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We dive into the transformative power of internal language with clinical psychologist Faust Ruggiero. Discover how the words we use to communicate with ourselves shape our emotions, behaviors, and relationships. Faust shares practical …
How positive self-talk rewires your brain for success [PODCAST]
Since its inception in the 1960s, traditional CPR has been heralded as a revolutionary life-saving technique. However, the limitations of CPR are becoming increasingly apparent, particularly in cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Currently, the survival rate for OHCA patients with good neurological function at discharge stands at a mere 7.5 percent. This raises important questions about the efficacy …
The hidden flaws of traditional CPR: Why we need a new approach to save lives
Let’s play a little game of “What if?” Tune into your creative side for a few minutes—imagine, just for a second, if we billed like lawyers. I know, I know… I’m not saying we should, but imagine. Please let that sink in for a moment.
How often have we been casually approached at a party, a family gathering, or even in line at the grocery store with, “Hey, Doc, I have …
Imagine if doctors billed like lawyers
An excerpt from Medical Presentations.
In our workshops, one of the most common issues that participants raise relates to using videos in PowerPoint. They are unsure how to source videos and are afraid to use them based on past experiences. The risks associated with using video in PowerPoint have diminished significantly with recent versions. Previously, videos were linked to your presentation, so you had to save the video in the …
Improve your medical presentations: How to embed videos in PowerPoint like a pro
An excerpt from Facing Suicide: Understanding Why People Kill Themselves and How We Can Stop Them.
Between 2000 and 2007, suicide rates were almost stagnant for young people between the ages of ten and twenty-four. Then they began moving steadily upward. By 2018, suicides in this age group had increased 57.4 percent from 2007 levels. An economic crisis darkened that period, and according to online posts, some seventeen- and eighteen-year-olds …
Is social media fueling the teen suicide crisis?
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We explore the rising prevalence of allergies in the U.S., with nearly 1 in 3 adults and over 1 in 4 children affected. Gary Falcetano, a health care executive, explores how primary care …
How PCPs can improve allergy diagnoses with component testing [PODCAST]
James Haliczer, an erstwhile defense attorney turned plaintiff attorney, audaciously claims in a YouTube video that “there is no such thing as a frivolous lawsuit.”
There are ten species of stakeholders in medical malpractice litigation: claimants, plaintiff attorneys, defendants, defense attorneys, medical experts, medical expert directories, mentors, malpractice insurance carriers, and jurors. They are part of the medical liability litigation industry.
With the exception of defendants and jurors, each prospers from $55.6 …
Refuting the notion by a plaintiff attorney that there are no frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits
Working as a pediatrician offers a unique and unparalleled joy—a privilege shared among those who dedicate their lives to caring for children and supporting families. This summer, while working on a U.S. military base in Germany, I experienced this joy in its fullest form. Rather than my usual role of just seeing sick kids in an ER, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to serve as a primary care pediatrician. Whether …
How can you not love being a pediatrician?
February 2017: Second day on service in months, and already I feel wiped. It’s exhausting. I feel that it is meaningful but so draining. And still, I’m not sure that I am even doing a good job.
A month later, I came home from a multi-level marketing (MLM) party at a colleague’s house, announcing my excited plans to embark on a new venture. I was going to start selling MLM skin …
Why it’s so hard to admit when we don’t like our jobs
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We sit down with Justin Houman, a urologist specializing in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, to explore the latest advancements in inflatable penile implants. Justin discusses how these innovative devices have evolved to …
Advancements in penile implants [PODCAST]
An excerpt from Krooked Ketamine.
OK, here’s the thing: I had a little problem that needed correcting if I wanted to continue to work as a government surgeon. I had a janky heart, and it had a tendency to fire off at the absolute worst possible moments. I needed a pacemaker to help with the recalcitrant muscular metronome, but I absolutely hated the thought of lying down and feeling, at …
A surgeon’s battle with ketamine-induced hallucinations
Neurosurgery has always been at the forefront of medical innovation, but recent technological advancements are poised to transform the field even further. As a fourth-year medical student applying to neurosurgery residency, I’ve been fascinated by how emerging technologies are reshaping the landscape of neurosurgery. From artificial intelligence and robotics to augmented reality and minimally invasive techniques, these innovations promise to enhance surgical precision, improve patient outcomes, and expand the possibilities …
How neurosurgery is evolving with technology: a student’s perspective on the future of the field
I was fortunate enough to attend the Paris 2024 Olympics with my family. There were several reasons why I wanted to attend this sporting event. Growing up, I sailed and participated in other sports, which taught me many lessons that continue to benefit me today. I wanted to remind myself of these lessons and experience the athletes’ excitement at a sporting event, this time as a spectator. I wanted to …
Life lessons from the Paris 2024 Olympics: How sports inspire health care
You can’t tell how much someone is suffering by looking at them—one reason I don’t share my journey with anorexia using photos to signify my mental health status. I’ve suffered more when appearing well, and “before and after photos” would spread misconceptions about eating disorders. They don’t magically go away with weight restoration and nourishment.
People assume I no longer live with anorexia. I perceive this is partially due to the …
Anorexia nervosa: Silently suffering and debunking myths
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We sit down with Roy Hamilton, a professor of neurology, psychiatry, and physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Pennsylvania. Roy shares insights from his research on using non-invasive brain stimulation to …
How to preserve your brain health [PODCAST]
In a world where experts are our go-to for solving everything, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed just how fallible these specialists can be. Despite impressive titles and years of experience, many experts were just as clueless as the rest of us, often with unwarranted confidence. A recent study delves into the uncomfortable truth: the more knowledge you think you have, the less aware you might be of your actual ignorance.
We rely …
Trust me, I’m an expert: the pandemic parade of pompous professionals
As a physician who cares about patients’ health and well-being, you have likely experienced the grief of disillusionment. You spent years in college, medical school, and residency, imagining the kind of health care you’d provide. It would be high-quality, patient-first, equity-oriented, and heart-centered. That vision got you through tough moments along the path.
Now, you find yourself pressured to spend as little time with patients as possible. You’re giving precious hours …
Ways to overcome the grief of disillusionment about medicine
When one envisions a team, sports teams likely come to mind. Musical groups represent another common example, as both musical groups and sports teams consist of bounded and static collections of individuals working toward a common goal. These individuals are physically located in the same place when they practice and perform together. As such, members of teams, in this sense, learn how to interact with one another, generally understanding each …
Care teaming: a new paradigm for anesthesia care teams and beyond
Are hospitals crazy?
I suspect many physicians would answer “yes” to that question without much contemplation. I have always assumed that, although hospitals are profit-driven and therefore likely to have very different priorities than physicians who care about patients, the institutions can be relied upon to have some semblance of reasonableness.
Lately, however, I have been forced to reconsider my position. For decades, I have represented physicians in their various interactions with …
The legal trap every doctor needs to know before signing a contract
I’m at a loss for words—how can someone give something so beautiful to a complete stranger who is nothing more than a doctor?
I first met him a year ago when he was referred to us by the neurosurgery department following his brain tumor surgery.
I was the first doctor to meet him in the radiation oncology clinic. He was 40 years old, a laborer from the lower middle class, and accompanied …
A patient gave me the best gift of my life
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