The truth about entrepreneurship: What no one tells you about business success

Physician
September 16, 2024

“Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice; take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment.”
— William Shakespeare.

In the dynamic world of business, the landscape is littered with tales of success and failure. However, a recurring narrative that I see repeated over and over and that ensnares many novice entrepreneurs is the misleading promise that “you can strike it rich or be successful with all ventures.” This piece of …

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How medical students can contribute to neurosurgery research: tips for getting started

Education
September 16, 2024

Neurosurgery is a rapidly evolving field, with continuous advancements in technologies and techniques. For aspiring neurosurgeons, involvement in research is key to enhancing residency applications and contributing to the field’s progress. Here are some practical tips for students aiming to contribute to neurosurgery research:

1. Find a mentor who matches your research interests. Identifying the right mentor is key to starting your research journey. Look for faculty members who are active …

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A future male OB/GYN’s commitment to patient comfort

Conditions
September 16, 2024

The modern IUD has been an option for women for 60 years now.

CDC just updated its 2016 guideline that advises physicians to discuss pain management options. This comes after continued viral TikTok patient stories about IUD insertion pain have garnered increasing attention from the medical community.

For perspective: According to OB/GYN’s Kristyn Brandi and Aliye Runyan, MD, their patients describe the insertion procedure as sometimes feeling like …

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How a pediatrician fights vaccine misinformation in a small town

Physician
September 16, 2024

When I took the final exam after years of pediatric training, hearing my professors say, “You are now qualified and equipped to manage a pediatric clinic; congratulations” was a deeply touching moment for me. I felt fortunate to experience the profound satisfaction of seeing my efforts to help children recognized and appreciated. With eager anticipation, I awaited the assignment to the place where I would begin my journey as a …

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How women in medicine are shaping the future of medicine [PODCAST]

Policy
September 15, 2024
YouTube video

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In this episode, we celebrate Women in Medicine Month with guest Janet A. Jokela, an internal medicine and infectious disease physician. We dive into the experiences and challenges women have faced across generations …

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America’s “sick” secret and the need for a primary care czar

Policy
September 15, 2024

America has a systemic and pernicious problem: health care without primary care. Just a century ago, primary care physicians were the trusted cornerstone of the U.S. health care system, providing the first point of entry into health care, addressing most ailments, and managing patients across a lifespan. This primary care “first” system has gradually eroded over the ensuing decades, and unfortunately, many citizens have fallen victim to a modern culture …

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Systemic collusion: How big business and government herd physicians into traditional employment

Physician
September 15, 2024

As a physician, I spent years training to care for patients, only to realize by the time I completed my education that I wasn’t truly in control of my career. Like so many of us, I had been funneled into a rigid system that pushes physicians toward employment with large health care systems rather than allowing for independent practice or entrepreneurial ventures. It felt like I had been herded—herded by …

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Nurse practitioner reveals startling flaws in APRN education: Is patient safety at risk?

Education
September 15, 2024

Recently, Bloomberg published an article titled “The Miseducation of America’s Nurse Practitioners” by Caleb Melby, Polly Mosendz, and Noah Buhayar, which brings to the public’s attention the dismal state of education for APRNs. I would like to share my own story and that of several other APRNs who attended my APRN program. This story will demonstrate many of the disturbing facts about the educational system designed to train APRNs.

I …

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How AI could widen health disparities without stronger policies

Tech
September 15, 2024

In the realm of health care, artificial intelligence (AI) stands as a beacon of transformative potential. With its ability to process vast amounts of data, AI promises to streamline diagnostic processes, enhance treatment precision, and revolutionize patient care. Yet, it’s overshadowed by various ethical concerns about perpetuating existing biases and systemic discrimination.

AI development is ultimately influenced by the datasets it’s trained on, making it vulnerable to biases present in that …

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How delayed gratification in medical school can make or break your career [PODCAST]

Podcast
September 14, 2024
YouTube video

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We sit down with Ben Reinking, a board-certified pediatric cardiologist, medical educator, and certified physician development coach, to explore the challenges and rewards of medical training. We dive into themes of delayed gratification, …

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The little boy who taught me the power of education in the Guatemalan highlands

Physician
September 14, 2024

Walking through the narrow alleyways and past artisanal businesses in the Lake Atitlán region of the Guatemalan highlands, a swarm of children followed us as if we were a parade or a moving tourist attraction. As a global fellow through the Stanford Freeman Spogli Institute (FSI), I served as an interpreter and interviewer in this underserved region with extreme poverty a few …

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Doctors beware: the hidden legal risks of following CME guidelines

Meds
September 14, 2024

I have a problem with some of the continuing medical education courses offered by large health care institutions, even those like Harvard and Mayo, which have outstanding reputations for evidence-based medicine. That’s because what they teach, although scientifically sound and in line with the Department of Health and Human Services and CDC recommendations, can get you prosecuted and convicted by the DEA. If you get targeted for practicing the way …

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How South Carolina’s eye care laws are blocking telemedicine innovation

Policy
September 14, 2024

People learned during the COVID pandemic that getting limited care online via telemedicine can be a great way to expand access, especially in rural areas. But Visibly, founded in 2014, was ahead of the curve.

The Chicago-based company invented technology that lets people renew eyeglass prescriptions from home or anywhere with an internet connection. No appointment is necessary, no driving, and no waiting in a lobby. Licensed ophthalmologists review results and …

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How measurement-informed therapy is changing mental health [PODCAST]

Podcast
September 13, 2024
YouTube video

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We sit down with Kevin Ramotar, a clinical psychologist and health care executive, to explore the evolving landscape of mental health care. We dive into the challenges of measuring therapeutic outcomes, the role …

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When a doctor acts like one of the kids

Physician
September 13, 2024

Sue went to the operating room today, which was not at all what I recommended, not that we ever discussed my personal opinion on the matter. With a worsening small bowel obstruction, I woke up this morning and, realizing that matters had worsened overnight, I called her husband, Dave. I don’t think I woke him, but his voice, one complicated by little, if any, sleep and likely hours of talking …

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Is your medical malpractice case just a coin toss?

Physician
September 13, 2024

If you are embroiled in a medical malpractice lawsuit today, you are in a difficult situation.

Your lawsuit is one of 85,000 medical malpractice cases filed each year. Regardless of what your defense counsel tells you about merit, no one truly knows how many lawsuits have merit. A prominent defense attorney has gone on record declaring that there is no such thing as a frivolous lawsuit and publicly disavows any notion …

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How to regulate generative AI in health care

Tech
September 13, 2024

Generative AI is revolutionizing health care, particularly large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. The potential is immense, from advanced diagnostic tools to predictive analytics and decision-support systems. However, our regulatory landscape has not kept pace. Traditional frameworks for new drugs and devices are inadequate for the unique characteristics of generative AI.

This article outlines a comprehensive framework to effectively regulate generative AI in health care, striking a crucial …

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Medicine’s race dilemma: What science says about genetics and health [PODCAST]

Podcast
September 12, 2024
YouTube video

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We sit down with surgeon Charles Dinerstein to explore the complex role of race in medical research and practice. We dive into the historical use of race as a variable in health care, …

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Why representation alone won’t solve health care equity issues

Education
September 12, 2024

I attended a workshop on developing equitable health information materials, emphasizing that people are more responsive to data when individuals of similar complexion and/or features are represented. This concept originated in education, where research indicated that youth learned better from teachers with similar characteristics, and it was subsequently extended to health care. However, universal application is unrealistic, as Black children will not always have Black teachers, and patients of color …

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A day in the life of a medical student on a neurosurgery rotation

Education
September 12, 2024

As a fourth-year medical student applying to neurosurgery residency, my rotation in neurosurgery has been one of the most intense and rewarding experiences of my medical education. The days are long, the cases complex, and the learning curve steep, but every day reaffirms my passion for the specialty. Here is a glimpse into a typical day on my neurosurgery rotation—a day that starts before the sun rises and is filled …

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