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The diversity-performance trade-off in academic medicine

Education

June 2, 2024

The Federal Aviation Administration’s “What We Do” webpage describes the FAA’s primary purpose: “We’re responsible for the safety of civil aviation … We issue and enforce regulations and minimum standards … [and] certify airmen.” In addition to those primary goals, the FAA has adopted a secondary objective, which was codified into law by presidential executive order: to increase the racial diversity of its workforce. As early as 2013, …

Geriatric oncology: challenges and rewards of treating elderly cancer patients

Dr. Damane Zehra

Conditions

June 2, 2024

If anyone asks me, “What part of oncology do you hate the most?” I would definitely answer without much thought, “geriatric oncology.” I think that’s the most difficult specialty because it needs extraordinary skills and patience to deal with elderly patients dealing with cancer. Although cancer is much more prevalent in the elderly, their needs are quite different compared to other adult patients. They are mostly very weak and malnourished, …

Embracing innovation in the digitized operating room

Samuel R. Browd, MD, PhD

Tech

June 2, 2024

In modern medicine, the operating room epitomizes precision, expertise, and innovation. While we’ve made incredible advancements in medical science and patient care in recent decades, operating rooms have faced their share of challenges, from inefficiencies to outdated technology. However, the OR is poised for transformation as health care embraces computational care and digitization, revolutionizing surgical practice and patient care.

The traditional challenges in operating rooms encompass various issues, such as technical …

Why hospitals are losing money on primary care [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

June 1, 2024

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Join us for an insightful discussion on the current state of primary care in hospitals and the emergence of direct primary care (DPC) as a transformative solution. Our guest, Christopher Habig, co-founder and …

Why pelvic floor disorders deserve more attention

Carmen Fong, MD

Conditions

June 1, 2024

She’s the reason I pee when I sneeze. She’s the reason I fart when I walk. And yet, I would give birth to my daughter again, a thousand times over. And that, I think, is the crux of the cross we bear as mothers — bearing children and, specifically, bearing down.

As a resident, I attended the Pelvic Floor Symposiums held by my institution. They were fascinating discussions led by …

From WWII to chronic pain: a family’s legacy of courage and sacrifice

L. Joseph Parker, MD

Physician

June 1, 2024

Memorial Day just passed, and I reflected on those in my extended family who were lost in battle. My stepfather’s two brothers, whose names are carved in the World War II monument of a nearby small town, are most prominent in my mind. If I remember correctly, one died in Germany and the other in the Pacific. My stepdad was so affected by the loss of his older brothers that …

When a doctor’s heart falls: Witnessing raw emotion in medicine

Ryan McCarthy, MD

Physician

June 1, 2024

On this particular day, my heart rolled off my arm and crashed on the cold exam room floor. I summoned the strength—from where? I don’t know. Ginny cried, and between sobs, she described a brain tumor, the one that left him in a bed for a year. I handed her two tissues (one was never enough) and heaved my stool forward. I wrapped my entire arm around her as tears …

Lessons learned in psychiatry: How experience shapes your career

Greg Smith, MD

Conditions

June 1, 2024

I am now in the twilight of my psychiatric career. Yes, I can write that without wincing now, almost, well, maybe just a little. I have made decisions in the last twelve months that have changed my daily schedule, my work life, and my relationships profoundly. Everyone around me, including friends, family members, and even some of my coworkers, thought that I was retiring. It’s not working any longer. Quitting. …

DEA vs. doctors: Who’s really breaking the law on controlled substances? [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

May 31, 2024

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Join us as we delve into the intricate web of discrepancies surrounding pain medication availability and governmental oversight. Our guest, L. Joseph Parker, a research physician, sheds light on recent revelations regarding the …

Incurable psychiatric disorders: Should we offer palliative care or medical aid in dying?

Steven Reidbord, MD

Conditions

May 31, 2024

The application of palliative care to intractable psychiatric disorders has been debated at least since 2010, when a journal article reported that a patient with severe anorexia nervosa died in hospice after being referred there by her psychiatrist. The New York Times published a thought-provoking article earlier this year on the same topic: whether we should ever deem severe, treatment-refractory anorexia incurable and terminal.

Are there incurable psychiatric patients?

Proponents …

Don’t wait until you’re old: Diseases hitting younger generations now

Toni Brayer, MD

Conditions

May 31, 2024

The news is rife with articles about younger people getting cancer, heart attacks, high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, and arthritis. We used to think of these as diseases of aging, but now we are finding high blood pressure and atherosclerosis in people as young as 20. The guidelines for colon cancer screening have been lowered to age 45 for people at normal risk. Experts can’t explain why this is happening. …

Hemophilia treatment: new hope with gene therapy and other advancements

Akshat Jain, MD

Conditions

May 31, 2024

Hemophilia and other bleeding disorders are rare genetic conditions that affect the body’s ability to properly form blood clots. People with these conditions often face challenges in accessing appropriate care and treatment. This is true not only in developed countries but also in low- and middle-income countries around the world.

One of the biggest access to care issues for people with hemophilia and bleeding disorders is the availability of specialized treatment …

From medicine to fictional memoir: an author-psychiatrist explores opioids [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

May 30, 2024

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Today, we are joined by James Champion, a psychiatrist and author of Adventures of an American Medical Student. With his extensive experience in mental health and addiction, James brings a unique perspective to our discussion, …

Why my doctor never mentioned pelvic floor dysfunction (and why it matters)

Carine Carmy

Conditions

May 30, 2024

I was 31 when I learned I had a pelvic floor: the set of muscles, ligaments, and tissues that stretch like a hammock across the pelvis. Like many women, my pelvic awakening came far too late in life. The phrase was never uttered in high school sex ed, never brought up by my gynecologist, and — despite spending most of my 20s shuttling around the health care system trying to …

Operating room etiquette: tips for pre-med students

Natalie Enyedi

Education

May 30, 2024

“You know how to scrub, right?” The short story is no, I did not yet know how to scrub.

As a premedical student, the operating room is different from anywhere else I have been. Just as with any new environment—whether it’s a friend’s home, a workplace, or a place of worship—there are customs to learn. These unspoken rules become second nature to those accustomed to the surroundings. As a newcomer, it’s …

Bridging the gap: When experience meets innovation in health care

Constantine Ioannou, MD

Physician

May 30, 2024

Reflecting on a recent meeting about upcoming audits by regulatory agencies, I couldn’t help but notice a significant shift. As the lone male leader and the second eldest person present, surrounded by a dynamic group of younger women, I couldn’t deny the passage of time since I embarked on my journey in administrative and public psychiatry. Far from lamenting, I welcomed this change, recognizing its necessity and long-overdue arrival. Witnessing …

Health care costs: Looking in the mirror for solutions [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

May 29, 2024

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Join us for a discussion on the complexities of the U.S. health care system with orthopedic surgeon Alejandro Badia. We’ll delve into the evolving perceptions surrounding health care, exploring factors contributing to its …

Burned out doctors, compromised care: a doctor’s story

Ariam Mathusek, MD

Physician

May 29, 2024

Physicians are often seen as pillars of strength, guiding patients through their most vulnerable moments. However, behind the white coats and the stethoscopes lies a troubling reality: an alarming rise in physician burnout.

In the U.S., data from the American Medical Association and the Mayo Clinic found that physician burnout has reached 54 percent, compared to the 45 percent reported in a similar study conducted in 2011; this translates to an …

The DEA’s latest targets: doctors treating addiction instead of pain

L. Joseph Parker, MD

Meds

May 29, 2024

I have been writing for a while about how the DEA will run out of targets for opioid prosecutions because most doctors are too terrified to treat pain, and now it looks like it has happened. Three doctors in Tennessee were recently convicted of prescribing controlled medications “outside the usual practice of medicine” and “not for a legitimate medical purpose.” The interesting thing is that these doctors weren’t treating pain; …

Modernize medical education or face failure

Casey P. Schukow, DO

Education

May 29, 2024

In 1950, newly trained physicians may have gone the entire lengths of their careers without experiencing a doubling in medical knowledge. In 2011, Densen predicted that medical knowledge would have a doubling time of approximately 73 days – or 0.2 years – by 2020. “What was learned in the first three years of medical school,” according to Densen, “will be just 6 percent of what is known …

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