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A silent killer in our midst: Tackling hypertension in Ghana

Conditions

February 14, 2025

On a seemingly ordinary Sunday evening, a casual conversation with my mother took a terrifying turn. She mentioned a sudden, excruciating headache that had woken her from a nap. My medical training immediately raised red flags. Despite no prior history of such severe headaches, I recalled an isolated incident of elevated blood pressure. Instinctively, I insisted on checking her blood pressure again. Within 15 minutes, the readings soared from 182/120 …

Supporting family caregivers: insights from a rare medical crisis [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

February 13, 2025

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Scott Bane, senior program officer, discusses his KevinMD article, “How a family caregiver saved my life during a rare medical crisis.” He explores the challenges and triumphs of family caregiving, and the …

Why AI scribes are changing medicine and the hidden risks you must know

David Canes, MD

Tech

February 13, 2025

Introduction: the AI scribe revolution

Let’s be real: AI scribes are incredible. I’ve personally used one for well over 3,000 clinical encounters. If you’ve been using one, you already know. If you haven’t, you’re probably considering it or you’ve heard the buzz and are cautiously curious.

Notes that used to take forever are now magically generated with near-perfect grammar, complete sentences, and even structured formatting. It’s borderline addictive. I’ve been using an …

Navigating the uncertainty of food allergies in air travel: a call for compassion and change

Lianne Mandelbaum, PT

Conditions

February 13, 2025

Food allergies are a serious, life-threatening medical condition that remains widely misunderstood. For millions of travelers with food allergies, navigating airline policies is an unpredictable challenge, where inconsistent accommodations and societal skepticism create unnecessary risks.

Those living with food allergies must often navigate a world that does not always recognize the severity of their condition. Although we teach those with food allergies how to live in a world with …

The role generative AI can play in cardiovascular education for patients

Anand Shah, MD, MBA

Conditions

February 13, 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a hot topic in health care, capturing headlines for its ability to solve diagnostic mysteries and even outperform trained physicians in specific tasks. While we are still far from going to your local AI “doctor” for diagnosis and treatment, generative AI is already capable of intervening in meaningful ways—particularly in cardiovascular education for patients. This potential remains underutilized despite the significant public health need for …

Auto-brewery syndrome: Navigating diagnosis and advocacy [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

February 12, 2025

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Nurse researcher Barbara Cordell discusses her KevinMD article, “My husband’s rare drunken disease made me an international advocate.” She explores the complexities of auto-brewery syndrome, including diagnosis challenges, treatment options, and the …

How operational inefficiencies are undermining patient trust and care

Dr. Bhavin P. Vadodariya

Physician

February 12, 2025

As I step into my fifth year of superspecialty surgical practice in corporate hospitals, I find myself reflecting on a recurring challenge that has profound implications for both patient care and professional satisfaction. Despite clinical expertise and the goodwill we work tirelessly to build, patient experiences in hospitals are often marred by factors beyond our control.

In my experience, negative feedback about hospital services is overwhelmingly linked to operational inefficiencies rather …

Why patients choose the surgeon, not the hospital

Dr. Bhavin P. Vadodariya

Physician

February 12, 2025

It was a Sunday morning, a rare moment of leisure for a young surgeon stepping into the fifth year of his superspecialty practice. Sitting with his family, savoring the tranquility of a slow day, he felt grateful for the pause. But as the evening crept in, so did the familiar storm: Calls started pouring in—an OT staff member asking about requirements for the next day’s surgeries, a medical officer updating …

Understanding the testosterone surge: risks, trends, and solutions in men’s health [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

February 11, 2025

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Internal medicine physician Scott Selinger discusses his KevinMD article, “The testosterone surge: Are men chasing solutions or creating new risks?“, delving into the rise of testosterone therapy, its trends, and associated risks. …

Innovation or exploitation: the ethical challenges of AI in speech therapy

Jaclyn Caserta-Wells

Tech

February 11, 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere. It’s in our phones, our search engines, and increasingly, in our health care systems. For speech-language pathologists (SLPs), AI holds the potential to be a powerful ally—offering tools to enhance patient care, track progress, and even expand access to therapy for underserved populations. But with every innovation comes responsibility. The ethical concerns surrounding AI are not hypothetical—they are real, pressing, and demand our attention. This …

Doctors, grounded in our oath, must act now more than ever

American College of Physicians

Physician

February 11, 2025

In this time of change, it seems appropriate to take a step back and reflect upon the oath we took when we graduated from medical school. Here’s the version we use at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine from the …

How I rediscovered love and forgiveness for my parents

Dr. Damane Zehra

Physician

February 11, 2025

My mother has always been very close to me. I was her eldest daughter, born in an unfamiliar city where she had relocated as a newlywed bride. She didn’t have any family or friends in this unfamiliar city. I was practically her only friend.

My mother began sharing her problems with me when I was very young. Sometimes I think she shared too much. She also told me intimate details about …

How the ARISE model transforms feedback into professional growth [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

February 10, 2025

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Alicia DiGiammarino, an expert in health professions education innovation and research, discusses her KevinMD article, “Transform feedback into growth with the ARISE model.” Alicia explores how the ARISE model—Ask, Receive, Interpret, Set …

How legal exploitation shaped the U.S. medical malpractice system

Howard Smith, MD

Physician

February 10, 2025

Random mal-occurrences have always accompanied medical interventions, even under the best of circumstances. These are errors of nature. In the 1960s, some attorneys in California were the first to exploit these unfortunate random outcomes to their advantage. Lawyers made money from lawsuits.

There is a huge return on investment when an error of nature can be portrayed as a medical error. There is always a settlement value.

Creating a demand is easy: …

The healing power of travel: How adventure transforms mind, body, and spirit

Stacey Funt, MD

Physician

February 10, 2025

As a practicing physician and a wellness travel tour operator, I have the privilege of witnessing firsthand the profound impact that travel can have on health and well-being. Beyond being fun, exciting, and educational, travel has the power to heal—physically, emotionally, and even spiritually.

Wellness adventure travel can embody many of the fundamental elements of lifestyle medicine in real time. Movement, whole foods, relaxation, and community—four of the six pillars—can be …

How physicians can reignite their spark this year

Shanice Spence-Miller, MD

Physician

February 10, 2025

The start of a new year is a time for reflection, renewal, and resolve. For physicians, it often comes with an unspoken question: Do you still remember the spark that first lit your path into medicine? In the endless churn of shifts, charting, and late-night calls, that spark can dim. The burnout we push to the margins of our consciousness slowly edges its way into the center of our being. …

How physicians can address pain and recovery with empathy and resilience [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

February 9, 2025

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Amelia Bueche, an osteopathic physician, discusses her KevinMD article, “This perspective will change how physicians address pain and recovery.” Amelia explores the interconnectedness of trauma, pain, and recovery, emphasizing the importance of …

From skin to soul: What pain reveals about our health

Amelia L. Bueche, DO

Physician

February 9, 2025

Skin is the largest organ of the body.

It also contains the highest concentration of nociceptors, alerting us to pain at the surface level with the intent to mitigate harm from noxious stimuli.

A veritable trip wire for threats from the external environment, it offers palpable and visible responses in the dermatological layer, providing opportunities for intervention to avoid, eliminate, or resolve problematic exposures.

The skin is also a message delivery system from …

Super Bowl betting: How America’s favorite game fuels gambling addiction

Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD

Conditions

February 9, 2025

Gambling as a recreational activity is on the rise. This is Super Bowl weekend, and it is expected to be one of the largest sports betting events in U.S. history, with tens of millions of Americans predicted to wager billions of dollars on this event. Gambling disorder is also now a recognized part of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Gambling as a medical condition …

The burden of shadowing and volunteering in medical school admissions: a hurdle, not a measure of commitment

Myles Gart, MD

Education

February 9, 2025

In recent years, the requirements for medical school admission have expanded far beyond academic excellence and personal statements. Shadowing physicians and accumulating volunteer hours are now seen as prerequisites for demonstrating commitment to the profession. However, these requirements, while well-intentioned, have become unnecessary hurdles rather than meaningful indicators of dedication or future success as a physician.

Unnecessary compared to other professions

Medical school applicants are asked to prove their commitment in ways …