I, like many of my peers in medicine, am a terrible sleeper.
And it’s no wonder, after all. I spent the better part of my twenties and thirties training my brain not to give in to sleep when I needed it. Then, in the rare hours I did sleep, I was forced to wake at a moment’s notice and go from deep sleep to high alert. Sometimes, I was asked to …
How medicine’s demanding training took my sleep away
In the rural area where I practice, two general surgeons recently retired, a medical oncologist moved out of the community, and two urologists left over a year ago. My patients with cancer are left wondering who will care for them. And this small community is not alone. An aging physician population, burnout, and understaffing of other health care workers all contribute to rising rates of physicians moving and leaving communities.
One …
Navigating physician shortages in rural communities
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Join Natalya Beneschott, a pediatric infectious disease fellow, as she shares her personal experience and insights on coping with the lasting impact of a patient’s death, the challenges medical professionals face in processing grief, and the importance …
Coping with grief in health care [PODCAST]
In the Japanese tradition of kintsugi, broken things are repaired with gold joinery. The repaired object is even lovelier than the original. The breakage and repair become an acknowledged part of the object’s history. The scars and wounds are cherished rather than disguised. What a beautiful reminder to harness the powers of darkness and light that exist within us and the world.
In the book, Born for Love: Why Empathy …
Kintsugi: Embracing brokenness and empathy
The health care industry is witnessing a transformative phase with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). AI’s ability to process vast amounts of data and provide predictive insights is revolutionizing medical diagnostics and patient care. AI’s precision is invaluable in diagnosing and managing kidney disease, offering both speed and accuracy in analyzing patient data.
Unleashing the power of data
A major challenge …
The synergy of AI and human intelligence in transforming health care
Six months after being diagnosed with gastroparesis, I underwent experimental intravenous immunoglobulin treatment. What is often considered a wonder drug, with the ability to treat hundreds of rare illnesses, resulted in the worst experience of my life. I suspect that I developed aseptic meningitis, feeling like I had brain-damaged myself.
What is intravenous immunoglobulin?
Immunoglobulin is found in plasma, which is a part of your blood. It contains antibodies that help you …
Intravenous immunoglobulin for gastroparesis: What happened to me
Every physician has a story to tell, about their medical training, about their clinical work. Every story is unique. Simultaneously, there are common shared themes about the joys and the difficulties. These experiences are universal, regardless of gender, specialty, or geographic location.
I asked two physicians, a female ER doctor on the East Coast in the U.S., and a male trauma-informed physician-coach in the U.K., to tell us how their experiences …
Physicians turn feelings of frustration and powerlessness into purpose and hope
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We sit down with guest Andrew Wilner, a neurologist, to explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on medicine. Join us as we discuss how AI is changing the role of health care professionals, the tasks it …
AI and the patient-physician relationship [PODCAST]
My son’s favorite thing to do is fish. I bought him a brand-new Mickey the Mouse fishing pole and a tackle box for his birthday. His favorite spot was on a small inland lake in a state park. On the bank of the lake, we would fish underneath a large cottonwood tree decorated with bobbers and lures that had become snagged in the branches.
The tree was tall and old and …
From fishing licenses to gun control
As the year draws to a close, it is important that we maximize our opportunities to reduce our taxes. Let’s explore three essential moves that doctors should consider before the tax year concludes to reduce their tax liabilities.
1. Contribute to tax-advantaged retirement accounts.
One of the most effective ways for doctors to reduce their taxable income is by contributing to tax-advantaged retirement accounts. Not only does this help build a secure …
3 key things to do before year end to reduce taxes
The NFL season is now in full swing, with TV screens ablaze in households across the nation, eyes glued to an elliptically-shaped ball being thrown and kicked far distances. This reminds me of an incredibly rare case that happened to a male patient I saw in the ER many years ago, whose right testicle had jumped into his abdomen after he lost control of his motorcycle on the highway. My …
How the NFL offers a window into health care solutions for our country
After decades of “doctor knows best,” the traditional physician-patient relationship is on the verge of a monumental shift. Generative AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Bard, and Microsoft’s Bing are poised to give people significantly more power and control—not just over their personal lives and professional tasks but over their own medical health, as well.
As these tools become exponentially smarter, safer, and more reliable (an estimated Read more…
How generative AI will upend the doctor-patient relationship
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Join guest Harvey Max Chochinov, a psychiatrist, as he delves into the profound concept of “intensive caring” in palliative care. Inspired by Dame Cicely Saunders’ powerful quote, “You matter because you are you,” Harvey discusses how this …
Intensive caring in palliative care [PODCAST]
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I often recommend books or podcasts for you when they address timely topics in mental health. The May 4, 2023, episode of The Daily podcast was one such episode that I think you should listen to. On that episode, Jan Hoffman, a health law and affairs reporter for The New York Times, was interviewed about Narcan, its history, current and future use, and how we might all take advantage of …
Narcan: Widening access to overcome opioid overdoses
The health care landscape is rapidly evolving with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). While AI brings transformative power, it also demands great responsibility, especially in understanding and managing AI hallucinations—a new challenge in health care.
Understanding AI hallucinations
AI hallucinations occur when AI systems produce incorrect or misleading information. These errors can have dire consequences in health care. For instance, imagine an AI …
Decoding AI hallucinations in health care: Embracing a new era of medical innovation
If you ask nurse practitioners how they spend most of their time at work, their answer will be “charting!”
Not only do nurse practitioners (NPs) assess, diagnose, and treat patients, but they also have to document the findings. On top of that, nurse practitioners also have to analyze diagnostic data, review past medical documentation, and address the never-ending patient messages.
With so much to do in a day, it can feel impossible …
Save time with these 4 charting tips
Concerns about conflicts of interest and stereotyping differ in their complexity. Resolving stereotyping-related concerns is relatively straightforward. Stereotyping should be dismantled immediately, regardless of the reasons for its creation, before it continues to perpetuate unchecked. However, merely dissolving stereotyping might not be enough if one form of stereotyping is replaced by another. Therefore, the ongoing effort to combat stereotyping must continue. When aiming to dissolve any stereotyping and ensure it …
Tackling health care conflicts and stereotyping
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Join Arthur Lazarus, an adjunct professor of psychiatry and the author of Every Story Counts: Exploring Contemporary Practice Through Narrative Medicine. In this episode, we delve into the profound significance of storytelling and narrative in the medical …
Navigating challenges in modern medicine through storytelling [PODCAST]
New Zealand just rescinded its ban on tobacco smoking at the same time that Donald Trump just suggested the death penalty could cure the drug problem. What did New Zealand learn? And how has drug prohibition worked out in the past?
In 1511, the governor of Mecca, Khair Beg, had a serious problem. A powerful stimulant was coming into common use and was spreading throughout the city. This stimulant was clearly …
Lessons from historical drug prohibitions
December 1, 2023, marks the 35th anniversary of World AIDS Day (WAD), first commemorated in 1988. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Remember and commit,” a truly impactful theme because through remembrance, we acknowledge those who have lost their lives and those who have inspired us to get to where we are. We acknowledge the journey we have been on, and through commitment, we commit to a healthier future …
World AIDS Day 2023: Remember and commit
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