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Why Canada won’t be the U.S.’s 51st state anytime soon

Physician

February 7, 2025

It was a crisp winter day where the sun shines so brightly it tricks you into thinking it’s warm until you step outside and instantly regret not grabbing your scarf—that I heard about the latest musings from our southern neighbors. The commander-in-chief (yes, President Trump, I’m looking at you) had hinted, joked, or perhaps accidentally tweeted (it’s hard to tell these days) that Canada could become the 51st state.

Instantly, I …

Rethinking residency: How to reshape graduate medical education

Deepak Gupta, MD and Sarwan Kumar, MD

Education

February 7, 2025

Graduate medical education (GME) could explore several forward-thinking processes to enhance the journey of medical trainees. These processes could focus on selecting applicants for residency, fostering their development to excel as trainees, and preparing them to graduate as competent, certified physicians capable of independently practicing their specialties.

As objective numerical scores from the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) become a thing of the past, it may be time to consider …

Why AI is the perfect neutral arbiter for health care claims

Tim Wetherill, MD

Tech

February 7, 2025

When Berkshire Hathaway executive Charlie Munger said, “Show me the incentives, and I’ll show you the outcome,” during a speech in 1995, he wasn’t talking about health care, but he might as well have been. Companies in any industry are influenced by how the norms and structures around them contribute to their success, and in health care, the incentives often aren’t set for the good of the end user—the patient.

Consider …

Marijuana’s hidden threat to fertility and family planning [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

February 6, 2025

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

Fertility specialist Oluyemisi Famuyiwa discusses her KevinMD article, “Why is no one listening? The urgent impact of marijuana on fertility.” In this episode, Yemi explores the emerging concerns surrounding marijuana legalization and …

Murder, vitriol, and hidden costs: inside the health insurance industry’s biggest battles

Lynne Moronski, PhD, MPA, RN

Policy

February 6, 2025

With the murder of the UnitedHealthcare CEO, many have expressed vitriol towards the insurance industry.

Having worked in non-profit health care all my life, I decided in 2018 to switch to the “dark side,” or the insurance industry, out of curiosity. What is it that they do, and how are they doing it? I thought knowing would make me a better health care worker when I returned.

As a registered nurse case …

The best job boards for finding unconventional medical jobs, side gigs, and moonlighting opportunities

Sylvie Stacy, MD, MPH

Physician

February 6, 2025

Interest in unconventional jobs among physicians and other medical providers is growing. These roles differ from traditional, full-time positions in hospitals or medical practices due to their work settings, schedules, responsibilities, or other factors.

Conventional medical practice often comes with bureaucratic burdens, insurance paperwork, and documentation that lead to frustration and burnout. Many providers seek more autonomy and fulfilling work. They frequently find this via a job change to something unconventional. …

To my beloved sister: Dr. Moumita Debnath

Dr. Damane Zehra

Physician

February 6, 2025

Trigger warning: sexual abuse, violence against women, and rape.

(Dr. Moumita Debnath, a 31-year-old female resident doctor from Kolkata, India, was discovered dead in a seminar hall at R.G. Kar Medical College on August 9, 2024. Her death was verified as the result of a violent sexual assault and murder. All this occurred while she was sleeping alone at night, on call. The autopsy indicated significant damage caused by severe physical …

Breaking free from perfectionism: a healing journey [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

February 5, 2025

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Jillian Rigert, an oral medicine specialist and radiation oncology research fellow, discusses her KevinMD article, “Is perfectionism something to strive for or heal from?” Jillian explores the emotional toll of perfectionism, its …

The weaponization of predictive data analytics, red flags, and the chronic pain gender gap has become a radioactive crisis in U.S. health care

Neil Anand, MD

Tech

February 5, 2025

In recent years, the health care system has increasingly relied on predictive data analytics in the prosecution of physicians, turning what was once a tool for improving care into an instrument of punitive measures by the U.S. government. Thousands of U.S. physicians, particularly those working with vulnerable populations, have been targeted based on flawed or biased data patterns, with many facing prosecution and imprisonment. Predictive data analytics, initially designed to …

Doctors beware: How vague contracts put your job at risk

Dennis Hursh, Esq

Physician

February 5, 2025

“Crappy doc” terminations. First, let me apologize for the use of legalese. Of late, I have been hearing concerning stories about physicians who were terminated from employment on the grounds of supposedly poor-quality care. These are not what you would call slam dunks—I’m not talking about leaving a scalpel in the patient or showing up drunk for rounds.

The stories I hear (admittedly, I’m only hearing the physician’s side) have been …

Finding freedom through gratitude and resilience

Debbie Moore-Black, RN

Conditions

February 5, 2025

The sun was out, casting a warm glow over the world as the snow melted into slush. The air was crisp, invigorating, as I leashed up my pups for their morning half-mile walk. Today, I had an extra companion, another pup I was babysitting, turning my duo into a trio.

As we strolled, I couldn’t help but feel grateful. My health—both physical and …

Discover how B.K.S. Iyengar transformed yoga into a holistic healing practice

Riya Sood

Conditions

February 5, 2025

It is a Tuesday morning in the city of Pune, India. The incessant rain has taken a short break. The first floor of the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute is alive with a group of students. In a quiet corner, B.K.S. Iyengar is practicing yoga. His skin ripples as he settles into postures, pushing his body to unimaginable limits, but with beauty and grace—poetry, almost. Mr. Iyengar slips into his …

How to excel in dermatology residency: a program coordinator’s guide [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

February 4, 2025

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A dermatology program coordinator, Christina Iwanik, discusses the KevinMD article, “Ways that one can succeed in dermatology residency: words of wisdom from a program coordinator.” She explores the importance of efficiently managing …

How AI and quantum computing are revolutionizing the future

Osmund Agbo, MD

Tech

February 4, 2025

In the lead-up to the recently concluded U.S. presidential election, Elon Musk, the celebrity tech billionaire and the world’s’ richest man, officially endorsed Donald Trump. While Musk was full of praise for the former president, Grok, the AI chatbot he owns, had a starkly different perspective. When asked about Trump, it described him as “a convicted felon, conman, rapist, pedophile, fraudster, pathological liar, and wannabe dictator.” Ouch!

While Grok is Mr. …

If I could talk to my younger self before medical school

Tomi Mitchell, MD

Physician

February 4, 2025

I still remember the day I opened my acceptance letter to medical school. It felt surreal—a rush of excitement and pride that had me packing my bags months before classes began. As a kid, I was always a dreamer. My dolls weren’t just toys; they were part of elaborate stories where every character had a purpose and a world of possibilities ahead of them. Medicine represented the ultimate story—a chance …

The power of personal and cultural connections in dietary advice

Kolette Cho

Conditions

February 4, 2025

Sometimes the most honest conversations about health don’t take place in a doctor’s office, but in the waiting room of a Jiffy Lube instead. While trying to pass time as I waited for my oil change, I eavesdropped on a conversation between two strangers. What started as lighthearted banter quickly turned into a candid discussion about their struggles with blood pressure and cholesterol. One man admitted he never takes his …

From childhood to adulthood: the search for meaning

Terrance McGill, MD

Physician

February 4, 2025

I am Thelonius. I am five. I love mommy. I love daddy. I love God. I like Barney. I like Sesame Street. I like my toys. I am happy.

I am twelve years old. I wish I was 13, because I would be a teenager. Teenagers are cool. They are able to do whatever they want and stay up and watch television late. Teenagers have girlfriends, and they are big kids.

I …

Why the U.S. health care system is failing and how to fix it [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

February 3, 2025

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

Featuring cardiologist Mark Goldfarb, who discusses his KevinMD article “Why the U.S. health care system is failing patients—what every American should know.” Mark sheds light on the realities of physician shortages, the …

Missing prescription: long-term parental leave for fathers in medicine

Franklyn Rocha Cabrero, MD

Physician

February 3, 2025

Fatherhood is a life-changing experience filled with immense joy and responsibility. For men with a career in medicine, this milestone presents unique challenges due to the demanding nature of their profession. Parental leave for fathers, especially in medicine, is critical for the well-being of the family nucleus and for fostering an equitable work environment. Unfortunately, societal and systemic barriers often prevent fathers in medicine from fully embracing this opportunity.

Statistics paint …

Why your disability insurance agent might not offer the most optimized policy

Set for Life Insurance

Finance

February 3, 2025

This article is sponsored by Set for Life Insurance, helping over 30,000 physicians with life and disability insurance needs since 1993. Get the best available policies at discounted rates. Request a quote today.

Physicians understand the importance of disability insurance. Your ability to practice medicine and produce an income …