Ways to overcome the grief of disillusionment about medicine

Conditions
September 20, 2024

As a physician who cares about patients’ health and well-being, you have likely experienced the grief of disillusionment. You spent years in college, medical school, and residency, imagining the kind of health care you’d provide. It would be high-quality, patient-first, equity-oriented, and heart-centered. That vision got you through tough moments along the path.

Now, you find yourself pressured to spend as little time with patients as possible. You’re giving precious hours …

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Care teaming: a new paradigm for anesthesia care teams and beyond

Physician
September 20, 2024

When one envisions a team, sports teams likely come to mind. Musical groups represent another common example, as both musical groups and sports teams consist of bounded and static collections of individuals working toward a common goal. These individuals are physically located in the same place when they practice and perform together. As such, members of teams, in this sense, learn how to interact with one another, generally understanding each …

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The legal trap every doctor needs to know before signing a contract

Conditions
September 20, 2024

Are hospitals crazy?

I suspect many physicians would answer “yes” to that question without much contemplation. I have always assumed that, although hospitals are profit-driven and therefore likely to have very different priorities than physicians who care about patients, the institutions can be relied upon to have some semblance of reasonableness.

Lately, however, I have been forced to reconsider my position. For decades, I have represented physicians in their various interactions with …

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A patient gave me the best gift of my life

Physician
September 20, 2024

I’m at a loss for words—how can someone give something so beautiful to a complete stranger who is nothing more than a doctor?

I first met him a year ago when he was referred to us by the neurosurgery department following his brain tumor surgery.

I was the first doctor to meet him in the radiation oncology clinic. He was 40 years old, a laborer from the lower middle class, and accompanied …

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Doctors, stop chasing wealth: How to find true happiness beyond the paycheck [PODCAST]

Podcast
September 19, 2024
YouTube video

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We sit down with W. Ben Utley, a certified financial planner specializing in helping physicians navigate the unique financial challenges of their careers. We explore how doctors can break free from the pressure …

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Planting the seeds of a work ethic

Physician
September 19, 2024

I was in eighth grade when I boarded a plane alone for a flight from Atlanta to Philadelphia. The airport was a confusing but magical place. This was before the tragedy of 9/11, and by today’s standards, we got out of our cars and almost waltzed to the gate. The only stress I remember feeling was that of flying alone. Luckily, the flight attendants seemed genuinely happy to have me …

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The role of epigenetics in fertility: Can lifestyle choices affect future generations?

Conditions
September 19, 2024

Epigenetics has revolutionized our understanding of how lifestyle factors—such as diet, stress, exercise, and environmental exposures—affect fertility. Unlike genetic mutations, which change the DNA sequence, epigenetic changes modify how genes are expressed without altering the DNA itself. These changes occur through mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, and they play a critical role in fertility. Even more intriguing, these epigenetic changes can be passed down to future generations …

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The erosion of autonomy in sports and medicine

Conditions
September 19, 2024

The fourth major concussion recently suffered by Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa – his third in 24 months – brings into sharp focus the balance between patient/player autonomy and treatment decisions. The right to self-determination, even in sports, has become as much a moral as a medical issue. If Tagovailoa is not able to pass concussion protocols for a third time in his NFL career, he could be forced to …

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7 proven strategies to conquer board exam anxiety for physicians

Physician
September 19, 2024

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.”
– Winston Churchill

This quote comes to mind when I look back at board prep and all the times I sat for those inhumanely long exams. You might be an early-career physician in the midst of prepping for boards following residency or fellowship at this very moment.

You might have just started a new job, in a new city, and have not yet established your favorite …

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How I overcame the challenges of ADHD parenting: a physician’s story [PODCAST]

Conditions
September 18, 2024
YouTube video

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We sit down with family physician Emma Hostetter, who shares her deeply personal journey navigating the challenges of parenting a neurodivergent child with ADHD. Emma opens up about the emotional toll, the gaps …

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The secrets of physician signing bonuses

Finance
September 18, 2024

When a physician signs on at a new hospital, a signing bonus is often included in the compensation package. This bonus can range from a small perk to a significant percentage of income, and its structure can be either straightforward or confusing. The signing bonus is one of the items in a physician’s compensation contract that can be negotiated, although some give-and-take is often involved. For example, in some situations, …

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The continued unjust prosecution of physicians

Physician
September 18, 2024

As the crescendo of a seven-year alleged health care fraud investigation, the trial in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania opened in late April 2024. The trial is one of less than two percent of the federal criminal cases filed that ultimately end up in a jury trial. This flawed prosecution targeted an exemplary physician who, like the majority of physicians in the United States, has spent most of their lives …

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Make “someday” happen: the years of living dangerously

Physician
September 18, 2024

Bring adventure, mental and physical challenge, change, and calculated risk-taking into your life. I made “someday” happen. You can too. “Someday” it may be too late.

Somewhere, sometime, “someday” slips into our lives. Sometimes “someday” is restless, as in, “Someday I would like to travel to all seven continents.” Sometimes “someday” is bold and fearless—”Someday I want to climb mountains.” Sometimes “someday” is intellectual (learning a second language), athletic (windsurfing), or …

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The dual demands of a PICU physician

Physician
September 18, 2024

A physician in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) requires vast medical knowledge along with emotional resilience. I always thought I had a strong sense of compassion for my patients and their families until I had my own baby 1.5 years ago. It completely shifted my perspective. I started to understand parental grief and fear on a personal level, which reshaped my approach to work.

Before having a baby, I was …

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People-pleasing is exhausting: my journey to self-care and boundaries [PODCAST]

Podcast
September 17, 2024
YouTube video

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

We sit down with Laura Suttin, a family physician, to explore the emotional complexities of setting boundaries, especially in times of personal and professional pressure. Laura shares her deeply personal experience of caring …

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Climate change is exacerbating diseases in vulnerable populations in America and abroad

Policy
September 17, 2024

As climate change advances, it has amplified a variety of diseases globally, especially in under-resourced countries and communities. This article summarizes three of these consequential trends. The first is that wildfires and industrial pollution are worsening respiratory diseases. Second, hotter climates are increasing the incidence of infectious diseases such as malaria, and lastly, heat waves are increasing the risk of various diseases, disrupting public services, and causing unprecedented amounts of …

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If these words can save a life, they must be spoken

Physician
September 17, 2024

When people don’t understand the depths of hell the brain can take someone to, I am relieved for them. And I am also grateful for the journey I’ve been on—I would never have understood how someone who appeared “successful” on paper could consider taking their own life and think they didn’t matter unless I had lived it.

When I developed intense and pervasive suicidal ideation, I was on top of the …

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How a friend’s kindness saved me from my darkest hour

Conditions
September 17, 2024

An excerpt from The Problem with Men.

Gary could tell something was wrong the moment he saw me. “Come in, friend,” he said, his voice gentle. He guided me into the kitchen, a cozy, older space similar to the one in my apartment across the street, but his was painted a cheerful light yellow. After rummaging through a cabinet, he returned with a joint and lit it without hesitation.

“Here,” he …

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Physician Suicide Awareness Day: a call to action against the silent epidemic

Physician
September 17, 2024

Physician Suicide Awareness Day comes and goes each September, bringing with it the sad and perplexing realization that physicians usually top the lists of professionals most likely to take their own lives—something often described as the “silent epidemic.” I sample recent literature on the topic each year, each time noting how varied and complex the statistics and issues surrounding it are. Over the years, there have been physician suicides in …

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The clean slate approach: Transform your day with this simple mindset shift

Physician
September 17, 2024

Do you begin each day with a clean slate? What if you could?

How different would the new day be if you weren’t picking up where you left off—with the stuck energy, the stale energy, the energy of being drained at the end of the shift, at the end of the day?

What if, as we walked out of the hospital, office, or clinic, that energy was left behind, and instead, we …

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