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Navigating COVID: a journey from academic intensity to healing

Conditions

April 25, 2024

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 …

A tribute to primary care [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 24, 2024

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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 …

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A tribute to primary care [PODCAST]

Navigating post-match disappointment: What to do if you did not match

Rajani Katta, MD

Education

April 24, 2024

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 …

Unworthiness nearly killed me

Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD

Physician

April 24, 2024

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 …

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Unworthiness nearly killed me

Navigating family skepticism: a physician’s dilemma

Osmund Agbo, MD

Physician

April 24, 2024

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 …

Biotechnology and biological warfare [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 23, 2024

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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 …

Doctors beware: Your credentials could land you in prison

L. Joseph Parker, MD

Physician

April 23, 2024

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 …

Fulfilling fatherhood and a thriving medical practice: my story

Francisco M. Torres, MD

Physician

April 23, 2024

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 …

Non-opioid post-op pain relief [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 22, 2024

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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 …

I had a (incorrect) memory screening. Have you even had one?

Carol Steinberg

Conditions

April 22, 2024

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, …

Why doctors should embrace uncertainty for better patient outcomes

Dr. Simon Craig

Physician

April 22, 2024

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 …

Medicine’s struggle for inclusivity

Shah-Naz H. Khan, MD

Physician

April 22, 2024

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 …

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Medicine’s struggle for inclusivity

Addiction treatment, legal troubles, and the role of the DEA [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 21, 2024

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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 …

Embracing vulnerability: a doctor’s journey of healing and connection

Koshin Paley Ellison, MFA, LMSW, DMin

Conditions

April 21, 2024

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 …

The greatest story you never tell: It’s yours

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Physician

April 21, 2024

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. …

Breaking free from denial: Embracing the truth

Debbie Moore-Black, RN

Conditions

April 21, 2024

I understand it well. You persuade yourself that everything is fine. And then you persuade others that your marriage is perfect.

You’re facing a terminal illness, but you’re the exception because it surely can’t happen to you.

You’re in poor health with unexplained aches and pains, but you avoid visiting your doctors, instead praying to Jesus to alleviate your pain. To heal you of whatever it might be.

Denial. I was a workhorse. …

Sham peer reviews [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 20, 2024

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

Join Aysun Alagoz, an associate chief medical officer, to unravel the chilling reality of the medical peer review process. In a candid discussion, Aysun shares her firsthand experience of facing unjust disciplinary actions, …

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Sham peer reviews [PODCAST]

Medical ethics in a changing world: Navigating identity and patient care

Osmund Agbo, MD

Physician

April 20, 2024

My buddy John and I fortuitously found ourselves enacting roles in an impromptu theatrical production last week. As medical practitioners, the thematic essence was predictably centered around matters concerning patients. The scene unfolded thus:

“So, this person’s name is Emily, but her pronoun is ‘they,'” John started. “She identifies as a therian belonging to the Elf theriotype. Emily explained to me that though she was born human, she is an inseparable …

A Pakistani oncologist’s journey: Navigating commute challenges

Dr. Damane Zehra

Physician

April 20, 2024

I’ve always been afraid of driving. My home is quite far away from my hospital, and for the past eight years, I’ve been traveling via Uber for my daily commute. I don’t have a good memory of roads, lanes, and streets, even in my own city. I just rely on the driver and Google Maps. This experience with Uber and online taxi services is comfortable for me for two reasons: …

Supporting medical resident families [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 19, 2024

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

Join Elizabeth Landry, a certified coach, as we explore practical strategies to support medical resident families during the challenging transition into residency. Discover how spousal support programs, inclusive social gatherings, and mentorship initiatives …

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