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Failure is not the end: Creating space for grace in the medical field

Ashley McCray

Education

September 29, 2024

A medical school classmate recently said to me, “You won’t be remembered for your failures.” Her words were exactly what I needed to hear after failing my medical school licensing exam. She was right—I am more than my failures. I have failed, but I am not a failure. There is a difference. Failing is something that happens to you. Failure is what can define you, but only if you allow …

Celebrating silver: 3 best practices for meeting people where they are with diabetes adherence

Gary Marc Rothenberg, DPM

Policy

September 29, 2024

During the Olympics and Paralympics, all eyes turn to the best of the best: incredible athletes who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of greatness in hopes of earning one of the most sought-after titles in the world.

“Gold medalist” has a glorious ring to it, and the athletes who earn this honor have every right to be proud. But the mantra of the Olympic movement isn’t “get gold or …

How one food truck saved a chaotic hospital shift

Amol Shrikhande, MD

Physician

September 29, 2024

“Thank God for the food truck,” said the charge nurse to no one in particular.

It hadn’t been a great morning at the no-name hospital in Upstate New York. They were short-staffed to begin with, and a nurse had called in sick. Her staff was used to working with bad ratios, but today was worse than usual. Everyone and their mother had decided to come to the ER. She knew not …

Postpartum crisis: a physician’s call for comprehensive maternal support

Phindile Chowa, MD

Conditions

September 29, 2024

The moment my daughter was placed on my chest, I knew something was wrong. Her skin had a blue-purple tinge, and she barely cried. I instinctively began rubbing her tiny body, trying to stimulate her, but she remained quiet and minimally responsive. When I tried to put her on my chest to nurse, she did nothing. My doctor quietly left the room, and soon after, a team of medical professionals …

Teaming in health care: Why the future of patient care depends on collaboration [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 28, 2024

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

We explore the evolving dynamics of health care teams with guests Matthew Sherrer, an anesthesiologist, and Brooke Vining, a nurse anesthetist. We discuss the shift from traditional team structures to a “teaming” mindset, …

How drivers of health screenings led to immediate patient impact and practice sustainability

Ripley Hollister, MD

Policy

September 28, 2024

Recently, an elderly patient at my practice unexpectedly began to miss her monthly appointments.

I was alarmed. The patient has atrial fibrillation—a condition characterized by irregular heart rhythms and an increased risk of stroke. The condition demands consistent and timely medical care. For elderly patients like the one in our care, these appointments are not just check-ups. They are vital for adjusting medications, monitoring heart health, and preventing serious complications like …

The role of AI in improving health care: artificial intelligence and appreciative inquiry

Kim Downey, PT & Lisa Scardina & Wael Saasouh, MD

Tech

September 28, 2024

Kim Downey:

Part of my work supporting physicians involves facilitating connections, both among physicians and with others who assist them. In this vein, I introduced Dr. Wael Saasouh to Lisa Scardina. Our discussion touched on AI, with Dr. Saasouh sharing positive ways we can use technology and Lisa offering her perspective on AI, which also stands for Appreciative Inquiry. How we connect and have conversations matters! We talked about hope and …

Solving the health care dilemma: Why older adults are skipping vital care

Michael Pessman

Conditions

September 28, 2024

As a gerontologist, it is disheartening to engage with older adults who express disinterest in routine medical check-ups. Many of these individuals outright refuse to follow doctors’ orders or take prescribed medications. This troubling trend is not only a growing problem in America but also a critical issue that warrants our collective attention and action.

The advancements in modern medicine have significantly prolonged life spans and improved the quality of life …

Money dysmorphia: Why you feel like you’ll never have enough [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 27, 2024

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

In this episode, we dive into the emerging trend of money dysmorphia—a distorted perception of one’s financial situation that’s affecting people across all income levels, especially younger generations. Our guest, Shane Tenny, a …

The choice between integrity and power in a world of chaos

L. Joseph Parker, MD

Physician

September 27, 2024

The world is benefited by a variety of human beings. Almost everyone can contribute greatly to our societies, no matter what their personal drives. Even the selfish and hate-filled can give us people like Henry Ford, the antisemitic supporter of Hitler who had union organizers beaten, but also doubled the standard wage for his workers and gave us the assembly line, standardized production, and vertical integration. His closest parallel today …

Internal medicine physicians: leaders and the foundation of comprehensive health care

American College of Physicians

Physician

September 27, 2024

The nickname bestowed on us residents by our internal medicine residency program director was “city savages.” There was a tremendous amount of pride amongst the residency programs in Boston back in the late 1980s, and it was no different in my program.

I recall exploring residencies in Boston. While interviewing at another highly regarded Boston Hospital, I asked the …

7 principles for happiness as a surgical resident

Audra King, MD

Physician

September 27, 2024

1. Accept that your life is never going to be “normal.” What type of people decide to be surgeons? The type who have something a bit “wrong” with them, that’s who. The type who are OK with having their career occupy most of their identity. If you’re considering surgical residency, this is probably you. Accept it. Each person’s path is different, and there is no absolute correct one. A work-life …

How pre-procedure optimization could save your life—and the economy

Deepak Gupta, MD

Physician

September 27, 2024

The term “organ harvesting,” once a misnomer for organ procurement after organ donation, echoes in the phrase “procedure harvesting,” which could be an inadvertent misnomer for procedure procurement following procedure donation. Who knows if some may even suggest preemptive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation when cardiac arrest seems imminent during an elective non-cardiac procedure? Regardless, while pre-procedure optimization is always a goal for elective procedure procurement—and may even be achievable in emergent …

AI-driven anesthesia: a threat to jobs or a new era of care? [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 26, 2024

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

In this episode, anesthesiologist Matthew Sherrer and health care consultant Martin Nowak join us to explore the evolving landscape of anesthesia care in the era of AI and automation. We’ll discuss the rise …

A new approach to antidepressants and anxiolytics: the microbiota-gut-brain axis

Sumeet Dhillon and Jennifer Cesolini

Conditions

September 26, 2024

Our understanding of anxiety and depression has evolved over the years, leading to advancements in diagnosis, treatment, and clinical management. However, their prevalence has not lessened; in fact, it has heightened in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its effects will last for years to come, so all mechanisms that can influence its incidence should be thoroughly considered, and the gut microbiota is the newest emerging target for antidepressant …

The power of emotional intelligence: a personal story and lessons for physicians

Ben Reinking, MD

Physician

September 26, 2024

The student I worked with quietly said, “Dr. Reinking, I think you multiplied wrong.” My shoulders tensed slightly, and my stomach dropped. We had just spent the better part of an hour working through a feeding and fluid plan with a patient’s family. The child had recently undergone open heart surgery. Feeding intolerance is relatively common after surgery and in children with congenital heart disease. Fluid management is also important …

Full Medicaid expansion needed to retain Georgia’s physicians

Brendan Pulsifer, Surabhi Beriwal, MD, Tracey L. Henry, MD, MPH, Toby Terwilliger, MD and Jack Bernard

Policy

September 26, 2024

Georgia was ranked 5th worst place to practice in a recent Medscape article (“Best and Worst Places to Practice 2024”), using five criteria: physician compensation, cost of living, malpractice premiums, the health of the state’s residents, and physician burnout levels. As current and future physicians and health advocates, this column will add context by detailing our experiences practicing in Georgia.

The article identified challenges that Georgia physicians encounter. Particularly concerning is …

Why this doctor says medicine is broken and what can be done about it

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Physician

September 26, 2024

This is a highly encapsulated but accurate portrayal of the emotional weight of the conversation and the tension between a physician’s personal challenges and the desire to heal, both for themselves and their patients.

Patient/Physician (P): I’m an old blues man, and I think you understand I’ve been singing the blues ever since the world began.

Psychiatrist (Me): I hear you. That timeless blues spirit runs deep, carrying the weight of lived …

How biomarkers are advancing dementia detection and care

Amy E. Sanders, MD

Conditions

September 26, 2024

For decades, physicians have relied on diverse biological indicators to diagnose and monitor normal development, health, and diseases. Such indicators are important from the time we are born, when APGAR scores are recorded in the labor and delivery room, throughout our childhoods, when pediatricians monitor growth curves closely, and into adulthood, when our height, weight, and vital signs initiate virtually every medical appointment. For adults, these indicators, collectively known as …

E-cigarettes aren’t as safe as you think: the fertility risk you must know [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 25, 2024

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

We sit down with Yemi Famuyiwa, a renowned fertility specialist, to discuss the hidden dangers of e-cigarettes and their impact on reproductive health. As e-cigarettes continue to gain popularity, evidence reveals alarming risks, …

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