An excerpt from Push, Then Breathe: Trauma, Triumph, and the Making of an American Doctor.
Suzette purred and slid her soft body across my shins as I sat in the shade of the oak tree, a book splayed open on my belly and my eyes closed. I breathed deeply. In, out. In, out.
The late-afternoon air was beginning to cool. I sat …
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We sit down with clinical psychologist Faust Ruggiero to delve into the transformative insights from his book, The Fix Your Depression Handbook. Faust offers practical guidance on achieving internal balance and breaking free …
An excerpt from Releasing the Butterfly: A Love Affair in Four Acts.
Imagine there must be thousands, if not millions, of family members and caregivers who wonder what it must be like to be the one who has Alzheimer’s. Genie and I have always shared our thoughts and experiences with each other. Often, I would imagine telling her about something that had happened to me and could hear her voice …
A recent study published in PhysicsWorld documented a possible new treatment for pain. Something most physicians would be surprised to hear. Ultrasound. That’s right, low-frequency ultrasound waves, when directed to a specific area of the brain called the insula, have been shown to give some pain relief to persons who were being subjected to a standard contact heat evoked potential (CHEP). In this test, brief pulses of heat are …
Over the years, I’ve fervently professed my love to my wife of 18 years, believing her to be the most beautiful soul in my life and our bond unbreakable. While this holds true, recent experiences have prompted me to reconsider the notion that love alone sustains a marriage.
This reflection stemmed from a couple we encountered in Upstate New York years ago. Obi (not his real name) and his wife seemed …
“Airports have seen more sincere kisses than wedding halls and the walls of hospitals have heard more prayers than the walls of churches.” – Anonymous
It’s 1 a.m. in the night. I am on call duty, which starts at 8:30 a.m. in the morning and ends at 10 a.m. the next day. I finished entering the labs and doing my final tasks at approximately 12:30 a.m. Then I ordered some food …
Nobody can question the fact that the world has a mental health problem. Nowhere is this more pronounced than in the medical health profession. American Medical Association statistics show that in 2021, physician burnout rates were 63 percent, which was almost double the rates in 2020. The CDC reports that 1 out of every five adults suffer from a mental health disease. If medications and psychotherapy are standard treatments, we …
Residency program directors and preceptors are responsible for shaping the next wave of medical professionals. Beyond ensuring adequate clinical training, they must equip future doctors with the skills to navigate the complexities of modern medicine. Coaching has recently emerged as a prominent method of supporting trainees. As a physician interested in evidence-based leadership practices, my search brought me to integrated coaching as a noteworthy approach.
Integrated coaching is a comprehensive toolkit …
Between interest rates reaching their highest levels in 15 years and the explosion of artificial intelligence (AI), 2023 was a year filled with both challenges and opportunities for those of us in the health care technology industry. For better or worse, many of those same trends are following us into 2024. Obstacles such as the worsening clinician shortage and innovations such as the adoption of AI will remain top-of-mind for …
The parable of the Chinese farmer is a story with many versions. In shorthand, it goes something like this: a farmer’s horse escapes – the neighbors say, “How terrible!” The farmer says, “Maybe.” The horse returns, bringing some wild horses with it. The neighbors say, “How wonderful!” The farmer says, “Maybe.” The farmer’s son falls off one of the wild horses while trying to tame it and breaks his leg. …
As a family doctor, I want to extend my gratitude to my colleague and friend who has transitioned from primary care to weight management as of January 1, 2024. This serves as a reminder that primary care thrives on heartfelt connections, which remain fundamental to our approach to health care.
Your consistent care is already missed in these first few months of 2024. I am so grateful for your years of …
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Next time you hear “cuffing season,” think of blood pressure cuffs. As winter has properly set in with shorter, darker, colder days, you might see the impact on blood pressure control rates.
A new study examined the health records of more than 68,000 adults being treated for hypertension and found that on a population level, BP control rates decreased by up to 5 percent during the winter months …
Some years ago, I came across a very useful little device – a thumb (flash) drive that also had the ability to record sound. It powered up simply by being slotted into a USB port. Inserting the drive did not raise any suspicion that I was recording.
Sometimes I used this overtly, such as when obtaining informed consent or giving instructions that were vital to be followed.
Rarely I would use it …
Although I have a deep respect for everyone who contributes to the education of our next generation of physicians, I also feel that the current hierarchy in graduate medical education is damaging U.S. health care. That is, the best students go to the best residency programs and get the best jobs and subsequently teach the best students, and so on, creating highly respected centers of excellence. That’s wonderful, but how …
The fictional 2007 television story depicting the plight of a widow with two daughters who, as a family, became homeless due to medical debt incurred during her since-deceased husband’s health care, is an eye-opener and heartbreaking. However, nowadays, the fact is emulating that fiction when statistics of homelessness risk due to medical debt are bewildering and shocking.
As compared to credit card debt, where buyers can at least gauge the maximum …
In the ever-evolving landscape of modern health care, physicians often grapple with myths and misconceptions that can hinder our ability to provide the best possible care to our patients. As we stand at the precipice of change in 2023, it’s vital to confront these fallacies with courage, humility, and self-awareness. The path to a better health care system is paved with the stones of truth found in the counterpoints to …
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Join Tod Stillson, a family physician and entrepreneur, as he navigates the intricacies of tax planning and financial well-being for employed doctors. Tod provides valuable insights on transitioning from a traditional W-2 employee …
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