High-deductible health plans: a barrier to care for chronic conditions
At the peak of the coronavirus crisis in 2020, American policymakers were faced with the critical challenge of how to encourage as many Americans as possible to be tested for and vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. Fortunately, Congress rose to this challenge by passing legislation that, in addition to providing these services to the uninsured, required private insurance plans to eliminate all out-of-pocket costs associated with getting vaccinated or tested. …
Healing the mind and body
An excerpt from The Healing Book.
When Allie’s canoe tapped the dock in Iquitos, Peru, she didn’t know which was greater: her exhaustion or her anticipation. After hours on the Amazon River, she was sticky with sweat, and her arms and legs itched and ached in the wake of countless mosquito bites. However, their arrival meant she was that much closer …
My battle with atrial fibrillation
A while ago, I wrote about my experience during an attack of atrial fibrillation (afib), lamenting the fact that my management never included a proper physical exam. Nevertheless, chemical cardioversion was successful, and my hospital stay was brief.
The episode was precipitated by a small pulmonary embolus acquired during sinus surgery the day before. I had experienced an episode of afib some 15 years previously and had remained free, I think …
How one doctor’s stories transform lives [PODCAST]
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Join Laya Jalilian-Khave, a physician and post-doctoral fellow in psychiatry. Laya shares her profound journey from medical school in Tehran to practicing medicine in diverse settings, including the border regions of Iran and Afghanistan. Discover how she …
Revolutionizing health care: Rethinking burnout and resilience
I read all the time about the strategies and measures physicians and other health care professionals take to mitigate, reduce, or immunize themselves against burnout, moral distress, and empathic strain. We have been talking about this for decades, with an increase in “burnout” as a result. It seems time to shift the paradigm to allow for more productive discussions, acceptance, and strategies. Instead of talking about burnout, resilience, and self-care …
To address youth mental health, we must address insurance barriers
It’s been two years since the American Academy of Pediatrics declared a national state of emergency in children’s mental health. Yet sadly, very little has changed. This year, 25 percent of youth have been diagnosed with a mental health condition. More than 20 percent of teens have seriously considered suicide, and more than 40 percent of high school students reported that they’d felt so sad …
Unmasking the profit-driven influence on American health care decisions
The practice of medicine has been significantly enhanced by advancing technology. However, even with four years of medical school and an MD degree, this only provides the foundation for what is needed to be a good doctor. A critically important skill is the ability to make sound medical decisions.
This is why there is a hierarchy in training that begins after medical school, progressing through internship, residency, fellowship, and eventually leading …
Clinical work to new horizons [PODCAST]
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Join Kim Downey, a physical therapist, David Fessell, a radiologist, and Todd R. Otten, a family physician, as they share their journeys and expertise. Discover their unique perspectives on well-being, health care transformation, and strategies for achieving …
The hidden gem of family medicine: a rural clinic’s triumph
I want to share this good news, but at the same time, I am a bit afraid to let the word get out. Our rural health clinic in Brewster has found a way to keep family medicine alive.
My generation of doctors has experienced incredible changes. The internet revolution is one of them. When I went to medical school in 1995, the internet was slow and clunky and limited in its …
A doctor’s journey through babka and beyond
I couldn’t even describe what it meant to be a spiritual person or put words to what spirituality is, yet I would be facilitating a class for MS1s on the importance of and how to take a spiritual history. I was looking for some thinking space; my girls kept telling me I should quit my job as a primary care physician and just bake, and there was something telling me …
Medical professional gaslighting: the lack of psychological safety in medicine
Toward the end of my third year of medical school, I was 25, newly married, and overwhelmed by responsibility. I hadn’t enjoyed the clinical rotations. The hours and the degree of human suffering were just too much. My husband and I fought about how unavailable I was. I had to complete my 6-week psychiatry rotation 3 hours away from home. I wasn’t sleeping well, so I went to student health …
A patient advocate’s battle scars in health care [PODCAST]
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Debunking sensational euthanasia myths in the Netherlands
While surfing cellphone news headlines, my attention was caught by one from the New York Post that blared: “Dutch are Euthanizing Autistic People.” The Post aims for sensationalism, and the headline implied mass slaughter, akin to the Nazi gassing of individuals with mental disabilities. As euthanasia is of academic interest to me, I felt compelled to read the story.
The article’s basis was a study conducted at Kingston University, London. …
How to shed old narratives and forge a powerful new identity in 2024
Like other business owners and private medical groups, I tend to work more hours towards the end of the year.
December is an endless marathon trying to see more patients, add more procedure hours, and double book the office and endoscopy sessions on the clinic side. On the business side, we are creating more content and marketing our online programs.
Patients have met their deductibles; they need to check their screening colonoscopies …
How religious freedoms impact patient care
An excerpt from The Catholic Church and Its Hospitals: A Marriage Made in Heaven?
The ability of Catholic hospitals and physicians to withhold some medically accepted care from patients based on their own religious and moral beliefs is made possible by numerous protections of religious freedoms. However, patients look to their …
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The direct care model’s win-win for patients and physicians
As I approach 25 years of practicing medicine in the same community where my parents dedicated 50 years to their medical careers, I’ve been privileged to develop lasting relationships with individuals who have entrusted me with their health care. The continuity of care and community connection is exactly how many of us envisioned our medical journeys, and for that, I am so thankful!
I recognize the importance of legacy. The profound …
Hidden truths and medical intrigue [PODCAST]
Navigating a leave of absence from medical school: a comprehensive guide
Taking a leave of absence (LOA) from medical school is a significant decision that involves careful consideration of various factors. In this article, I will consolidate valuable information on types of LOAs, reasons for taking one, and crucial considerations during and after. This information comes from my own experience taking an LOA between my 2nd and 3rd year of medical school, and the results of an anonymous survey of 16 …
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An approach to conflict resolution: More than one thing can be true
The past months have unearthed and amplified passionately opposing opinions about international events, in particular regarding Palestine and Israel. In addition to attending protests, calling my representatives, and having conversations with people I know, I’ve been publicly sharing my feelings about Palestine and Israel. While I stand firm in what I believe, my feelings around it are complex: I’m Jewish, and I’m anti-Zionist.
We encounter complex beliefs and feelings, many of …
Past Week
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A world without antidepressants: What could possibly go wrong?
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Why no medical malpractice firm responded to my scientific protocol
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Navigating physician non-competes: a strategy for staying put [PODCAST]
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When doctors die in silence: Confronting the epidemic of violence against physicians
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Doctors speak out: Why we’re saying no to burnout
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Avoiding leadership pitfalls: strategies for success in health care [PODCAST]
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Past 6 Months
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Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting
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What happened to real care in health care?
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The silent crisis hurting pain patients and their doctors
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How to build a culture where physicians feel valued [PODCAST]
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How the CDC’s opioid rules created a crisis for chronic pain patients
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Are quotas a solution to physician shortages?
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Recent Posts
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Navigating physician non-competes: a strategy for staying put [PODCAST]
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In the absence of physician mentorship, who will train the next generation of primary care clinicians?
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Fear of other people’s opinions nearly killed me. Here’s what freed me.
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What independent and locum tenens doctors need to know about fair market value
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Health care’s data problem: the real obstacle to AI success
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What ChatGPT’s tone reveals about our cultural values
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Past Week
-
A world without antidepressants: What could possibly go wrong?
-
Why no medical malpractice firm responded to my scientific protocol
-
Navigating physician non-competes: a strategy for staying put [PODCAST]
-
When doctors die in silence: Confronting the epidemic of violence against physicians
-
Doctors speak out: Why we’re saying no to burnout
-
Avoiding leadership pitfalls: strategies for success in health care [PODCAST]
-
Past 6 Months
-
Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting
-
What happened to real care in health care?
-
The silent crisis hurting pain patients and their doctors
-
How to build a culture where physicians feel valued [PODCAST]
-
How the CDC’s opioid rules created a crisis for chronic pain patients
-
Are quotas a solution to physician shortages?
-
Recent Posts
-
Navigating physician non-competes: a strategy for staying put [PODCAST]
-
In the absence of physician mentorship, who will train the next generation of primary care clinicians?
-
Fear of other people’s opinions nearly killed me. Here’s what freed me.
-
What independent and locum tenens doctors need to know about fair market value
-
Health care’s data problem: the real obstacle to AI success
-
What ChatGPT’s tone reveals about our cultural values
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