“I maybe have a tiny shred of compassion.”
A doctor I know wrote this in reference to a person they’d never met, a person who had been verbally abusive to many health care professionals. A person who was a prospective patient.
A tiny shred of compassion. Maybe.
I had met the patient in question, was the physician caring for them in the hospital. I was trying to find a PCP who would take …
A doctor’s struggle for patient care
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We sit down with physician executive Robert Pearl to explore the revolutionary concepts presented in his latest book, ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine. Join …
AI in American medicine [PODCAST]
March 30th marks National Doctors’ Day – a day meant to honor the immense work and impact physicians have in caring for our patients and their communities. As resident physicians, we are proud and honored to have joined this noble profession.
However, on this particular Doctors’ Day, we are also acutely aware that medicine is–once again–at a historic crossroads. The recent waves of sweeping anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) legislation threaten …
Your A+ in anatomy and physiology won’t improve the American health care system
Trauma in the form of war is one of the worst forms of trauma to endure. How do people remain objective about events and the involved nations when they have been directly or indirectly affected by war?
For example, how are Holocaust survivors and their families able to unemotionally relate to present-day German citizens? How do the descendants of the more than 2,000 allied civilians who were imprisoned in the infamous …
No, I am not suggesting a new medical diagnosis, but I am merely pointing out a society-wide ailment in our U.S. culture. In support of my contention, I point to Compassionomics, the superb 2019 book by Drs. Stephen Trzeciak and Anthony Mazzarelli. In their compelling science-based presentation, the authors state, “Specifically, the hypothesis is that providing health care in a compassionate manner is more …
The compassion crisis in U.S. health care
Springtime. Blooming trees. Green grass. Cool winds. Sunny skies. COVID.
That is where my mind wanders every year since 2020, when the season turns. I flash back to the drive between the hospital and my home. Every evening after fighting a losing battle at an academic institution hell-bent on ignoring and downplaying the horror that was about to breach our borders. I was a fighter then — maybe more in that …
Navigating COVID: a journey from academic intensity to healing
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Join family medicine physician Eleanor Bueno as she expresses heartfelt gratitude to a cherished primary care colleague and friend. Eleanor’s letter poignantly reminds us of the profound connections forged in primary care. From …
A tribute to primary care [PODCAST]
Over the last few weeks, I’ve spoken to applicants who did not match in the 2024 NRMP match. They are just a few of the thousands of highly qualified students and physicians who did not match this cycle. This is a wrenching experience, and it can be hard to pick yourself up and move on to the next steps. However, the actions you take over the next few months can …
Navigating post-match disappointment: What to do if you did not match
In 2016, I sat on a hospital bed in Utah, having flown from North Carolina for specialized medical treatment as my life was slowly slipping away from starvation.
During this time, I was in the Air Force and an oral and maxillofacial surgery resident completing the medical school portion of my training, which I loved. On paper, I had made it. I was finally living the dream I had crafted for …
As I stepped into the hospital waiting room, the anxious eyes of family members greeted me, their worry palpable as they awaited news about their ailing patriarch. Quickly, I introduced myself and delved into the heart of the matter.
“I wanted to talk to you about your father’s condition. It’s not easy news, but I need to be honest with you. Despite our efforts, your father’s brain suffered irreparable damage during …
Navigating family skepticism: a physician’s dilemma
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We welcome Ketan Desai, a physician executive, as we’ll delve into the fascinating and concerning realm of biological warfare and bioterrorism. Join us as we explore historical instances of biological weapons, the implications …
Biotechnology and biological warfare [PODCAST]
I hate to say that we should follow the Fox Mulder School of Paranoia on this one, but the evidence is clear. You can go to prison for what others do with your credentials. Being a doctor comes with incredible privileges, or at least it used to. Now, with the corporate takeover of medical care, we get to work ourselves to death and be hung out to dry if someone’s …
Doctors beware: Your credentials could land you in prison
I started having children towards the end of my medical school. By the time I became a resident, I already had two young boys. My wife was also a pathology resident at that time. We worked hard and were fortunate to have parents who helped us occasionally. However, we still missed out on a lot when my family relocated to Florida; my sons began their first years in school while …
Fulfilling fatherhood and a thriving medical practice: my story
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Join us as we sit down with Amy Baxter, a clinical associate professor of emergency medicine, to explore how societal factors, deceptive marketing, and profit-driven health care systems have contributed to the opioid …
Non-opioid post-op pain relief [PODCAST]
Although it’s hard for me to comprehend and even harder to admit, I’m “of age” to be on Medicare. Recently, I visited my primary care physician (PCP) for a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit, a one-hour appointment that requires the inclusion of a cognitive screening—whether or not the patient or clinician suspects a decline in memory, judgment, or other brain functions.
The myriad brief screening tools, consisting of various questions and tasks, …
I had a (incorrect) memory screening. Have you even had one?
Recently, I met a coaching client for her second session. As we greeted each other, it was immediately apparent that her energy and mood had shifted from the first session. She seemed lighter, her shoulders were higher, and her posture was straighter. There were smiles instead of tears.
In the initial session, we discussed pressures and expectations. It became clear that these were largely internally generated. Like many doctors, this person …
Why doctors should embrace uncertainty for better patient outcomes
Medicine, with its somewhat tarred history in the matter, has woken to the cause of inclusivity. Not too long ago, in the early twentieth century, the American Medical Association (AMA) orchestrated reforms requiring immigrant European doctors to pass rigorous qualification exams, which most American doctors themselves were highly unlikely to clear. Rather than concern about standards, it was largely cynical turf protection to squeeze out better-trained doctors the patients were …
Medicine’s struggle for inclusivity
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Joining A.J. Reid Finlayson, a psychiatrist, Jeffrey A. Singer, a general surgeon, and Peter R. Martin, also a psychiatrist. We’ll be discussing the case of Dr. Ralph Thomas Reach, an addiction medicine physician …
Addiction treatment, legal troubles, and the role of the DEA [PODCAST]
One doctor I’ve worked with had gotten caught up in the idea of being a doctor. She realized, during her training with us, that she had stopped looking her patients in the eye. In fact, she had stopped making eye contact with her patients when she was in residency. She had to tell these two parents that their baby had died in the womb, and she did not know how …
Embracing vulnerability: a doctor’s journey of healing and connection
Adapted from Narrative Medicine: Harnessing the Power of Storytelling through Essays, on the occasion of Passover.
“The Greatest Story Ever Told” is a phrase often used to refer to stories that have had a significant impact on humanity and continue to resonate across cultures and generations. Paul Simon’s song “Old” praises the Bible as the greatest story ever told. …
The greatest story you never tell: It’s yours
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