The hidden consequences of fraudulent and poor-quality medical research

Physician
July 8, 2023

Recent years have seen an increasing recognition of fraud, deceit, and other maleficence in scientific research, including medical research. The extent of this is truly frightening and has led to increasing international efforts to detect and address it. As of September 2020, the site Retraction Watch listed over 24,000 papers in its database, many of which were retracted due to deliberate fraud. It is unknown how many individuals, who received …

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Life and death in the ICU: a night of heroism, tragedy, and budgetary battles

Conditions
July 8, 2023

ICU: Our acuities were high, and staffing was low. Our ICU, with 24 beds, was already full. The staffing situation for that night was so poor that instead of our RNs having a 2:1 patient-nurse ratio, we were forced into 3:1 assignments.

Despite the challenging circumstances, we couldn’t have asked for a better team of ICU nurses. They were the best in their field, supported by two dedicated Respiratory Therapists assigned …

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Revealing the hidden impact of skin conditions

Conditions
July 8, 2023

During my internal medicine residency, I rotated through various subspecialties, but the one that always gave me thought-provoking perspectives at the end of the day was dermatology. I was very excited to work in derma and learn how to treat basic clinical conditions like acne, hair fall, dermatitis, etc., at the back of my hand. However, my daily clinics opened my eyes to a new Pandora’s box of issues in …

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Unveiling the rise of deaths of despair [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 7, 2023
YouTube video

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Join us on this episode as we welcome Mohammed Umer Waris, a family medicine resident, to discuss the alarming rise of “deaths of despair” and its impact on life expectancy in the United States. Umer sheds light …

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The truth behind overpriced medical laser devices: What physicians need to know

Physician
July 7, 2023

The medical aesthetic field is experiencing significant growth, with an expected market valuation of billions by 2023. As the demand for non-invasive aesthetic procedures rises, physicians are increasingly enticed by medical laser devices. However, this industry is plagued by underhanded sales tactics and excessively priced equipment, leaving physicians at a loss.

The overpriced landscape of medical laser devices. Medical laser devices, although technologically advanced and effective, are notorious for their exorbitant prices. …

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The epidemic of narcissistic abuse in the medical field

Physician
July 7, 2023

I didn’t go through that to go through this.

“She doesn’t know how to work within a system,” said Snakeskin Shoes.

Narcissists grow and thrive in children’s hospitals. Their strategy is to inflict moral injury upon physicians by gaslighting and silencing those who speak up for patient safety or for themselves, while also controlling a false narrative about them.

Snakeskin Shoes, the former VP of marketing and communications, is a poster boy narcissist. …

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The importance of physician education regarding psilocybin therapy

Meds
July 7, 2023

Psilocybin is a psychedelic compound produced by several species of mushrooms, which has been used for millennia across various cultures. It first gained broader awareness in the Western world during the 1960s and is now the subject of scientific inquiry due to renewed interest in the clinical applications of psychedelic medicines and psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Research into psilocybin and psilocybin-assisted therapy has found it to be effective in addressing a number of …

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Is inflammation too much of a good thing?

Conditions
July 7, 2023

Inflammation is currently a popular topic, and I must admit that I’ve fallen into the trap of vilifying this natural physiological phenomenon. Simply put, inflammation is our body’s response to infection, injury, or insult. Heat, redness, swelling, pain, and pus signal that you are injured or sick and provide the necessary feedback to seek treatment or avoid further injury.

Human nature often leads us to categorize things as either good or …

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Why building your social media following is critical to your practice’s success

Social media
July 7, 2023

Scrolling through social media, you might come to believe that it’s only for models, foodies, and cute dogs. While these types of accounts are certainly popular, the truth of the matter is that social media is a powerful tool you can use to propel your practice forward. With it, you can create meaningful content that changes lives, gain a loyal band of followers, and, ultimately, bring an incredible amount of …

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Unleashing the power of intuition [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 6, 2023
YouTube video

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Join us on this episode as we host Jennifer Shaer, a pediatrician and chief wellness officer at Allied Physicians Group. Jennifer explores the power of intuition in pediatrics and beyond. Discover the hidden neural connections in our …

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Will artificial intelligence replace physicians?

Tech
July 6, 2023

A recent Goldman Sachs report determined that artificial intelligence (AI) may wipe out 300 million jobs. Jobs that require advanced education, like mine, are particularly vulnerable. This isn’t welcome news for those of us who have invested a lifetime mastering our crafts and must work for a living.

Until recently, the primary goal of medical students has been to master the science of medicine. Students spend thousands of …

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Navigating the abortion debate: How physicians foster healing and bridge societal divides

Policy
July 6, 2023

Weighing in on abortion invites scorn and derision from all sides. However, physicians should help frame the medical context with the aim of therapeutically healing the gaping societal wounds that the abortion debate has opened.

Our Declaration of Independence identifies an individual’s unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The question arises: Who defines when a human life begins? At what point does a fetus become an “individual” …

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Stepping into the unknown: reflections of an intern on July 1st

Physician
July 6, 2023

I remember it like it was yesterday. Orientation had concluded, and it was showtime. Officially July 1st. It felt like all the cramming from the last few weeks was sitting astutely in my upper chest. My breathing was fairly shallow, and my brain was in an emotional fog, resembling a salad. Internal neon flash signs were going off every few seconds.

Many of these thoughts went like, “This is where they …

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Unveiling the healing power of compassion [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 5, 2023
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Join us for an insightful podcast episode with guest Kara Wada, a board-certified academic adult and pediatric allergy, immunology, and lifestyle medicine physician. Together, we explore the profound impact of disconnection in our modern existence, particularly within …

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Academic hazing culture killed Dr. Nakita Mortimer

Physician
July 5, 2023

“Say her name,” “She didn’t deserve this,” and “The system failed you” were the sentiments expressed on social media by resident physicians and trainees in medicine on the death of Dr. Nakita Mortimer, an advocate, mentor, physician trainee union organizer, and Black woman resident physician who tragically ended her life on May 26, 2023.

This narrative is all too common within medicine’s ivory tower, as suicide is the Read more…

It’s time for every doctor to start a professional micro-corporation

Finance
July 5, 2023

The broken status quo

The hard, cold truth is that half of you will end up teetering on the same burnout cliff that I found myself looking at a decade ago. It’s a painful abyss, and many of you will experience it.

The status quo of resigning ourselves to accepting that half of the brightest and most altruistic humans on Earth will be injured and harmed by the current health care system …

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Medical reparations are long overdue in medicine

Policy
July 5, 2023

The Philadelphia Inquirer has been covering health inequities and potential remedial solutions for years. One recent story described how a new policy requires that patients’ kidney function be estimated without taking their race into account, highlighting the case of a Black woman whose kidney transplant was delayed five years because the medical center relied on an outdated race-based formula to determine her kidney function, …

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Taking charge of your future by taking charge of medical malpractice suits

Physician
July 5, 2023

Attention all doctors: You can be dismissed from a medical malpractice lawsuit and, at the same time, save 30% on the cost of your medical malpractice premiums per year.

Just as no physician is immune from a complication, none are immune from a resulting malpractice lawsuit. As of now, you stand a 5% chance each year of a medical malpractice lawsuit that has a 70% chance of being frivolous. A 70% …

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Unmasking OCD: Separating fact from fiction [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 4, 2023
YouTube video

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Join us for an episode with guest Brandi Lawless, an associate professor of communications, as we delve into the misconceptions and realities of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Through her personal journey and expertise, Brandi challenges the …

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Philadelphia’s devastating gun violence epidemic: a wake-up call for action

Policy
July 4, 2023

It’s become my morning ritual on the way to the hospital. Cruising down a main Philadelphia stretch, just as the road crests and the hospital becomes visible, I steel myself for the line. Is it going to be long today? In just a few more blocks, my second reflexive check-in: Are there news vans outside of the hospital?

Both glances are woven into the larger story of Philadelphia’s gun violence epidemic …

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