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The erosion of autonomy in sports and medicine

Conditions

September 19, 2024

The fourth major concussion recently suffered by Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa – his third in 24 months – brings into sharp focus the balance between patient/player autonomy and treatment decisions. The right to self-determination, even in sports, has become as much a moral as a medical issue. If Tagovailoa is not able to pass concussion protocols for a third time in his NFL career, he could be forced to …

7 proven strategies to conquer board exam anxiety for physicians

Amna Shabbir, MD

Physician

September 19, 2024

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.”
– Winston Churchill

This quote comes to mind when I look back at board prep and all the times I sat for those inhumanely long exams. You might be an early-career physician in the midst of prepping for boards following residency or fellowship at this very moment.

You might have just started a new job, in a new city, and have not yet established your favorite …

How I overcame the challenges of ADHD parenting: a physician’s story [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Conditions

September 18, 2024

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

We sit down with family physician Emma Hostetter, who shares her deeply personal journey navigating the challenges of parenting a neurodivergent child with ADHD. Emma opens up about the emotional toll, the gaps …

The secrets of physician signing bonuses

Paul Morton, CFP

Finance

September 18, 2024

When a physician signs on at a new hospital, a signing bonus is often included in the compensation package. This bonus can range from a small perk to a significant percentage of income, and its structure can be either straightforward or confusing. The signing bonus is one of the items in a physician’s compensation contract that can be negotiated, although some give-and-take is often involved. For example, in some situations, …

The continued unjust prosecution of physicians

Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD

Physician

September 18, 2024

As the crescendo of a seven-year alleged health care fraud investigation, the trial in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania opened in late April 2024. The trial is one of less than two percent of the federal criminal cases filed that ultimately end up in a jury trial. This flawed prosecution targeted an exemplary physician who, like the majority of physicians in the United States, has spent most of their lives …

Make “someday” happen: the years of living dangerously

John C. Hagan III, MD

Physician

September 18, 2024

Bring adventure, mental and physical challenge, change, and calculated risk-taking into your life. I made “someday” happen. You can too. “Someday” it may be too late.

Somewhere, sometime, “someday” slips into our lives. Sometimes “someday” is restless, as in, “Someday I would like to travel to all seven continents.” Sometimes “someday” is bold and fearless—”Someday I want to climb mountains.” Sometimes “someday” is intellectual (learning a second language), athletic (windsurfing), or …

The dual demands of a PICU physician

Sonam Sidhu, MD

Physician

September 18, 2024

A physician in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) requires vast medical knowledge along with emotional resilience. I always thought I had a strong sense of compassion for my patients and their families until I had my own baby 1.5 years ago. It completely shifted my perspective. I started to understand parental grief and fear on a personal level, which reshaped my approach to work.

Before having a baby, I was …

Read more…

The dual demands of a PICU physician

People-pleasing is exhausting: my journey to self-care and boundaries [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 17, 2024

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We sit down with Laura Suttin, a family physician, to explore the emotional complexities of setting boundaries, especially in times of personal and professional pressure. Laura shares her deeply personal experience of caring …

Climate change is exacerbating diseases in vulnerable populations in America and abroad

Andrew Williams and Jennifer Romanello, MD

Policy

September 17, 2024

As climate change advances, it has amplified a variety of diseases globally, especially in under-resourced countries and communities. This article summarizes three of these consequential trends. The first is that wildfires and industrial pollution are worsening respiratory diseases. Second, hotter climates are increasing the incidence of infectious diseases such as malaria, and lastly, heat waves are increasing the risk of various diseases, disrupting public services, and causing unprecedented amounts of …

If these words can save a life, they must be spoken

Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD

Physician

September 17, 2024

When people don’t understand the depths of hell the brain can take someone to, I am relieved for them. And I am also grateful for the journey I’ve been on—I would never have understood how someone who appeared “successful” on paper could consider taking their own life and think they didn’t matter unless I had lived it.

When I developed intense and pervasive suicidal ideation, I was on top of the …

How a friend’s kindness saved me from my darkest hour

Ronald F. Levant, EdD

Conditions

September 17, 2024

An excerpt from The Problem with Men.

Gary could tell something was wrong the moment he saw me. “Come in, friend,” he said, his voice gentle. He guided me into the kitchen, a cozy, older space similar to the one in my apartment across the street, but his was painted a cheerful light yellow. After rummaging through a cabinet, he returned with a joint and lit it without hesitation.

“Here,” he …

Physician Suicide Awareness Day: a call to action against the silent epidemic

Brian Sayers, MD

Physician

September 17, 2024

Physician Suicide Awareness Day comes and goes each September, bringing with it the sad and perplexing realization that physicians usually top the lists of professionals most likely to take their own lives—something often described as the “silent epidemic.” I sample recent literature on the topic each year, each time noting how varied and complex the statistics and issues surrounding it are. Over the years, there have been physician suicides in …

The clean slate approach: Transform your day with this simple mindset shift

Stephanie Wellington, MD

Physician

September 17, 2024

Do you begin each day with a clean slate? What if you could?

How different would the new day be if you weren’t picking up where you left off—with the stuck energy, the stale energy, the energy of being drained at the end of the shift, at the end of the day?

What if, as we walked out of the hospital, office, or clinic, that energy was left behind, and instead, we …

What Blue Zones can teach us about health [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 16, 2024

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

Join us for a conversation with Michelle Tollefson, a physician specializing in lifestyle medicine, obstetrics, and gynecology. Michelle shares her transformative experiences visiting Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, one of the world’s Blue Zones …

The truth about entrepreneurship: What no one tells you about business success

Shakeel Ahmed, MD

Physician

September 16, 2024

“Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice; take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment.”
— William Shakespeare.

In the dynamic world of business, the landscape is littered with tales of success and failure. However, a recurring narrative that I see repeated over and over and that ensnares many novice entrepreneurs is the misleading promise that “you can strike it rich or be successful with all ventures.” This piece of …

How medical students can contribute to neurosurgery research: tips for getting started

Mustafa Farooq

Education

September 16, 2024

Neurosurgery is a rapidly evolving field, with continuous advancements in technologies and techniques. For aspiring neurosurgeons, involvement in research is key to enhancing residency applications and contributing to the field’s progress. Here are some practical tips for students aiming to contribute to neurosurgery research:

1. Find a mentor who matches your research interests. Identifying the right mentor is key to starting your research journey. Look for faculty members who are active …

A future male OB/GYN’s commitment to patient comfort

Daniel Chen

Conditions

September 16, 2024

The modern IUD has been an option for women for 60 years now.

CDC just updated its 2016 guideline that advises physicians to discuss pain management options. This comes after continued viral TikTok patient stories about IUD insertion pain have garnered increasing attention from the medical community.

For perspective: According to OB/GYN’s Kristyn Brandi and Aliye Runyan, MD, their patients describe the insertion procedure as sometimes feeling like …

How a pediatrician fights vaccine misinformation in a small town

Dr. Ahmet Alptuğ Güngör

Physician

September 16, 2024

When I took the final exam after years of pediatric training, hearing my professors say, “You are now qualified and equipped to manage a pediatric clinic; congratulations” was a deeply touching moment for me. I felt fortunate to experience the profound satisfaction of seeing my efforts to help children recognized and appreciated. With eager anticipation, I awaited the assignment to the place where I would begin my journey as a …

How women in medicine are shaping the future of medicine [PODCAST]

American College of Physicians & The Podcast by KevinMD

Policy

September 15, 2024

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

In this episode, we celebrate Women in Medicine Month with guest Janet A. Jokela, an internal medicine and infectious disease physician. We dive into the experiences and challenges women have faced across generations …

America’s “sick” secret and the need for a primary care czar

Kyna Fong, PhD

Policy

September 15, 2024

America has a systemic and pernicious problem: health care without primary care. Just a century ago, primary care physicians were the trusted cornerstone of the U.S. health care system, providing the first point of entry into health care, addressing most ailments, and managing patients across a lifespan. This primary care “first” system has gradually eroded over the ensuing decades, and unfortunately, many citizens have fallen victim to a modern culture …

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