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Perspective-taking in medicine: an important tool for educators to remember

Physician

December 14, 2024

I wrote an opinion piece, as a graduating medical student, in KevinMD a little over six years ago, expressing the importance of supporting medical students through confidence and encouragement. As a pediatric attending now, with my own trainees, I continue to support this “ask,” but I would love to add to it and give it a different perspective.

I recently realized that I have been feeling quite far removed from …

How a no-internet vacation transformed my life and career

Stephanie Wellington, MD

Physician

December 14, 2024

The vacation had been planned for months. With laptop in hand, I headed to my happy place… my favorite place in the sun. I was excited to check some things off my to-do list while enjoying the sun, the beach, and the breeze.

But things didn’t go as planned. For the next ten days, the internet service was out. Despite my daily calls to the service provider, hoping for a fix, …

Why talking to families of autistic individuals about brain donation is a priority

David G. Amaral, PhD

Conditions

December 14, 2024

Efforts to generate a resource of postmortem brain tissue for research are in their infancy. Autism BrainNet, a program of the Simons Foundation, is trying to jump-start those efforts. Currently, there are fewer than 200 postmortem autistic brains in the Autism BrainNet program available to researchers worldwide who are looking into the underlying biological causes of autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders. Postmortem brain tissue accelerates research efforts and advances …

We’re barely using a key resource to help people with addiction

Rebecca Arden Harris, MD, MSc & Tara Calderbank & Yuhua Bao, PhD

Conditions

December 14, 2024

Rachel was making her 25th visit to the emergency department. The wound on her leg from injecting drugs had spread to her entire calf and required a lengthy course of antibiotic treatment in the hospital. The few times she had been admitted to the hospital, she had left without finishing treatment because the pain and withdrawal symptoms were too much to bear. On her most recent visit, she finally stayed to …

Where physicians need to implement AI first

Michael Sherling, MD, MBA

Tech

December 14, 2024

Like most physicians, I’m cautiously optimistic and sometimes skeptical about the AI-powered tools coming to health care.

As a dermatologist, I understand the dire need in our profession to address administrative burdens that can be soul-crushing–the constant barrage of documentation needs, non-clinical paper shuffling, and ever-changing reporting requirements, to name a few. As a software executive, I also understand the deeply complex technical requirements needed to integrate AI into existing systems …

How burnout sneaks up on health care professionals [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 13, 2024

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

Devina Wadhwa, a psychiatrist, shares her personal journey through burnout and the challenges of navigating systemic pressures in health care. From recognizing subtle signs of burnout to setting boundaries and redefining resilience, she …

How fee-for-service shapes your doctor’s decisions

Jonathan Staloff, MD & Joseph H. Joo, MD & Joshua Liao, MD

Policy

December 13, 2024

Clinical case

Jessica is a 67-year-old woman having her very first visit with her new primary care clinician, Dr. Jackson. Jessica is accompanied by her husband, Daniel, and comes in with recent laboratory results from her previous clinician, whom she could no longer see because her clinic stopped accepting Jessica’s …

How being “the problem” can make you a force for change

Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD

Physician

December 13, 2024

The people unwilling to tolerate the BS in the face of dysfunction are often identified as the problem by those who have adapted to and/or benefit from maintaining the status quo. Too often, we believe it—that we are the problem. By challenging this belief and reframing it, we can reclaim our narrative and empower ourselves to stay true to our mission. We …

The testosterone surge: Are men chasing solutions or creating new risks?

Scott Selinger, MD

Meds

December 13, 2024

Among men, even before COVID-19, the popularity of testosterone therapy since 2000 likely outpaced the clinical need. There have been a number of proposed reasons for this, such as increased direct-to-consumer marketing for low testosterone treatments and the rise of clinics based around testosterone prescribing hidden under the guise of “men’s health.” Much of this growth was seen from 2000-2013 in older men before a decline around the time the …

How primary care could transform our health system [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 12, 2024

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

Join us for an insightful conversation with emergency physician Drew Remignanti as we explore the complexities of transitioning to Medicare for all. We’ll discuss the potential benefits, pitfalls, and misconceptions surrounding the concept, …

Navigating Goodhart’s Law dilemma and the future of AI in medicine

Neil Anand, MD

Tech

December 12, 2024

As artificial intelligence (AI) systems increasingly permeate our health care industry, it is imperative that physicians take a proactive role in evaluating these novel technologies. AI-driven tools are reshaping diagnostics, treatment planning, and risk assessment, but with this transformation comes the responsibility to ensure that these systems are valid, reliable, and ethically deployed. A clear understanding of key concepts like validity, reliability, and the limitations of AI performance metrics is …

A wake-up call for dementia detection: the urgent need for precision tools across health care

Adrian Owen, PhD

Conditions

December 12, 2024

Dementia is advancing at an unprecedented rate—every three seconds, another person is diagnosed. Currently, 55 million people worldwide live with dementia, and by 2050, that number could soar to 139 million. These figures aren’t mere statistics; they represent individuals, families, and communities facing complex, life-altering challenges. For primary care providers, who often stand as the first line of defense, this signals a crucial need for precise, sensitive tools to …

SIBO and IBS: the hidden link keeping millions in pain

Mark Pimentel, MD

Conditions

December 12, 2024

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a little known gastrointestinal (GI) disorder with links to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Today, it takes an average of about six years for patients to receive a proper IBS diagnosis and begin a course of treatment, all the while experiencing debilitating symptoms from this disease.

Despite SIBO’s long documented medical history, it is poorly understood in comparison to similar chronic GI conditions. While there have …

How Medicaid expansion could transform health care in Georgia [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 11, 2024

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

Join us for an insightful conversation with Brendan Pulsifer, a medical student, as we explore the realities of practicing medicine in Georgia, recently ranked as one of the worst states for physicians. We’ll …

How physicians can win support for AI—and better patient care

Microsoft

Texas’ Medicaid expansion: a lifesaving solution ignored

David M. Auerbach, MD, MBA, Alex Gajewski, MD, and and Fabrizia Faustinella MD, PhD

Policy

December 11, 2024

Most Texas politicians balk at even discussing Medicaid expansion. They fear the wrath of state leadership and the threat of being primaried by someone further to the right.

The expansion of Medicaid to the full extent permitted by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is both an ethical and financial imperative. From a moral standpoint, expansion would provide health care coverage to a significant number of low-income individuals who are currently unable …

America’s democracy is on the brink: Will leaders act before it’s too late?

Richard A. Lawhern, PhD

Policy

December 11, 2024

At age 80, I’m an “old guy.” I’ve been an avid reader and writer on multiple subjects all of my life. Though I write primarily about U.S. health care, I maintain a lively interest in politics generally. Since election day, I’ve been hearing stories that express a profound sense of trauma in millions of us. Many feel themselves to be in mourning for their beloved country. Others feel vindicated and …

The impact of digital health tools on preventing chronic disease: a public health revolution

Lujain Mattar

Tech

December 11, 2024

Imagine a world where chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension—long-standing giants of global health care burden—are intercepted before they take root. A smartwatch buzzing with a warning of an irregular heartbeat. An app gently nudging someone to take a short walk after hours of inactivity. For millions, these digital whispers are not just reminders but lifelines. In an age where chronic illnesses claim over 41 million lives annually, …

How emotional intelligence turns medical challenges into opportunities [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 10, 2024

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

Join us for an insightful conversation with Ben Reinking, a board-certified pediatric cardiologist, medical educator, and certified physician development coach, as we explore the profound impact of emotional intelligence in health care. Ben …

How physician burnout silently creeps in and takes over

Devina Maya Wadhwa, MD

Conditions

December 10, 2024

I don’t know when the word burnout came into my vocabulary, but I feel that we use it constantly in our health care world today. I always thought I was immune to this concept of burnout. My self-talk was that I was strong and nothing would ever happen to me. As a psychiatrist and a yoga practitioner, I thought I was better equipped to “handle my feelings” and be in …

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