Not all healers wear scrubs or lab coats: Paying homage to our modern-day Santa Claus

Physician
July 24, 2024

Terminology has changed over the years.

When I was in training (1996-2000), we were called physicians. Nurses were called nurses. Nurse practitioners (NPs) were called nurse practitioners. Physician assistants (PAs) were called physician assistants. Patient care assistants (PCAs) were called patient care assistants. And the suits were just that … the suits. They kept the lights on and the doors open. They didn’t provide any direct …

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Healing in a new land: the power of community and kindness

Physician
July 24, 2024

Howera is a twenty-nine-year-old Ethiopian woman. She saw me in the neurology clinic for headaches. Two years previously, she had come to America to join her husband. Since her arrival, he beat her physically and abused her sexually. Being a stranger in a strange land and not speaking English, she suffered in silence. Finally, she could take it no longer. She ran away. For the past six months, she had …

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10 essential tips for doctors: Mastering contract negotiations

Physician
July 24, 2024

Negotiating a contract can be daunting, but it’s a critical skill every physician must master. When I received my first contract, I was overwhelmed by the legal jargon and the sheer number of clauses. It wasn’t just about the salary; it was about securing a fair and comprehensive agreement that would set the stage for my entire career. Through trial and error and a lot of research, I’ve gathered these …

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Ignored and misdiagnosed: the truth about hernias in women

Conditions
July 23, 2024

When actress, model, and reality star Denise Richards came into my office, she had been suffering from chronic pelvic pain for years. Doctor after doctor had given her the same advice: ignore it.

It’s just a hernia.

By the time Richards consulted me, she was experiencing more than just a hernia. It was four: two inguinal hernias and two femoral hernias, all needing immediate repair.

Richards’ situation is far from unique.

In case after …

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Essential safety strategies in anesthesia: anticipation and prevention of complication

Conditions
July 23, 2024

One of the best safety strategies in anesthesia is the anticipation and prevention of complications and errors at every step of preparation. An intact intravenous drug delivery system is essential for almost every anesthetic plan. In this article, we will specifically discuss the intravenous drug delivery system, focusing on its vulnerabilities, strategies for preparation against potential complications, and error prevention. We visualize this concept as an educational endeavor and as …

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Inside the heart of an internal medicine doctor [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 22, 2024
YouTube video

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In this episode, we delve into the profound emotional experiences of Ryan McCarthy, an internal medicine physician. Ryan shares heart-wrenching moments from his practice, including the day his heart metaphorically rolled off his …

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How weight loss drugs are creating a medical dilemma

Meds
July 22, 2024

On my outpatient clinical rotations last year, I saw ample management of heart disease and smoking cessation counseling. I also saw the annual physicals and checkups. But what surprised me was how many patients were on medications that were just now becoming more mainstream. I’m sure you’ve heard of one in particular—Ozempic. But it wasn’t just Ozempic. There was also Wegovy and Mounjaro. These medications, in the family of semaglutides, …

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2024 MGMA DataDive: Unveiling key trends in physician compensation

Finance
July 22, 2024

The wait is over! The highly anticipated 2024 MGMA DataDive, a federally recognized gold standard for physician compensation data, has finally arrived. This comprehensive analysis offers unparalleled insights into physician and advanced practice provider (APP) compensation, making it a crucial resource for staying informed in today’s health care landscape. While some may consider it the current “gold standard,” it is essential to remember that even the best data sets can …

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The truth about medical lawsuits: What the numbers reveal

Physician
July 22, 2024

For two years, I have used this venue to expose medical malpractice litigation as a serious threat to society and the medical profession. From your responses, I conclude that patients and doctors are ready for a paradigm shift. Two elements are essential: rational decision-making and stakeholders like yourselves who care. I have the decision-making model, and you have the desire. However, you are paralyzed by hopelessness.

Meanwhile, 85,000 medical malpractice lawsuits …

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Revolutionizing migraine treatment: the untold story of beta-blocker nasal sprays [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 21, 2024
YouTube video

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Join us for a conversation with John C. Hagan III, an ophthalmologist, as we delve into the innovative use of beta-blockers for treating acute migraines. Discover the journey behind the discovery of Timolol’s …

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Big business and surgery: Who belongs in your operating room

Physician
July 21, 2024

My deep dive into this topic started after examining a New York Times article regarding the abuse of medical technology within my specialty of vascular surgery. The knowledge this article presented, along with my love of innovation and acquisition of an MBA focusing on entrepreneurship, prompted further probing into the field. Ultimately, my work led to an editorial in the periodical The Vascular Specialist and, subsequently, a TEDx …

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How to support physician wellness during the toughest times

Physician
July 21, 2024

Michael Foti, MD, and Tushar Bhagat, PhD, recently reached out to me, each expressing that we are committed to the same goal: well-being for others, especially physicians. I paired them up for an episode of my YouTube channel, where they poignantly shared their journeys to becoming advocates for physician wellness. Through their work, they are creating synergistic loops of feeling better! Here are their stories:

Michael Foti, MD: 

At a time when …

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Breaking the stigma: obesity and perimenopause [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 20, 2024
YouTube video

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In this episode, we sit down with Caissa Troutman, an obesity medicine and family physician, to delve into the pervasive stigma and shame associated with obesity and perimenopause. Caissa shares her personal experiences …

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The truth behind the U.S. doctor shortage: Is it intentional or not?

Policy
July 20, 2024

My friend and colleague, Alex Berezow, wrote a piece titled “Is the U.S. doctor shortage intentional?” The writers at ACSH share their work before publication to get feedback, and in the case of Alex’s latest, we disagreed. While much of what he wrote is factual, without the nuance of the setting, it fails to tell the entire story. So here is not so much my rebuttal but the rest of …

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New standards for anesthesia in out-of-hospital Cesarean sections

Conditions
July 20, 2024

Unless planning to issue an update on practice guidelines for obstetric anesthesia, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), along with its subspecialty organization, the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP), should formulate a consensus statement for peri-anesthesia management during out-of-hospital cesarean sections (OHCS). Florida has become the first state to allow OHCS, an infrastructural relaxation for obstetric care that other states may follow. Whether the ensuing outcomes among pregnant …

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How physician-led innovation drives change [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 19, 2024
YouTube video

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We sit down with Carrie Atcheson, a board-certified anesthesiologist and co-founder of Business Mindset MD, to explore the transformative potential of physician-led innovation in health care. We delve into how the acquisition of …

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My health ended my career. Joe Biden’s health should prompt the same action. [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 19, 2024
YouTube video

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We welcome Jennifer Obel, an oncology physician, who shares her personal journey of retiring from a fulfilling medical career due to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Reflecting on the recent presidential debate and the health concerns …

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How a love for writing led to medical breakthroughs

Physician
July 19, 2024

Writing is something I really enjoy. I take pleasure in writing, especially because of my beautiful handwriting. When I started school, we had to write with a lead pencil until fifth grade. I was so excited to write with a pen when I started sixth grade. After I learned how to write with a pen, I have been writing nonstop since that day. I found my writing mesmerizing. While my …

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Why are transitions so difficult for women physicians?

Physician
July 19, 2024

In medicine, we were taught to anticipate, diagnose, and predict conditions. Examining our patients allows us to assess the problem and make a plan. We generally know what is coming next unless some action or treatment is taken.

Personal and professional transitions are unlike medical conditions because we can rarely predict what will occur. Our life transitions can seem demanding, often onerous, because we female humans do not like change. In …

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Donald Trump’s near-death experience: A journey of potential transformation?

Physician
July 19, 2024

Near-death experiences (NDEs) have fascinated both the medical community and the general public due to their profound and often transformative effects on individuals. These experiences typically occur in situations where a person is close to death or facing a life-threatening condition. Common elements reported during NDEs include feelings of peace, out-of-body experiences, traveling through a tunnel, encountering a bright light, and meeting deceased loved ones or spiritual beings. The aftermath …

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