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Pediatrician Gary Kirkilas discusses his article, “Cannabis advertising takes a page from the tobacco playbook.” In this conversation, Gary explains how legal cannabis companies are adopting tactics once used by tobacco companies …
Tobacco tactics in modern cannabis marketing [PODCAST]
“Whatever is measured is managed” is the fundamental principle in management science. Nowhere is this better exemplified than in a small, obscure reciprocal insurance company in Washington, D.C., once the provider of choice for two-thirds of all doctors in Washington, D.C.
For it, the writing is on the wall in 2001. It is rated “AMB3” by AM Best. This corresponds to an “adequate ability to pay short-term financial obligations.” In 2004, …
The cost-driver in every medical malpractice lawsuit
Some physicians have a clear moment when they know they’re done with clinical practice. A good friend of mine left emergency medicine just five years after residency—she simply knew it was time. There was no doubt, no wavering. She saw the road ahead, and it wasn’t one she wanted to keep traveling. When I said my ego loved the job, one of her comments resonated deeply: “But there’s more to …
How do you know when it’s time to leave clinical practice?
In a 2023 study, researchers explored the medical needs of elderly, mentally deficient individuals who lived alone. A common comment by interviewed physicians was that they knew some patients required greater supervision or care, but they acceded to patient choices to return home. Are clinicians placing too great an emphasis on competency and patient rights rather than on patient well-being?
Everyone knows the phrase: “First, do no harm.” Yet today, deciding …
Patient choice vs. patient life: Which is the greater good?
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Physician advocate Kim Downey and family physician Todd Otten discuss their article, “Long-term impacts of physician suicide on patients and doctors.” In this engaging conversation, Kim shares her personal experiences with the …
Exploring the long-term impacts of physician suicide on patients and doctors [PODCAST]
We move into every new year carrying beliefs from previous years. Scientific confusion and unresolved questions can sometimes cause society and families to become intellectually and emotionally divided.
Centuries ago, we thought the Earth was flat and the center of the universe, and we feared that sailing exploration would send us over the edge of a cliff. Sir Isaac Newton tried to explain gravity, but now this discussion extends even further …
How DNA and hormones shape who we are
When I was a brand-new doctor, I was fresh, eager, and determined to succeed. I grew up poor, so I worked and worked—full-time during the week and taking travel assignments on weekends to make ends meet. Many of these travel assignments were in areas with less diverse populations, places where I was often the only Black doctor in the hospital.
One such assignment took me to Hannibal, Missouri, the …
Why diversity in medicine saves lives
I was an aspiring internist, then became an aesthetic physician, and now I am preparing to train abroad. This is the story of how I had to make life-changing decisions as a doctor to survive in this ever-changing world.
In August 2020, as a fifth-year medical student, I experienced my first doctor’s strike. I remember standing under the scorching summer sun, chanting slogans in protest. The conflict? A standoff between medical …
Defining my own future: a doctor’s journey through health care turmoil
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Family physician Laura Suttin discusses her KevinMD article, “An argument against time management.” In this episode, Laura explores the pressures physicians face in trying to adhere to strict time management practices, which …
Rethinking time management: Finding balance in a physician’s life [PODCAST]
We, as physicians, dedicate years to rigorous education and training to excel in our chosen specialties. We endure periods of sleepless nights, poor nutrition, personal sacrifices, time constraints, and modest pay. For many, this journey is further compounded by the significant burden of student loan debt. We do this with the expectation that we will be able to make up for lost time later. Yet, too often, when financial stability …
Moving into the new year, I’m carrying forward the lessons that help me stay aligned with my goals and take meaningful action. But this time, I’m doing it differently. I’m moving with ease and flow. The years of stress and striving? That phase of my life is over, and I am fully embracing a new way of being.
How do I know?
Because stress does not serve me. …
Transform your year: How movement and self-care change everything
In 2023, Peggy, a vibrant 63-year-old woman, entered my life under the most challenging of circumstances. She was diagnosed with inv(3) acute myeloid leukemia (AML), an aggressive and relentless disease, and faced a grim prognosis. From our very first conversation, I knew Peggy was different. She exuded strength, determination, and an unyielding zest for life.
AML with inv(3) is a rare and particularly life-threatening subtype of acute leukemia associated with primary …
Beyond chemotherapy: a story of resilience, faith, and quality of life
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Practicing internist and psychiatrist Muhamad Aly Rifai discusses his KevinMD article, “The criminal enforcement of HIPAA.” In this episode, Muhamad delves into the escalating electronic breaches of protected health information and the lack of accountability for large organizations responsible for these violations. He highlights several high-profile cases where physicians …
Why are only physicians prosecuted under HIPAA? [PODCAST]
No one knows for sure what’s coming in health care in the months ahead, but one thing is clear: The landscape in 2025 will undoubtedly be changing—and challenging. For physicians and others working in such fields, this is not new but an acceleration of recent trends. External factors, like the COVID-19 pandemic, and internal, more systemic ones have increasingly taken power away from doctors—impacting everything from patient care to physician …
Advancing health care through physician leadership: 5 skills for changing health care
As a third-year medical student pursuing both an MD and an MS in public policy, I am often asked, “Why add another graduate degree when medicine is already so demanding?” Wrapping up my first semester of policy graduate school, I’ve been reflecting on that choice. For those considering applying to dual-degree programs, this is a time to ask not only where you want to go but how you can make …
Why pursue a dual degree in medicine and policy?
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Fertility specialist Oluyemisi Famuyiwa discusses her KevinMD article, “The rise of at-home hormone tests: a double-edged sword for patients.” In this episode, Yemi explores the surge in popularity of at-home hormone testing …
Navigating the complexities of at-home hormone tests [PODCAST]
As a pathology resident, much of my time is spent looking down a microscope, searching for clues that will guide a final diagnosis. Some diseases, however, cannot be seen at 100x magnification. Mental illness is one such disease. Its impact is profound, yet it often remains invisible to the naked eye. In fact, the National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates that one in five adults in the U.S. lives with …
First, do no harm: Now is the time to fight mental health stigma and advocate for residency reform
Introduction
Endometriosis is a chronic, estrogen-dependent inflammatory disease affecting approximately 10 percent of reproductive-age women and is a leading cause of infertility. Despite its significant impact, it remains underdiagnosed and inadequately managed. This review examines the pathophysiological mechanisms linking endometriosis and infertility, current treatment strategies, and the role of dietary and lifestyle interventions in optimizing reproductive outcomes.
Endometriosis is characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the …
Endometriosis and fertility: What every woman should know
After the world watched a health care CEO get murdered on the street, the views of the public became intriguing. Although there are more current health care concerns on our minds, the murder of the United Health Care CEO should and will continue to be reviewed and examined. The U.S. health care system is broken, and the right individuals need to learn how to fix it early in their education, …
The missing piece in medical education: Why health systems science matters
Childhood medical challenges can leave lasting imprints, not only on the child but also on those inspired to turn their personal struggles into a path of healing. This narrative explores the transformative journey of a pediatric neurologist whose early encounters with debilitating pain shaped a career rooted in empathy and innovation. Three key themes define this journey: The influence of personal adversity on career choice, the role of resilience in …
How childhood pain shaped a neurologist’s path to healing
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