Transparency and honesty: the keys to fixing America’s broken health care system
When I was growing up, I remember my father saying the phrase, “Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.” In today’s world, I find myself often recalling those words. Most of life these days should not be taken at face value.
It also appears that if you shout out falsehoods frequently enough, then it seems that members of extreme political groups will believe it as the gospel truth. …
To improve health care, respect doctors’ humanity with a living wage
“What should we do?” I asked my partner. I looked down at our dog, who was limping in pain and whose treatment was just quoted at nearly $1000. Just yesterday, our brakes collapsed, and repairing our car would also be a hefty expense. He sighed, knowing we didn’t have the money for either but definitely not both. My partner and I are both resident physicians in San Francisco and here …
The secret life of physicians: work, home, and the battle for balance
When we physicians discuss “work-life balance,” we often imply that our dedication to our work is so consuming and imbalanced that we end up sacrificing time with our families. To achieve a better balance and promote a healthier family life, we strive to limit our work hours to make more time for our home lives.
I wonder if the reverse can also be true. When our home life becomes overwhelming or …
The dos and don’ts of physician employment contracts: Understanding the role of letters of intent in negotiations
A letter of intent (sometimes called a “term sheet”) can be useful for physicians and those who recruit them. The purpose of letters of intent in physician contracts is simply to ensure that both parties are “on the same page” as far as the major terms of the agreement they hope to enter. For example, if you expect to be paid $300,000 a year, but the employer is expecting …
Breaking up with nursing: a heartfelt letter
I write this letter with a heavy heart. Our story began during my sophomore year in college, but after a decade with you, I can’t help but feel our dynamic has changed. Intrusive thoughts of leaving you have etched their way to the forefront of my mind. The harder I try to quiet them, the louder they declare themselves. They’ve grown from whispers to screams, and I can’t ignore them …
Empowering anesthesia residents: lessons in trust from an anesthesiologist [PODCAST]
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In this episode, we speak with George Tewfik, an anesthesiologist, about the importance of recognizing and addressing knowledge gaps in anesthesia residents. George discusses how new residents may arrive with a sense of false confidence that can …
Understanding the end of the COVID public health emergency
The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented event for worldwide health care. The call to action for organizations included setting up mass testing sites to serve their communities. I helped set up multiple locations across several counties using a mobile model. We tested hundreds of patients each day in various places. Once the vaccine was approved, we began our vaccination efforts using our mobile model and mass vaccine sites, including …
A veteran’s battle against possible lung cancer
During my night shift at the emergency department, I encountered a 72-year-old decorated war veteran named Mr. Sun. Accompanied by his concerned wife, he came to address a year-long struggle with fatigue and a non-productive cough he’d been experiencing in recent weeks. Initially resistant to seeking medical attention, Mr. Sun finally gave in to his wife’s insistence.
As I entered the room to assess Mr. Sun, it was immediately apparent how …
How data and technology influence health in ways that doctors don’t
In theory, the widespread adoption of health information technology (HIT) and integrated applications can improve patients’ access to their health information and facilitate patient-centered care. In reality, this increased reliance on patient-facing technologies and data derived from connected devices, machine learning, and artificial intelligence can widen gaps in access, create new barriers to health equity, and generate biases that influence research and clinical decision-making that negatively impact the patient experience …
Physicians in crisis: How wage-fixing in health care is limiting compensation and driving doctors away
Physicians are frustrated, and rightfully so, by the number of individuals and companies that do not provide direct medical care to patients yet profit off our services. Salary suppression is one of the many reasons physicians are leaving traditional medicine and seeking alternative careers. Although physicians have seen an increase in pay over the past 20 years, it has not matched the inflation rate. For example, Medicare reimbursement lags over …
How the NFL could have boosted CPR awareness
January 2nd was a rough day for the sports world. People were captivated by the on-field “death” of a player. Players, coaches, fans, and staff were stunned by seeing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in real-time, maybe even for the first time. Thankfully the NFL had excellently trained teams on the sidelines prepared for these emergencies. Chest compressions were started in seconds, and spontaneous circulation returned in less than ten minutes. Damar …
Why pizza and thank you emails don’t cut it: a pediatrician’s take on physician appreciation [PODCAST]
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In this episode, pediatrician Wendy Schofer discusses physician appreciation. She emphasizes that appreciation is an offering of love that fulfills the psychological need for belonging and love. Wendy relates the five love languages to how physicians can …
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The current political climate is leaving youth and their physicians behind
This year’s Match Day for graduating medical students had the highest number of unfilled pediatrics residency spots in recent years. Fewer pediatricians means fewer pediatric subspecialists. Like too many of our deepest health disparities, this hurts teens the most and the current political climate may be to blame.
About 1 percent of pediatricians pursue fellowship training in adolescent medicine, a board-certified subspecialty devoted to …
AI vs. human doctors: Why patients prefer the real thing
In a Black Mirror-esque video I watched recently on YouTube, a young man with a persistent cough notices a booth labeled “Instant Doctor” as he’s waiting in a train station, and decides to give it a try. The somewhat pleasant robot voice immediately recognizes him and dutifully (creepily?) reads off his age, height, and weight. She then tells him he has two diagnoses: the first, a mild bronchial infection, is …
Medicine and history: a seemingly unlikely but necessary duo in understanding COVID-19 disparities
“Hispanic community makes up more than half of coronavirus cases in Southwest Michigan county” was the headline in the newspaper that caught my eye in August 2020 – that infamous year that the nation went into lockdown to prevent the spread of what was still a new and emerging virus.
It shocked me to realize that only three counties west of my Southcentral Michigan home, Latinos were …
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Bing Copilot and LLM: Revolutionizing health care and enhancing clinical practice with a focus on future prevalence, privacy, and the hallucination effect
The rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have brought groundbreaking technologies that have revolutionized various industries, including health care. Two of the most promising AI innovations are Bing Copilot, powered by ChatGPT-4, and large language models (LLMs), which can potentially transform clinical practice and patient care. As the application of AI in health care becomes more prevalent in the future, it is …
A tale of two patients: one journey, two stories of courage
It was a busy night in the emergency department, as usual. I rushed from one patient to the next, trying to keep up with the constant stream of people coming in with various ailments and injuries.
One patient, in particular, stood out to me that night. He was an older man, probably in his early 70s, who had come in complaining of severe back pain. After a thorough examination and some …
Why work shouldn’t define your self-worth [PODCAST]
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The heartbreaking realities of being a caregiver with Huntington’s disease
An excerpt from Huntington’s Disease Heroes: Inspiring Stories of Resilience from the HD Community.
These days as my father’s Huntington’s disease progresses and I take on more and more, I have learned how quickly being a caregiver can consume my life. Yes, he is still living two hours away, and …
Past Week
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What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
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A faster path to becoming a doctor is possible—here’s how
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Why no medical malpractice firm responded to my scientific protocol
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A world without antidepressants: What could possibly go wrong?
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Reimagining diabetes care with nutrition, not prescriptions
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Bridging the digital divide: Addressing health inequities through home-based AI solutions
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Past 6 Months
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Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting
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The silent crisis hurting pain patients and their doctors
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What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
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What happened to real care in health care?
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Are quotas a solution to physician shortages?
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How to build a culture where physicians feel valued [PODCAST]
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Recent Posts
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Reimagining diabetes care with nutrition, not prescriptions
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Why funding cuts to academic medical centers impact all of us [PODCAST]
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What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
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When rock bottom is a turning point: Why the turmoil at HHS may be a blessing in disguise
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How grief transformed a psychiatrist’s approach to patient care
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A speech pathologist’s key to better, safer patient care
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Past Week
-
What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
-
A faster path to becoming a doctor is possible—here’s how
-
Why no medical malpractice firm responded to my scientific protocol
-
A world without antidepressants: What could possibly go wrong?
-
Reimagining diabetes care with nutrition, not prescriptions
-
Bridging the digital divide: Addressing health inequities through home-based AI solutions
-
Past 6 Months
-
Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting
-
The silent crisis hurting pain patients and their doctors
-
What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
-
What happened to real care in health care?
-
Are quotas a solution to physician shortages?
-
How to build a culture where physicians feel valued [PODCAST]
-
Recent Posts
-
Reimagining diabetes care with nutrition, not prescriptions
-
Why funding cuts to academic medical centers impact all of us [PODCAST]
-
What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
-
When rock bottom is a turning point: Why the turmoil at HHS may be a blessing in disguise
-
How grief transformed a psychiatrist’s approach to patient care
-
A speech pathologist’s key to better, safer patient care
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