The Kumbh Mela festival in India and the social psychological implications of crowds
An excerpt from The Bonds We Share: Images of Humanity, 40 Years Around the Globe.
Once every 12 years, …
A doctor’s genuine approach to medication-assisted therapy patients
This past week, I was speaking with a patient; let’s call her Marcy, during her regular appointment. “You’re just not like other doctors,” she said. “How is that?” I asked.
This seems like a good place to discuss the reason Marcy comes to see me. Marcy has a history of opioid use disorder. She has been on medication-assisted therapy (MAT) for many years. For those unaware, opioid use can alter people’s …
Balancing medical guidelines and personalized care [PODCAST]
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Join Alan Lindemann, an obstetrics-gynecology physician, as we explore the fascinating interplay between evidence-based medicine and the invaluable insights gained from individual patient stories. Alan shares his insights on navigating rigid medical guidelines, the art of personalized …
Diabetes and liver disease: urgent screening needs highlighted by personal tragedy
The American Diabetes Association recently released screening guidelines for liver disease in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Notably, 70 percent of people with type 2 diabetes have liver disease, and the most common form is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Ultimately, this can lead to cirrhosis and cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, the rates of liver cancer have tripled since 1980. Currently, one in 10 Americans has diabetes, …
Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape
Chances are, you or someone you know has fallen victim to medical gaslighting at some point, especially as we see an increase in this unfortunate practice in today’s modern health care system. Maybe you have experienced medical gaslighting without even realizing it. What exactly is medical gaslighting? It’s a term given to a practice stemming from our medical community where doctors and specialists alike make patients feel a multitude of …
Zurzuvae: a beacon of hope for postpartum depression or a superficial solution?
The FDA approval of Zurzuvae (zuranolone), the first oral medication, has offered new hope to mothers who have exhausted all other treatment options to cope with their postpartum depression. This is a milestone in recognizing the maternal mental health crisis that plagues our country. The benefit of this drug is that it offers a new approach to treating postpartum depression and brings postpartum health into the spotlight. With Zurzuvae …
How micro-corporations transform medical careers [PODCAST]
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Join Tod Stillson, a family physician, as he uncovers the transformative concept of professional micro-corporations and how they’re reshaping the way doctors navigate their careers. Stay tuned as we discuss the keys to reclaiming professional autonomy, combating …
Regulating social media’s effects on mental health
There can be no denying that, since its mass-scale introduction, social media has encompassed more and more of our lives, particularly in the lives of young people. As of 2022, among teens ages 13 to 17 years old, 95 percent report using social media, with more than half reporting that it would be hard to give it up.
As this technology has grown, so has its grasp over …
“System-ness”: the key to successful health care transformation
Value-based health care, the holy grail of American medicine, has three parts: excellent clinical quality, convenient access, and affordability for all.
And as with the holy grail of medieval legend, the quest for value-based care has been filled with failure.
In the 20th century, U.S. medical groups and hospital systems could — at best — achieve two elements of value-based care, but always at the sacrifice of the third. …
Surgical decision-making: Navigating catastrophic scenarios
Let me describe what it’s like to operate in a potentially disastrous situation. Notwithstanding having one’s faculties and wits gathered and finely honed, being as in command of yourself as you can possibly be, it may test and demand everything you can bring to bear. I’ve been in war, where I feared daily for my life. It’s not pleasant, but in some way you can get used to it. In …
Medical traumatic stress in caregivers [PODCAST]
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Join Kody Sexton, a graduate student, as he sheds light on the often overlooked challenges these caregivers face. Discover how trauma-informed care, systemic changes, and social justice initiatives can better support these unsung heroes. Tune in to …
Business education’s role in preventing physician practice decline
Physicians, particularly those who haven’t received business education, must address the frequently circulated question among their ranks: “Can you practice medicine without money?” Medical history unveils an era when most physicians were compensated through non-monetary means for their medical services and often went unpaid.
During that time, the choice to pursue a medical career was grounded in the personal belief that treating patients was the foremost aspiration for most physicians. Few …
Discovering self through creative writing and medicine
“The balance to fact and analysis is feeling,” our narrative medicine writing instructor informs us. “You’ll find that each poem and essay and story that you write reflects a new aspect of yourself. Be curious about what’s going on. Allow new poems onto the page. Allow free writing in prose and poetry. You have worlds inside you.”
And then, predictably, the homework assignment for next week: “Create and post your ‘800 …
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Navigating recession with cash flow: a vital lesson for savvy investors
In times of economic uncertainty and recessionary storms, the significance of cash flow becomes an indispensable lesson for experienced investors. While market turbulence may seem daunting, focusing on cash flow can act as a robust financial lifeline, providing stability, resilience, and unparalleled opportunities to weather the storm and emerge stronger on the other side.
Cash flow, simply put, is the lifeblood of any investment. It represents the net income generated from …
Misunderstandings about opioid use disorder
At a recent scientific conference on narcotics, a researcher mused, “Honestly, opioids make me feel gross. I don’t see how anyone could get addicted.” This is a little like a doctor in the delivery end of a needle saying, “Honestly, you’re a wimp. This doesn’t hurt.” Both examples reveal a lack of empathy and a fundamental misunderstanding of current neuroscience.
The contributions or fear, reward, fight, and flight are a complicated …
Continuous work coverage in health care: challenges and solutions
Two scourges of 24 x 7 x 365 coverage may be lost on-the-job sleep and soured on-the-job peace for workers, especially for health care workers.
Traditionally, attending physicians have had the privilege of call rooms while providing coverage for overnight health care services. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education expanded that privilege to resident physicians and fellow physicians. Now, it may be time to extend that privilege to advanced practitioners …
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Navigating post-COVID IT challenges [PODCAST]
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Join Mike Hines, an evangelist at Resolute Software, to explore the transformative impact of COVID-19 on the IT landscape. We discuss the rapid shifts in remote interactions, the emergence of technical debt, and the challenges faced by …
Harnessing the power of gamification in mental health apps
From stomping on koopas and collecting coins as Mario to “catching ’em all” in Pokemon, video games have enthralled both our childhood, and countless other childhoods. It was our guilty pleasure, much to the chagrin of our parents. Media portrayed video games as bad for your mental health, with the message that video games rot your brain. While the effects of videos on mental …
Physicians divided: SCOTUS affirmative action ban sparks debate
The fallout from the recent decision of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to ban racially conscious admissions at Harvard and The University of North Carolina has had major repercussions throughout the medical profession. I would say that physicians are highly divided on the issue of affirmative action, with many believing that meritorious performance should determine admission to medical school rather than race and ethnicity. In fact, a Read more…
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The impact of assumptions on patient communication in medical training
At one of the medical schools where I am a standardized patient (SP), a student recently failed a portion of the exam because he did not ask his SP questions that were integral to her medical care. When asked by his faculty preceptors why he didn’t ask the SP key questions about her background (she was a Hasidic Jew who couldn’t take her medication on the Sabbath), the student, who …
Past Week
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What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
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A faster path to becoming a doctor is possible—here’s how
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Why no medical malpractice firm responded to my scientific protocol
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Make cognitive testing as routine as a blood pressure check
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A world without antidepressants: What could possibly go wrong?
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The dreaded question: Do you have boys or girls?
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Past 6 Months
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What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
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Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting
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The silent crisis hurting pain patients and their doctors
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What happened to real care in health care?
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Are quotas a solution to physician shortages?
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How to build a culture where physicians feel valued [PODCAST]
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Recent Posts
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The dreaded question: Do you have boys or girls?
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Make cognitive testing as routine as a blood pressure check
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Reimagining diabetes care with nutrition, not prescriptions
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Why funding cuts to academic medical centers impact all of us [PODCAST]
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What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
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When rock bottom is a turning point: Why the turmoil at HHS may be a blessing in disguise
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Past Week
-
What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
-
A faster path to becoming a doctor is possible—here’s how
-
Why no medical malpractice firm responded to my scientific protocol
-
Make cognitive testing as routine as a blood pressure check
-
A world without antidepressants: What could possibly go wrong?
-
The dreaded question: Do you have boys or girls?
-
Past 6 Months
-
What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
-
Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting
-
The silent crisis hurting pain patients and their doctors
-
What happened to real care in health care?
-
Are quotas a solution to physician shortages?
-
How to build a culture where physicians feel valued [PODCAST]
-
Recent Posts
-
The dreaded question: Do you have boys or girls?
-
Make cognitive testing as routine as a blood pressure check
-
Reimagining diabetes care with nutrition, not prescriptions
-
Why funding cuts to academic medical centers impact all of us [PODCAST]
-
What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
-
When rock bottom is a turning point: Why the turmoil at HHS may be a blessing in disguise
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