fit one’s situation as they progress through their career is essential for creating a successful outcome. As a coach that specializes in guiding medical …

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Breaking the cycle of misery in medicine: a practical guide

Physician
March 17, 2023

Presently, two-thirds of all physicians are demoralized and experiencing a less than satisfied work experience for a number of reasons other than it being “our fault” (please do not let them call it “burnout”). The future of finding happiness in practicing primary care medicine does not appear to be promising.

The combination of more complicated medical problems in addition to an increased volume of older patients on the horizon and less …

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