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A surgeon’s battle with ketamine-induced hallucinations

Conditions

September 21, 2024

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 …

How neurosurgery is evolving with technology: a student’s perspective on the future of the field

Mustafa Farooq

Education

September 21, 2024

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 …

Life lessons from the Paris 2024 Olympics: How sports inspire health care

Juan J. Delgado-Hurtado, MD, MPH

Physician

September 21, 2024

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 …

Anorexia nervosa: Silently suffering and debunking myths

Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD

Conditions

September 21, 2024

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 …

How to preserve your brain health [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 20, 2024

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

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 …

Trust me, I’m an expert: the pandemic parade of pompous professionals

Charles Dinerstein, MD, MBA

Physician

September 20, 2024

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 …

Ways to overcome the grief of disillusionment about medicine

Rebecca Arnold, JD

Conditions

September 20, 2024

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 …

Care teaming: a new paradigm for anesthesia care teams and beyond

Brooke Vining, CRNA & Matthew Sherrer, MD

Physician

September 20, 2024

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 …

The legal trap every doctor needs to know before signing a contract

Dennis Hursh, Esq

Conditions

September 20, 2024

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 …

A patient gave me the best gift of my life

Dr. Damane Zehra

Physician

September 20, 2024

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 …

Doctors, stop chasing wealth: How to find true happiness beyond the paycheck [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 19, 2024

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

We sit down with W. Ben Utley, a certified financial planner specializing in helping physicians navigate the unique financial challenges of their careers. We explore how doctors can break free from the pressure …

Planting the seeds of a work ethic

Anonymous

Physician

September 19, 2024

I was in eighth grade when I boarded a plane alone for a flight from Atlanta to Philadelphia. The airport was a confusing but magical place. This was before the tragedy of 9/11, and by today’s standards, we got out of our cars and almost waltzed to the gate. The only stress I remember feeling was that of flying alone. Luckily, the flight attendants seemed genuinely happy to have me …

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Planting the seeds of a work ethic

The role of epigenetics in fertility: Can lifestyle choices affect future generations?

Oluyemisi Famuyiwa, MD

Conditions

September 19, 2024

Epigenetics has revolutionized our understanding of how lifestyle factors—such as diet, stress, exercise, and environmental exposures—affect fertility. Unlike genetic mutations, which change the DNA sequence, epigenetic changes modify how genes are expressed without altering the DNA itself. These changes occur through mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, and they play a critical role in fertility. Even more intriguing, these epigenetic changes can be passed down to future generations …

The erosion of autonomy in sports and medicine

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

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 …

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The dual demands of a PICU physician