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Why every picture tells a medical story

Physician

June 4, 2024

The ancient adage, “Every picture paints a story,” is a testament to the power of visual imagery in conveying narratives, emotions, and ideas. This phrase encapsulates the ability of images to tell tales without using a single word, to transport viewers to different realities, and to evoke a myriad of emotions. However, the communicative power of stories should not be underestimated either. In fact, stories can paint pictures just as …

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Why every picture tells a medical story

Costly care vs. cutting-edge treatments: the state of cancer today

Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD

Conditions

June 4, 2024

For decades, many patients, their children, and grandkids have strived to answer, “What is cancer?” As a doctor and scientist, over the past 16 months, I have learned the latest cancer information from experts at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles and MD Anderson in Houston. With that, I have also become aware some patients are either denied state-of-the-art care or just kept in the dark about potential treatment because it is …

Resident struggles: How hierarchical health care systems impact IMGs

Anonymous

Physician

June 4, 2024

Residents, particularly international medical graduates (IMGs), often navigate a challenging position within health care institutions, where hierarchical structures overshadow their authority and autonomy. This dynamic can leave residents feeling disempowered and vulnerable, underscoring the importance of understanding their rights and protections within their programs. For IMGs, cultural and systemic differences may further amplify these challenges, making knowledge of their rights especially crucial as they enter residency programs.

As a final-year resident, …

A doctor’s broken heart: lessons learned from a failed relationship

Dharam Persaud-Sharma, MD, PhD

Physician

June 4, 2024

It was something out of an Indian Bollywood movie. My best friend, Raj, found a girl he liked and was completely captivated by her. We had never seen Raj with such a glow – but for our group of friends, we knew something was different with Raj, and I dare say he was in “love.” For reference, he is the kind of man who is honest, loyal, trustworthy, and …

AI-powered surveillance in China and the U.S.

L. Joseph Parker, MD

Tech

June 4, 2024

Today, in China, if you walk across the street where you are not supposed to, expect a ticket to arrive in the mail. Somehow. Out of all the faces in China. An AI-monitored camera will see you and report your crime to the authorities. Lately, these fines have been coming almost instantly by text message. This is not just about pedestrian safety, though that will be the …

An infamous medical malpractice case

Howard Smith, MD

Physician

June 4, 2024

Byrom vs. Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, a lawsuit tried in Maryland in July 2019, is this infamous case. It concerns the failure to perform a cesarean section and brain damage in a 25-week-old infant. It resulted in the largest malpractice verdict ever recorded in the United States, $229 million.

After the trial, a spokesperson for Johns Hopkins revealed that the discussion of some facts during the trial was limited by …

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An infamous medical malpractice case

Physician burnout: Escape the rat race with unconventional careers [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

June 3, 2024

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

Join us as preventive medicine physician Sylvie Stacy shares insights on why physicians often feel stuck in the relentless pursuit of success and what we can do about it. We’ll delve into the …

How doctors can use the Augusta Rule to save on taxes

Alexis E. Gallati, MBA

Finance

June 3, 2024

Do you own a home? If so, you have an opportunity to generate tax-free income using the “Augusta Rule.” Named after its original scenario where residents of Augusta, Georgia, rent out their homes during the annual Masters golf tournament, this rule offers a valuable opportunity to earn tax-free income and deductions you don’t have to pay for by renting out your personal residence or vacation home.

Let’s dive into the Augusta …

Can we afford to lose nurses? The economic argument for change

Susan Pasley, RN

Policy

June 3, 2024

The medical alert blared over the hospital’s public announcement system. Someone was down in the medical office building. A medical team, including myself and a doctor, rushed with a portable cot to find a man in his early 30s unconscious on the waiting room floor.

The man hadn’t been feeling well and was waiting to see his doctor when he passed out. We whisked him to the ER, and I …

Can AI save the medical profession?

Dr. Jamie Ioane

Tech

June 3, 2024

I was working in a busy GP clinic when I finished seeing my last patient for the day, and I felt a sense of relief that the day was over; however, that relief was quickly overshadowed by the daunting mountain of paperwork I needed to complete before I could go home. In general practice, this work pattern is becoming expected practice throughout the profession. GPs routinely spend 1 to 3 …

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Can AI save the medical profession?

How a physician mom reclaimed her life [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

June 2, 2024

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

Join us in this insightful podcast episode featuring Sarah Wittry, a hospice and palliative care physician, and Kim Downey, a physical therapist. Sarah shares her journey of navigating burnout, finding balance, and embracing …

The diversity-performance trade-off in academic medicine

Landon Kunzelman, MD

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

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

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

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

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 …

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