The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and why medical professionals should care

Policy
October 18, 2023

On October 7, Hamas, a terrorist group, launched an unprecedented assault against Israeli civilians. Thousands have been confirmed killed, while hundreds have been taken hostage. Israel has retaliated by pounding Gaza with rockets, killing thousands more Palestinian civilians. This is the most severe escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in decades. The death toll continues to rise, with civilians dying every day and Gaza under siege.

In 2023, multiple crises have already …

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The clinical AI revolution: 3 things to know

Tech
October 18, 2023

The use of natural language processing (NLP) in the clinical domain dates as far back as the 1960s, with important early work performed in the 1970s and 1980s. While great technical advances were made during this period, clinical NLP failed to live up to initial expectations as accuracy rates were too low to use for much other than research or bulk analytics.

An AHIMA article explained why clinical text …

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Bringing words to a knife fight: Why we’re losing the health care war

Physician
October 18, 2023

Every week, I explore with great interest the commentaries, viewpoints, perspectives, podcasts, social media posts, and other dispatches from my peers and colleagues who are seeking to explain and influence the state of both the health care professions and our systems of care.

With each reading, I find modern parallels to the published words of my late mentor, Dr. Carleton Chapman, a former dean of Dartmouth Medical School and one-time president …

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Alcohol’s impact: hangovers and health risks

Conditions
October 18, 2023

In July, we all got at least one day off to celebrate a very American holiday, Independence Day. If I were a betting man, I would say that many, if not most of you, participated in at least one of those grand old American pastimes: eating hotdogs or apple pie, barbecuing, going to a baseball game, floating in the pool, watching a movie, or … drinking alcohol. After your celebration …

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Inner practices for navigating health care burnout [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 17, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Wendy Lau, an emergency medicine physician, as we delve into the world of health care burnout and the moral challenges faced by medical professionals. Discover valuable insights, practical strategies, and the importance of inner practices to …

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How busy clinicians can advocate for fossil fuel divestment

Policy
October 17, 2023

As general pediatricians whose intention is to promote health and wellness in children and youth, we witness the direct and indirect health effects of increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The climate crisis looms as an existential threat to humans and many other species. Due to their size, metabolism, developmental stages, and behaviors, children, particularly those living in poverty and in racial/ethnic minority communities, disproportionately suffer from climate change-related health problems …

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Why health care professionals must back full care continuum for autism and intellectual disabilities

Conditions
October 17, 2023

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that health care entities provide full and equal access for people with disabilities. Physicians must diagnose and treat such individuals, even though they receive little or no training in medical school. It’s tricky when the patient cannot convey where it hurts or describe their pain and may refuse to cooperate with medical procedures.

Many physicians have refused to take on my 35-year-old son, who …

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Understanding childhood mental health [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 16, 2023
YouTube video

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Join child psychiatrist Shivana Naidoo as she explores the delicate world of mental health in children and young adults. Delve into her unique perspective on how mental illness can be part of normal growth, the evolving role …

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How to stay safe as a traveling physician

Physician
October 16, 2023

There was nothing unusual about my hotel in Anchorage, Alaska, when I checked in, but when I headed down to check out the laundry facilities and saw police swarming the lobby and parking lot, I knew it was time to move.

Thankfully, experiences like that have not been common during my time working as a locum tenens (physicians who work in temporary assignments to fill critical gaps in care) for over …

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A breakthrough in chronic pain detection?

Conditions
October 16, 2023

Recently, a group of researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, reported that they may have found the holy grail of pain management. They accomplished this by performing “the first-in-human, long-term direct brain measurement of chronic pain-related neural activity.”

Physicians have long sought a reliable way to detect and track the presence of chronic pain and its response to treatment but have failed completely so far. Old tropes like …

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Halloween is almost here. Why aren’t you writing?

Physician
October 16, 2023

Sir Isaac Newton dedicated as much, if not more, of his time to the study of alchemy than he did to the natural order of the universe, but most of his work as an alchemist remained unpublished until long after his death when a metal chest full of his belongings was auctioned in 1936. The great man of science, the first of the Age of Reason, was simultaneously the last …

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Too big to fail: health care’s moral quandary

Physician
October 16, 2023

This could be the mythical and mystical tale of organized health care. Humans and their systems may become organized to evolve as large and stable entities, as disorganized ones may never grow large and may remain perpetually unstable, risking disintegration. However, once they reach the status of being “too big to fail” and become self-aware of this situation, the lines between ethics, morality, and legality may begin to blur. This …

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Exploring medical students’ vital role in patient care [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 15, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Nicole Cifra, an adolescent medicine physician, as we delve into the often-underestimated but invaluable role of medical students in patient care. Nicole shares her personal journey, experiences, and insights, shedding light on how medical students play …

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Pivot from clinical work? Sometimes the answer is yes, and that’s OK.

Physician
October 15, 2023

“All I know is how to be a doctor.” That’s the story many physicians tell themselves when they feel pulled to pivot from direct patient care. Through working with a coach, therapist, or mentor, doctors see there are always other possible paths forward. Sometimes, it’s what you need to do to take care of yourself, short or long term, and there is nothing more important than that…

Charity Hix, MD

I knew …

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Financial challenges for early career physicians

Finance
October 15, 2023

Early in your career as a physician, with a good income, but often significant debt, physicians can make critical financial planning mistakes that follow them their whole career.

Avoid them!

Early career physicians face unique financial challenges, from student loan debt to the need for investment and insurance planning. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide to financial strategies tailored for physicians in the early stages of their careers, with …

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Challenges faced by patients with mast cell disorders

Conditions
October 15, 2023

As an allergist/immunologist, the spectrum of mast cell disorders, including mastocytosis, idiopathic anaphylaxis, chronic hives, and angioedema, is not a new concept. That said, in recent years, we have seen an uptick in patients presenting with a spectrum of symptoms attributed to misbehaving mast cells. Although the medical community has acquired extensive knowledge of these more established diagnoses over time, the newer entity mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is not …

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Dealing with medical abandonment, neglect, and errors

Conditions
October 15, 2023

How should a patient deal with medical patient abandonment? A Japanese saying is, “It is better to fix the problem than to blame.” This invites a learning and growth opportunity for those with less knowledge and experience. Based on this, let us look at problem-solving for medical abandonment, neglect, and errors. The principle behind this philosophy follows the desire to allow an adversary to maintain face. If they take the …

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Secrets to reviving physician autonomy [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 14, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Diane Shannon, an internal medicine physician and physician coach. Explore the evolving landscape of physician autonomy and discover actionable insights on how health care professionals can regain agency and empower themselves for a more fulfilling career …

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Why I left medicine – and why AI might convince me to return

Tech
October 14, 2023

My first job as a physician assistant was in a neuro-oncology department. I was young, newly certified, and eager to interact with patients. The physician who mentored me there made sure I had the opportunity to counsel patients, and provide guidance and comfort after a new diagnosis. These are situations where a clinician needs time and space to be empathetic.

On one occasion, I spent nearly 45 minutes in the exam …

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Achieving happiness: practical strategies for physicians

Physician
October 14, 2023

Happiness is a widely discussed and sought-after topic. This dream, or the ideal world of happiness, is something many people claim they want but struggle to find. So, what exactly is happiness? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, happiness is a state of well-being and contentment.

Do you remember your happiest moments? As I write this, I reflect on my happiest moments—such as the birth of my first child. Then, as I …

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