Safety on campus, except for Jews: a parent and psychiatrist’s perspective

Physician
December 13, 2023

After watching most of the five-plus hours of the December 5th congressional hearing on the state of antisemitism at three of the U.S.’ top universities – Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, and MIT – I’ve concluded that unfortunately, the sound bites replayed in the media are not one-liners taken out of context, but spot-on summations.

As my husband and I prepare for our oldest son to reach a tremendous milestone in less …

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From advocacy to early cancer detection

Conditions
December 13, 2023

I write widely as a patient advocate and subject matter expert on public policy for the regulation of prescription opioid analgesics in pain medicine.

Like many people younger than myself, I also visit many social media platforms almost daily. I am active on these platforms to share recent health care news and to support hope among people who increasingly struggle to find clinicians and pharmacists who will treat their pain by …

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A neurosurgeon’s quest to solve medication nonadherence [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 12, 2023
YouTube video

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Join neurosurgeon Katrina Firlik as she delves into the world of health care data and the importance of citing sources. Explore her journey from treating patients to becoming an entrepreneur, and learn about the challenges of addressing …

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An eye surgeon’s unexpected finding: a brain tumor diagnosis

Conditions
December 12, 2023

In medicine, the sickest patients always seem to come on Friday afternoons. At the end of the week, I’m hoping to move quickly through my last few patients – a small corneal abrasion, a routine follow-up, or a stable glaucoma exam. I’m prepared for a pleasant conversation and some friendly banter about rival football teams playing Saturday morning. But I’m wary. I have been doing this long enough to know …

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Humanism in health care: How to address patient harm

Physician
December 12, 2023

I want to preface this story by stating that Sarah has given written authorization to share her story, allowing my colleague and me to transform a challenging experience into a valuable lesson in the inevitability of mistakes and the profound capacity for forgiveness and growth.

Ten years ago, I was approached by a distressed physician and colleague who had unintentionally harmed a patient during the course of an elective colon operation. …

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Financial considerations for dual-doctor households

Finance
December 12, 2023

Being in a dual high-income earner household — like a dual-physician or dual-dentist marriage — has unique career and family experiences. And it comes with a ton of financial assumptions.

As with most things, there are some advantages and disadvantages, both real and perceived. While individuals in these households typically enjoy mission-driven companionship, doctors face unique financial challenges during every stage of their careers.

Tax withholdings. When you have two earning spouses, …

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Why insurance prefers opioids over non-pharma options [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 11, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Amy Baxter, a clinical associate professor of emergency medicine. We’ll delve into the opioid crisis, the misconceptions surrounding pain management, and the barriers that hinder effective pain relief in health care. Amy will share her expertise …

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Post-pandemic nursing workforce challenges continue to mount

Policy
December 11, 2023

The nurse and clinician workforce crisis in the United States is a complex issue with multiple contributing factors that include clinical staff burnout, unmanageable workloads, the departure of nurses reaching retirement age, and the pandemic’s lingering impact on health systems. A 2023 study by the American Hospital Association (AHA) found that the U.S. will face a physician shortage of as many as 124,000 by 2034 and will need to hire …

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Catastrophic failure of educational leadership can affect medical students

Education
December 11, 2023

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart said he can’t define pornography, but he knows it when he sees it. Stewart might just as well have been talking about leadership—reflecting the difficulty in providing a precise definition of leadership but suggesting that individuals can recognize ineffectual leadership when they encounter it.

The abject failure of three university presidents to answer “yes” to a simple question—whether calls for the genocide of Jews violate …

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Unraveling the mysteries of mast cell disorders [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 10, 2023
YouTube video

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Join us on as we delve into the world of mast cell disorders, including the lesser-understood mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Our guest, Kara Wada, a board-certified academic adult and pediatric allergy, immunology, and lifestyle medicine physician, …

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How to select the right mutual funds for your goals

Finance
December 10, 2023

As the year comes to an end, it’s time to start thinking about investment allocations for 2024. Many of us own mutual funds.

But how do we select the right ones for our goals?

Investing in mutual funds is a common strategy for physicians seeking diversification and professional management of their portfolios. However, with a vast array of mutual funds available, selecting the right ones can be a daunting task. To make …

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America’s pain management nightmare: How the DEA shaped the opioid epidemic

Physician
December 10, 2023

First, it’s essential to understand that your prosecution doesn’t define you as a person. Most likely, the DEA never bothered to speak with you before deciding to arrest and prosecute you. Even if they did, the decision to prosecute you had been made long before any conversation took place. Your prosecution is the result of a long and strategic process, one in which the very notions of truth and justice …

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The middleman dilemma in health care

Physician
December 10, 2023

Imagine this scenario.

You’re negotiating the sale of your widget. Despite your earnest efforts, you hit a deadlock. The buyer, after consulting an expert on “fair market value” for widget prices, firmly states they won’t purchase your widget for $5.

In a new tactic, you turn away from the customer, shed your white coat, don a pair of Groucho Marx glasses, and pivot back.

“I’m the CEO of WidgetCorp. Ten bucks, take it …

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Tips for success as a plastic surgeon [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 9, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Mossi Salibian, a plastic surgeon, as he shares his journey from a background in biochemistry to becoming a successful practitioner in the field. Mossi delves into the intersection of art and science in plastic surgery, the …

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Why write? Physicians share their stories of healing through writing.

Physician
December 9, 2023

I’ve read countless articles, posts, blogs, and books over the past year and a half, written by physicians, and I’ve learned an incredible amount!

Every physician’s voice is special, distinct, and remarkable.

Why write? Write for yourself. Many articles, including at least one study by the American Psychological Association, speak to writing as being a powerful tool for stress relief and healing.

Some physicians write as part of a gratitude practice, some write …

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A complex patient interviews a retired physician

Conditions
December 9, 2023

Dr. James (Jim) Whitlock, a neurologist, and Ann McColl met at a writers’ workshop in Maine in 2022 and discovered a shared interest: patients with complex conditions and their journeys in the medical system. Dr. Whitlock’s practice focused on the rehabilitation of individuals with severe traumatic brain injuries. Attorney McColl had been a patient with a debilitating spinal condition and was ultimately helped by a neurosurgeon. A year after her …

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Navigating life’s crossroads: Change, accept, or leave [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 8, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Deepti Gandhi, a family physician. We delve into the powerful mantra of “change, accept, or leave” and explore real-life scenarios where individuals are faced with this choice. Discover practical strategies, personal stories, and expert insights to …

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A doctor struggles to provide mental health care in Appalachia

Physician
December 8, 2023

As a West Virginia primary care doctor, I frequently—read: daily—find myself in uncomfortable situations. A few recent events, however, are out of the ordinary, even by the standards to which I am accustomed. Though unique to Martinsburg, WV, I expect similar themes in myriad offices across American health care. If your job resembles mine, I wonder if you feel as lost as I am, though I’m not sure where we …

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Burnout on the U.S.S. Enterprise

Conditions
December 8, 2023

The original Star Trek television series, in my opinion, stands out as the best of the bunch. It lasted only three years (1966-1969), but it has retained a cult following. Among its many television “firsts” were the initial inter-racial kiss (between Captain Kirk and Lieutenant Uhura) and perhaps the first depiction of burnout, as seen in the two-part episode “The Menagerie.”

Originally intended as the pilot, “The Menagerie” was postponed to …

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The toll of health care: suicide risk among professionals

Conditions
December 8, 2023

Our health care workers—nurses, physicians, and support staff—are at a heightened risk of committing suicide. Plain and simple. The emotional and physical toll on our health care professionals has been ever-increasing, exacerbated by the COVID pandemic but still remains long after the official title “pandemic” has faded into the background.

Over 20 percent of the physicians in the United States are experiencing symptoms of depression, but fear professional repercussions if they …

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