Teen substance use rebounds after pandemic
Among high school seniors using marijuana, the pandemic forced the largest one-year decline in use over the past 48 years. Marijuana use fell from 35.2 percent in 2020 to 30.5 percent during 2021. In 2022, it remained pretty much unchanged at 30.7 percent.
Alcohol drinking among high school seniors fell from 55.3 percent of seniors in 2020 to 46.5 percent during the pandemic year. However, in 2022, alcohol use among seniors …
Why taking risks is worth it: a doctor’s journey from uncertainty to opportunity
There were no smartphones when I was a medical resident in the late 80s in Puerto Rico. During my last year, while waiting for a lecturer to arrive, I grabbed a medical journal from the conference room table to kill some time. I flipped through the pages, skimming the titles of the articles and looking at some of the advertisements. When I was about to put the journal down, I …
Why every doctor should have a side gig
Why is it that physicians are seeking alternative avenues to boost their income? It may seem counterintuitive for busy clinical doctors to pursue a side gig, why? In a post-pandemic era, physicians are plagued by colossal debt and increasing rates of burnout. More than 100,000 physicians have left the profession since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. My peers are frustrated, tired, and seeking a way out. For many, …
The DNA of entrepreneurs: How your genes could determine your business success
Creating something new, taking calculated risks, and effectively allocating resources are all aspects of entrepreneurship. Both environmental and genetic variables play a role in this intricate process. This article will examine how a person’s propensity to become an entrepreneur is influenced by genetic and environmental factors that drive entrepreneurship.
Personality qualities and risk tolerance are critical genetic determinants of entrepreneurship. These characteristics can influence an individual’s approach to entrepreneurship and can …
Navigating the emotional impact of a medical malpractice lawsuit [PODCAST]
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In this episode, we explore the emotional impact of medical malpractice lawsuits on physicians and how they can navigate the process. Attorney Christine Zharova shares her insights on how these lawsuits can affect relationships with colleagues, staff, …
Canada has a universal health care system. But does it really?
Maybe one day, our universal health care system represented the values of Canadians, but certainly not anymore. American friends, you may know us for our drinking age and “free health care.” Still, unfortunately, our health care system no longer embodies the principles of equality, respect, politeness, safety, and peace that we hold dear.
You may also be familiar with our Prime Minister’s fondness for dressing up and doing shirtless yoga poses. …
Pediatric mental health is a growing epidemic. Here’s how Illinois is leading the way to solve that.
One of my friends in middle school was known for her uncanny ability to brighten up any space she walked into. But when we hit high school, she had become more withdrawn and dejected, and her self-esteem plummeted. She was clearly struggling, but at the time, I didn’t know what the signs of depression were and was at a loss for how to support her. She and I had no …
3 shocking health care statistics for 2023
As the New Year begins, a trio of health care statistics cast an intense and unflattering light on a nation in crisis.
These figures, all of them unimaginable just a generation ago, set the stage for a financial reckoning in 2023 and beyond.
Shocking stat #1: the number of Americans on Medicaid
Without looking it up: What percentage of Americans receive some or all health-insurance coverage from the government?
You might assume a low …
Women should be allowed to exercise autonomy with regard to their bodies and their medical care
When I walked into the ultrasound room, I immediately noticed the patient’s red-rimmed eyes and cloud of mussed-up brown hair. My eyes tracked the defeated curve of her back and its stark contrast to the sterile environment of the obstetrics and gynecology exam room, with its muted grey and blue tones. A forty-year-old woman, she had used in-vitro fertilization to become pregnant because she wanted her toddler son to have …
Life, death, and the balance in between: a cardiac anesthesiologist’s story [PODCAST]
ICU nurse of 33 years speaks out on the harsh reality of corporate hospitals
I wasn’t supposed to hear this, but I did. It sealed the deal for me. It was one of the reasons I had to finally leave my true love: ICU nursing. After 33 years as an ICU nurse, I knew it was time to go.
I used to feel like I had a purpose. I used to think I was a dynamic part of saving lives in the ICU. I lived …
Insurance company vs. doctor: How the defense and settlement provisions in malpractice contracts favor carriers
In a medical malpractice lawsuit, your defense is completely in the hands of the malpractice carrier, and, make no mistake of it, its interests come first. However, the medical malpractice insurance contract is more instrumental in the defense of a doctor than insurance companies realize. There are clauses in the contract that, at first glance, seem to benefit carriers. However, there is a flip side to each clause.
First Read more…
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The art of the physical exam: the importance of returning to the basics
“Make thorough inspection.”
– Sir William Osler, MD.
The art of the physical exam is precisely that: an art that must be practiced often, for years on end, and the one that a physician may become a great achiever or skilled but never the master.
When I trained in internal medicine over a decade ago, our program director often harped on this art. I was too naive to understand his message at the …
How receiving medical practice coaching can multiply your income
Not only does medical practice coaching teach you how to open your mind to who you really are, but it also allows you to bypass the dreaded $20,000 to $50,000 MBA business education that your medical school refused to teach you about.
When you recognize that many highly educated professional athletes hire personal coaches throughout their careers, you must wonder what value they find in being coached. You would think that …
Why every physician needs disability insurance
This article is sponsored by Pattern. We simplify disability and life insurance for busy doctors so they feel confident they have the right policy and that their income is protected.
As a physician, your career is one of the most important investments you will make in your life. Not only have you spent thousands of dollars and countless hours in medical …
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Improving cancer care through integrated care [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes!
In this episode, we will be discussing the role of health system specialty pharmacies in improving patient outcomes.
Our guest, Chelsey Lindner, is a clinical pharmacist who will share her insights on the unique combination of expertise and …
Primary care colonialism: the impact of profit-driven health care on communities
An excerpt from On Medicine as Colonialism.
For about seventeen years, from 1991 until 2008, I lived in little Scituate, Rhode Island, where I practiced family medicine, and for about eleven of those seventeen years, I practiced out of the basement of my house. It was an older style of primary …
The hidden link between soft skills and patient safety
The skill
Patient safety, patient experience, workforce health, and cost-effectiveness are critical outcomes with an important common root. They’re all impacted by our ability to communicate effectively and respectfully. Additional terms to describe these skills include people, interaction, interprofessional, relationship, and social skills. They can even be used to describe behaviors inherent in many properties of complex adaptive systems, such as the butterfly effect, flexibility, and adaptability. The more we understand …
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Feeling valued by my boss: How a simple tumbler made my day
I arrived at my desk after a holiday hiatus with renewed energy to tackle the day. It sat there, unassuming, on my desk with a note. My heart was giddy, knowing my tea pastime would level up. Opening the letter, I realized it was from my boss. My boss had given me a tumbler, and I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. The excitement seemed out of proportion to …
Past Week
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The hidden bias in how we treat chronic pain
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Residency as rehearsal: the new pediatric hospitalist fellowship requirement scam
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The hidden impact of denials on health care systems
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Why no medical malpractice firm responded to my scientific protocol
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The truth about GLP-1 medications for weight loss: What every patient should know
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C. Everett Koop’s defining stand against the tobacco industry [PODCAST]
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Past 6 Months
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Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting
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Doctors don’t need yoga, they need time to smoke
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What happened to real care in health care?
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The silent crisis hurting pain patients and their doctors
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How to build a culture where physicians feel valued [PODCAST]
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Flatline: Our nation is dying, and we’re ignoring the signs
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Recent Posts
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The truth about GLP-1 medications for weight loss: What every patient should know
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The moment I knew medicine needed more than science
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A faster path to becoming a doctor is possible—here’s how
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Misconceptions about food allergy safety in the skies [PODCAST]
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From rejection to resilience: my journey through emergency medicine residency
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Conflicts of interest are eroding trust in U.S. health agencies
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Past Week
-
The hidden bias in how we treat chronic pain
-
Residency as rehearsal: the new pediatric hospitalist fellowship requirement scam
-
The hidden impact of denials on health care systems
-
Why no medical malpractice firm responded to my scientific protocol
-
The truth about GLP-1 medications for weight loss: What every patient should know
-
C. Everett Koop’s defining stand against the tobacco industry [PODCAST]
-
Past 6 Months
-
Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting
-
Doctors don’t need yoga, they need time to smoke
-
What happened to real care in health care?
-
The silent crisis hurting pain patients and their doctors
-
How to build a culture where physicians feel valued [PODCAST]
-
Flatline: Our nation is dying, and we’re ignoring the signs
-
Recent Posts
-
The truth about GLP-1 medications for weight loss: What every patient should know
-
The moment I knew medicine needed more than science
-
A faster path to becoming a doctor is possible—here’s how
-
Misconceptions about food allergy safety in the skies [PODCAST]
-
From rejection to resilience: my journey through emergency medicine residency
-
Conflicts of interest are eroding trust in U.S. health agencies
-
