Insights gained by attending vascular surgery conferences as a medical student: tips and lessons learned

Education
October 21, 2024

Attending academic conferences as a medical student offers a wealth of opportunities. Whether it’s networking, finding potential mentors, deepening your knowledge of specialties, or simply exploring new cities, conferences provide unique experiences that can significantly shape your career. As a medical student, I had the chance to attend both regional and national vascular surgery conferences through travel scholarships, and I want to share the lessons I learned in the hope …

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Inside the courtroom: a doctor’s battle against a fraud investigation [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 20, 2024
YouTube video

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We sit down with Muhamad Aly Rifai, a practicing internist and psychiatrist, to explore the complexities of health care fraud investigations and the profound impact these cases have on physicians’ lives and careers. …

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Medical crisis or government overreach: How misguided policies are destroying lives

Physician
October 20, 2024

A million vulnerable patients have died in the last decade, and while I have no doubt the rate of overdose and poisoning will drop nationwide—killing a million vulnerable patients has that effect eventually—I choose not to contribute to that death rate. This decision is in accordance with my deeply held beliefs. In 2014, Governor Asa Hutchinson signed the Arkansas Conscience Protection Act into law, supposedly protecting health care professionals who …

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How AI is transforming breast cancer detection: a game-changing tool for early diagnosis and personalized care

Conditions
October 20, 2024

If you had an assistant who helped you do your work faster, more efficiently, and more precisely, would you fear it?

With artificial intelligence (AI) at the forefront of virtually everything today, two of the most common questions I hear in my daily practice are, “Do you use AI?” and “What does AI do for you?” For some, these questions stem from a desire to access cutting-edge tools, while others express …

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The duty of health system boards to prioritize organizational culture, workforce development, and career pathways

Policy
October 20, 2024

Recently, I interviewed Dr. David Morris, a physician in Ireland and CEO of Verity Barrington, along with Geoffrey Roche, director of workforce development for Siemens Healthineers. Our conversation focused on successes in health care in both Ireland and America, and the lessons we can share to improve the system. A critical part of our discussion revolved around the role of health care boards. Geoffrey posed a pivotal question: “Where are …

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Near-death experiences: What doctors need to know but aren’t taught [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 19, 2024
YouTube video

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In this episode, we delve into a fascinating yet often overlooked medical phenomenon—near-death experiences (NDEs)—with  John C. Hagan III, an ophthalmologist and expert on the subject. Despite being reported by as many as …

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Hiding in plain sight: the psychosocial burden of vitiligo and importance of clinical research

Conditions
October 19, 2024

Imagine waking up one day with a white patch somewhere on your body. It’s not painful or itchy, but over time it grows and changes, with more patches appearing almost daily. In a short space of time, these patches have fundamentally altered the appearance of your skin and your interface with the world. This is the reality for over 1.5 million Americans living with vitiligo.

Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition that …

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The role of social credit scores in the enforcement of health care regulations

Physician
October 19, 2024

As health care predictive algorithms, including the Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMP), expand their reach beyond traditional enforcement of health care regulations, the concept of a social credit score has emerged as a powerful but controversial tool. Like predictive policing, social credit scores use an individual’s behaviors, online activity, and social interactions to assess their perceived trustworthiness and risk to society and are used as fodder for the prosecution of …

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Transform your health care team with these 5-minute communication exercises

Conditions
October 19, 2024

An excerpt from The Medical Improv Toolkit: 10 Simple Activities to Promote Safe Care, Healthy Workplaces, & Rewarding Careers!

“Were there none who were discontented with what they have,
the world would never reach anything better.”
~Florence Nightingale

The expectation for dedicating time to playful activities can seem like a waste of time, especially with relentless clinical priorities and limited resources. In order to justify the time needed to proceed with this work, …

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Why in-person care still matters in the age of telemedicine

Physician
October 19, 2024

There’s a patient who comes to see me every week. Every time we part ways, I say, “OK, Susan (name changed)! See you in a month!” But inevitably, she’ll call on a morning when she knows I’m in the office, and my staff will fit her in. She likes to tell me about what she did with her granddaughter that week. She doesn’t have anything terribly wrong with her; she …

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Why rural America’s health care crisis is getting worse—and what it means for retirees [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 18, 2024
YouTube video

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We sit down with Banu Symington, a hematology-oncology physician, to explore a looming health care crisis affecting rural America. As more retirees move to rural communities, the number of health care providers is …

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How to build a healthier diet without overthinking

Conditions
October 18, 2024

An excerpt from Adultish: The Body Image Book for Life.

The way that different foods (for example, fats), are talked about in the public and online isn’t always scientifically correct. People can have very strong opinions about food, but this doesn’t mean that these opinions are accurate. It is important to eat foods you enjoy, but some foods are more nutrient dense than others. Eating a variety of foods is …

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Why the future of depression treatment may be magnetic [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 17, 2024
YouTube video

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We speak with Heather Luing, a psychiatrist specializing in treatment-resistant depression. As depression rates in the U.S. have tripled over the last year, we explore why traditional treatments may not work for everyone …

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Medicare for all could work if doctors lead the way

Policy
October 17, 2024

Although Medicare for all seems to have gotten buried by politicians who label it as “socialistic,” it’s still an important idea that could be feasible if we approached it from a fresh perspective.

As patients, we may reflexively see Medicare for all as a panacea that would effectively remove most of our concerns about how to pay for our health care. But on the other hand, we may not realize the …

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Live longer, die shorter: the surprising health secrets to a vital old age

Conditions
October 17, 2024

An excerpt from 21st Century Schizoid Health Care: Essays and Reflections to Keep You Sane on Your Medical Travels.

Over a decade ago, a landmark ten-year study by the MacArthur Foundation shattered the stereotypes of aging as a process of slow, genetically determined decline. Researchers found that 70 percent of physical aging and about 50 percent of mental aging are determined by lifestyle and the choices we make every day. …

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To care or not to care: reflections on treating incarcerated patients

Education
October 17, 2024

In medical school, we are taught that the well-being of the patient is our highest priority. This principle is central to our training, constantly reinforced through lectures, simulations, and clinical experiences. However, this notion was challenged in an unexpected way when I found myself caring for an incarcerated patient.

The start of the interaction was unsettling. As I approached the patient’s room, I hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. Should I …

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Why collaboration is the key to solving health care burnout [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 16, 2024
YouTube video

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We’re joined by Wael Saasouh, an anesthesiologist; Lisa Scardina, a health care executive; and Kim Downey, a physician advocate and physical therapist, to discuss the urgent need to restore human connections in health …

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Hospitals should recognize and address administrative harm

Policy
October 16, 2024

“Administrative harm is destroying American medicine” is the title of a provocative article published in the July 13, 2024, issue of KevinMD by Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA. He references business entrepreneur and billionaire Michael B. Kim, who said: “Leadership without ethics is a body without a soul.” As examples of administrative harms, Dr. Lazarus cites “unrealistic staffing models, burdensome regulations, out-of-touch administrators, lack of frank feedback to leaders, and …

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Understanding and supporting loved ones with celiac disease: a guide from 2 gastroenterologists

Conditions
October 16, 2024

Living with celiac disease can be a profound challenge, not just for those diagnosed but also for their friends and family. A strict gluten-free lifestyle is essential, and providing thoughtful, informed support can significantly improve the quality of life for someone with celiac disease. September 13 is National Celiac Disease Awareness Day, and as gastroenterologists, we want to share how you can be a source of strength and comfort in …

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