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Princess and the pauper: Both deserve health privacy

Physician

March 28, 2024

The sad news of Princess Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis is a sound reminder of the sanctity of a person’s health status and their right to privacy.

I wasn’t sure which adjective I should use to describe Kate’s diagnosis – “sad,” “tragic,” or “devastating.” All are equally true, depending on whose perspective you consider. No doubt a cancer diagnosis is “sad” in the public’s eyes and even harsher in Kate’s. In my …

Finding peace in the face of loss: a father’s journey with hospice

Kimberly Chapman, MD

Physician

March 28, 2024

How do you make sense of someone dying? The only way I know is to put it into some context so that, if possible, some good can come of it.

Some of you may have known about my dad’s Parkinson’s disease. He’s had a fairly rapid decline over the past four months, and now he’s rapidly declining again. He has been on home hospice for the past three months. He has …

Physician scrutiny: legal challenges and career impact [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

March 27, 2024

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

We are joined by Ron Chapman II, a federal criminal defense attorney, who sheds light on the increased scrutiny that physicians are facing from regulators. During our conversation, Ron delves into the impact …

From doctor to family: Witnessing both sides of end-of-life care

Jessica Bloom, MD

Physician

March 27, 2024

We all have those moments in medicine when we know that care has become more futile. Then we do everything in our power to educate, support, gently guide, and give permission to patients and families. There are moments that treating for a cure goes against our tenet to “first do no harm.”

I never would have imagined that I would be on the family side of these debates. I had a …

Can you predict Alzheimer’s? New research on early detection.

Marc Arginteanu, MD

Conditions

March 27, 2024

You can’t treat something until you know it’s there. Currently, there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) but earlier diagnosis may lead to better understanding of how the disease inexorably progresses, which in turn may lead to prevention of AD and ultimately eradication of this horrific scourge. The latest breakthroughs in earlier diagnosis and even perhaps pre-diagnosis have involved lumbar punctures, brain MRIs, eye exams, and blood tests.

A 2024 study, …

Addressing physician workforce shortages [PODCAST]

American College of Physicians & The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

March 26, 2024

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

Join William E. Fox, chair-elect of the ACP Board of Regents, as we delve into the pressing issue of physician workforce shortages in primary care. William sheds light on recent alarming statistics, including …

Exploring pulmonary and ICU insights through cartoons

Drew Harris, MD

Physician

March 26, 2024

I’ve created cartoons using DALL-E, each with its own humorous caption. They’re all original ideas from me, but I used the AI to visualize them. Although they mostly touch on topics related to pulmonary and ICU medicine, I think they could catch the interest of a wide medical audience. Given the pulmonary theme, I decided to call the series Take a Breath.

Wendy Williams’s battle with health and the fragility of success

Osmund Agbo, MD

Conditions

March 26, 2024

Lifetime recently premiered the documentary Where is Wendy Williams? This four-part special delves into the captivating life and career of Wendy Williams, the once dynamic 59-year-old American broadcaster, media personality, and writer. Renowned for hosting the nationally syndicated television talk show, The Wendy Williams Show, from 2008 to 2021, Williams has left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry.

The documentary follows Williams’s journey to revive her career after health concerns …

Improving care with AI-powered solutions

Microsoft & Nuance Communications & The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

March 25, 2024

This article is sponsored by Nuance Communications, a technology pioneer with market leadership in conversational, ambient, and generative AI. Nuance is a Microsoft company.

Technological advancements have always played a pivotal role in enhancing the delivery of care and improving patient outcomes. …

Thin places: Where memories come alive

Greg Smith, MD

Physician

March 25, 2024

I was listening to Marty Smith of ESPN do the Fore Please, Now Driving podcast for the 87th Masters Golf Tournament this year. The discussion turned to how some places like the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, are just full of memories, ghosts, wisps of recollection, and echoes of voices and cheers long gone that sometimes seem to be brought forward and magnified in our own day and …

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Thin places: Where memories come alive

From fear of loneliness to embracing solitude

Dr. Damane Zehra

Physician

March 25, 2024

Young children have different hobbies and preferences while playing in every part of the world. Some things are universal, but many are influenced by the culture of that specific area or the living conditions of that family. In the subcontinent, young girls are very fond of playing with dolls. Most of the time, these dolls are handmade by their moms or …

Physician mental health: Breaking the silence [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

March 24, 2024

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

Pediatric nephrologist Katherine Twombley opens up about her personal journey and her book, First Do No Harm: A Physician’s Burnout and Mental Health Guidebook from Medical School to Retirement. Join us as she …

Medical school gap year: Why working as a medical assistant is perfect

Natalie Enyedi

Education

March 24, 2024

The words “gap year” are enough to panic any high-achieving premedical student with their heart set on matriculating straight into medical school. Many students feel like a gap year will set them back in their journey to become a doctor, adding more years to the ever-long path to an MD behind their name. What these students do not realize is the value that a meaningful gap year, or more, can …

AI adoption in health care: early adopters to late adapters

Harvey Castro, MD, MBA

Tech

March 24, 2024

Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) marks a pivotal change in the swiftly evolving health care landscape. The adoption curve of AI in health care mirrors the classic early adopters versus late adapters scenario seen in technology uptake. As an emergency room (ER) doctor with a futurist outlook, the comparison between human roles and AI is intriguing and pivotal for understanding and navigating the future of medical care.

Early adopters. These pioneers integrate …

Get over toxic situations by leaving them

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Physician

March 24, 2024

“Get Over It” is a 1994 album track that marked the Eagles’ reunion after a 14-year hiatus. The tune reached number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The song was written by band members Don Henley and Glenn Frey (1948-2016). Henley is known for his biting, often cynical lyrics, and “Get Over It” is no exception. The song is a commentary on the ‘victim mentality’ that the songwriters felt was …

The spiritual crisis of the employed physician

Dike Drummond, MD

Physician

March 24, 2024

Our physician coaching team and I have extensive experience working with thousands of doctors over the past 13 years who have approached us feeling burned out, exhausted, and uncertain about their future.

We have developed a structured method to assist them in recovering from burnout by focusing on new strategies aimed at constructing their ideal practice.

For years, we’ve recognized that these strategies can be categorized into seven distinct groups.

It has recently …

Corporatization of medicine: Are patients and physicians the losers?

Samer W. Cabbabe, MD

Physician

March 24, 2024

Despite technological and pharmaceutical improvements in the advancement of medicine, many changes that have occurred in the delivery of medicine during my 15 years of private practice in plastic surgery have had detrimental consequences for both patients and physicians. I will briefly review these changes and provide my perspective on the future of medicine in the United States.

The development of electronic health records, with the ability to access, chart, and …

From misdiagnosis to advocacy [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

March 23, 2024

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

We join Tami Burdick, a patient advocate and the author of Diagnosis Detective: Curing Granulomatous Mastitis. Tami’s story is one of resilience, empowerment, and the quest for comprehensive health care solutions. Join us …

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From misdiagnosis to advocacy [PODCAST]

A potential discovery of highly fatal SARS coronavirus?

Kevin T. Kavanagh, MD

Conditions

March 23, 2024

Has a highly fatal SARS coronavirus already been discovered? Maybe yes, but just its report is highly concerning. On January 4, 2024, a letter to the editor was uploaded to a preprint server which gave too few details but described a 100 percent fatal virus in genetically modified mice. The modifications made these mice similar to humans by adding a human ACE2 receptor to their cells, including in …

Topoisomerase inhibitors and chronic pain

L. Joseph Parker, MD

Meds

March 23, 2024

Topoisomerase inhibitors emerged in the American medical landscape in 1971, thanks to the discovery by Dr. Jim Wang of the E. coli omega protein. Topoisomerase I, an enzyme identified by Dr. Wang, plays a crucial role in DNA unwrapping from supercoiling. Supercoiling involves tightly wrapping DNA for storage and protection, requiring unwrapping for reading, a process in which topoisomerase is indispensable.

Topoisomerase comprises two main types, aptly named types I and …