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We sit down with Scott Abramson, a retired neurologist with over 40 years of experience, to discuss the pervasive issue of physician burnout and moral injury. Scott shares his insights on the external …
A doctor’s guide to healing from within [PODCAST]
As a practicing gastroenterologist, I never want to say to a patient: “You have advanced colon cancer.” Just last week, I discovered an early colon cancer in an asymptomatic patient who was referred to me after a positive result on a non-invasive multi-target stool DNA test. The patient was grateful we caught it and recognized that if it was not for that positive test, she was hesitant to have a …
While driving to work one morning, I heard a radio commercial for a men’s fragrance product. In that commercial, the male actor boldly stated that “the skin is the largest organ.” Additionally, I had heard or read this same statement several times earlier that same week.
Dictionaries define dictum (synonyms: saying, proverb, maxim, aphorism) as a formal pronouncement from an authoritative source or a short, pithy expression identified with a particular …
Is skin really the largest organ? The truth might surprise you.
As a man, the idea of worsening erectile function as we age is quite daunting. Although Viagra and Cialis provide relief for many, there are many more who do not respond well to these medications. In these situations, the inflatable penile implant is a valuable option for addressing erectile dysfunction.
As a urologist dedicated to improving the quality of life for men dealing with erectile dysfunction (ED), I have witnessed remarkable …
Latest advancements in inflatable penile implants: a men’s health urologist’s perspective
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We sit down with Ellie Qian, a medical student, to discuss the profound experiences that shape the journey of becoming a compassionate health care professional. Ellie shares a transformative encounter from her first …
A medical student’s transformative encounter with end-of-life care [PODCAST]
Since the massacre on October 7, 2023, there have been misconceptions of Israel as a country and of the medical consequences of the terrorist attack. There have been charges against Israel of “colonization” and “genocide.” These accusations are accompanied by a rise in antisemitism in our communities, universities, and medicineRead more…
Changing the narrative: medicine and resilience in Israel
When it comes to science and medicine, knowing where you are and where you want to go is only part of the problem. That’s because no matter how strictly you try to control your system, chaos theory dictates that there will be perturbations which, if not corrected for, will lead you far astray. Trying to stay on course in a dynamic environment has been a problem since humanity began traveling …
A strategic approach for leveraging Lyapunov functions in health care artificial intelligence
In 2024, I met a Tamil doctor at an event. We spoke of memories from our childhood in Sri Lanka. We had one stark memory to share: burning bodies in stacks of tires, with beheaded human beings nearby. This was life in the Sinhalese-Tamil ethnic war in the eighties, nineties, and beyond, coupled with a Marxist-Leninist insurrection in the country.
Yet, there we were, two doctors, one born a Tamil and …
How these doctors overcame ethnic conflict to unite in medicine
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We sit down with Carine Carmy, a health care executive, to explore the often overlooked world of pelvic floor health. Carine shares her personal journey and sheds light on why many women, like …
Pelvic floor dysfunction: the overlooked health crisis [PODCAST]
At the November 2022 Obesity Week in San Diego, it was clear something big was happening. A late-breaking session released results of the STEP TEENS phase IIIa trial, showing 16 percent weight loss in adolescents with obesity treated with once-weekly semaglutide (Wegovy) for 68 weeks. The side effects were manageable and similar to those experienced in adults: nausea, vomiting, and constipation.
A month later, semaglutide received FDA approval for weight management …
Many kids benefit from GLP-1s. What happens when they have to stop taking them?
A patient recently came to my office seeking antibiotics for her viral URI symptoms. After a shared decision-making discussion on using Echinacea (an immunostimulant with antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects) instead, we were able to forgo the unnecessary antibiotic. Approximately 25 percent of U.S. adults report concurrently taking a dietary supplement with a prescription medicine. As a resident physician in primary care, I regularly receive questions from patients regarding …
Clinicians should not overlook the benefits of botanicals and dietary supplements
“I want you to be proud of me,” my intern replied when I asked what he wanted to get out of the rest of his year. We were wrapping up the first two weeks of July—his first two weeks of being a doctor—and having our end-of-rotation feedback session. However, he had just flipped the tables on me. His comment was the type of jolting response that made me rethink my …
A doctor’s reflection: 25 years of mentoring and pride in medicine
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Join Deborah C. Smith, a nurse who shares her courageous battle with T-cell lymphocytic leukemia and aplastic anemia. Diagnosed in 2017, Deborah navigated extreme fatigue, frequent transfusions, and challenging chemotherapy regimens before finding …
An inspirational journey through chemotherapy and immunotherapy [PODCAST]
This season, I’m living even more fully into who I am behind the scrubs and stethoscope. I’m deepening my understanding of whether I’m operating in my highest energy versus operating from stress and fear.
When my mother passed away months ago, I was thrust into unbelievable grief. I looked to family and friends who had lost a parent and wondered how they got through it. I wanted the pain to stop. …
How a doctor transformed grief into personal growth
Did you know? August 22nd marks World Plant Milk Day. Get ready for a creamy, non-dairy cheers! Once just reserved for soy, the list of alternate milk options now includes everything from macadamia to hemp to flax to rice milk.
But has anyone stopped to wonder why our milk craze, first ignited with the glass bottle deliveries of 1878 and now perpetuated with the bougiest …
From plant milk to human milk: the untapped climate solution
Regret. We often think about it because of an action or lack of action. We regret having done something or perhaps not doing enough. Regret is filled with “shoulds,” which soon spiral down into guilt, remorse, self-judgment, anger, and depression.
To me, I think about the actions often. Do I regret having trusted or opened my heart to others?
The thing is, I don’t have ANY regrets. I have experienced many circumstances …
How embracing vulnerability transforms pain into power
An excerpt from Curricular Injustice: How U.S. Medical Schools Reproduce Inequality. Copyright (c) 2024 Lauren D. Olsen. Used by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.
In Curricular Injustice: How U.S. Medical Schools Reproduce Inequalities, I describe how the medical profession, in its attempt to integrate the humanities and social sciences to develop humane and equitable future physicians, often failed to do so. Clinical faculty members, in their capacity as …
How medical school curricula perpetuate inequality
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In this episode, we explore the Augusta Rule, a unique tax strategy that allows homeowners to rent out their property for up to 14 days annually without paying taxes on the rental income. …
Tax-free income with the Augusta rule [PODCAST]
When you allow yourself to truly see and sit with the fact that we are only here for a short period of time, it can feel scary and also freeing.
My world became small when I started developing profound anxiety about dying. It was a good sign, actually, as I came from a place of apathy to wanting to live. Truly live. …
A life of purpose: free from societal pressures that lead us astray
Fertility treatments are a challenging journey filled with emotional highs and lows. For many, these treatments represent the hope of starting or growing a family. However, one of the less obvious but critical aspects of this journey involves pharmacy benefit companies (PBCs). These companies play a significant role in determining access to fertility medications, and their influence can create unexpected barriers for patients and health care providers alike.
Pharmacy benefit companies …
The hidden impact of pharmacy benefit companies on fertility treatments
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