Resilience whispers: the silent triumph through a surgeon’s lens
In the silence of a rural village, where dreams were often tethered to survival, I first learned the language of resilience. Life’s trials were as persistent as the dusty winds, shaping every step of my journey from those humble beginnings to becoming a surgeon. My story, like that of many others in the medical field, is one of quiet perseverance—a journey marked not by loud victories but by the soft …
Physical exams: the life-saving tool doctors must reclaim in modern medicine
As a pain management specialist, I have often found that the course of treatment for a patient requires a careful balance of many factors before making a recommendation. But sometimes, the best course seems obvious. That was the case with Mr. Bautista (name replaced to protect identity). He was an older gentleman, and his imaging scans showed spinal stenosis that was likely to lead to nerve pain. And what was …
How a physician’s COVID-19 scare revealed a hidden health condition
“Just take a deep breath.”
It’s the first thing we say when we see someone upset or overwhelmed, and generally, it’s good advice. There is a wealth of evidence supporting the benefits of deep breathing, and it is not uncommon for me to pull out a handout during a patient visit to walk someone through a breathing technique. I’m a family physician—anxiety, asthma, COPD, cancer—it’s all relevant; it’s all primary care. …
Bitcoin $100K: a game-changer for physicians’ financial freedom? [PODCAST]
Do you think the needle is moving in health care?
I’ve heard this question asked in interviews, and I’ve been asked it myself.
Over the past year and a half, I’ve become involved with several organizations that are working hard and taking positive action in this regard. I’m a proud ambassador for the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, I’m on the traction team for Medicine Forward (MF), and I’m a strong collaborator and supporter of the Health Care Reinvention Collaborative (HRC).
As …
The answer is gratitude and it puts you in a good place
Regardless of how one might have voted in the election, the aftermath now includes a dizzying array of proposed cabinet and other health-related appointments and rumors about what they and the new administration might do. How do we in medicine navigate all of this? The answer may not be intuitive: gratitude. We’re not talking here about insincere gratitude, …
Reasons why you should consider having your surgery at an ASC
“If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.”
– Henry Ford.
The changing landscape of health care, along with a rising trend among patients for more affordable, manageable, and specialized solutions, has made ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) gain noticeable traction as a preferred surgical option. The value ASCs provide to patients, providers, and insurers is a perfect combination of convenience, safety, and cost savings. Here are ten data- …
Faster sepsis diagnosis in emergency departments [PODCAST]
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We sit down with pulmonary and critical care physicians Tonya Jagneaux and Hollis O’Neal to explore the complex challenges emergency departments face when diagnosing and treating sepsis. With overcrowded EDs, rising patient volumes, …
The future of orthopedic care: Embracing the ASC-urgent care model
The landscape of orthopedic care is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by rising health care costs, patient demand for convenience, and the increasing popularity of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). As an orthopedic surgeon dedicated to advancing minimally invasive techniques and maximizing patient outcomes, I believe the key to navigating this evolving landscape lies in prioritizing patient access to the appropriate clinician via seamless care delivery. Simply put, “the right clinician …
American tears and allyship: Who is at your table?
In a post-election fog on the morning of November 6, I attended my third-grade daughter’s Veteran’s Day assembly. It was deeply moving and full of the trust, hope, and optimism that we want all children to have. They enthusiastically sang “Proud to Be an American” and a less well-known song, “American Tears.” The lyrics hit hard that morning in the auditorium, and many of the audience members were shedding them. …
What the death of UnitedHealth CEO reveals about our broken health care system
The sudden death of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson has pulled back the curtain on something we’ve all known deep down: America’s health care system is failing. Every day, we hear heartbreaking stories of people denied life-saving treatments like cancer care, not because those treatments don’t exist, but because someone decided they weren’t “cost-effective.” This isn’t just a health care problem—it’s a crisis of humanity.
We talk about “making America great …
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is talking when they should be listening
On May 9-10, 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held a workshop titled “Training health care providers on pain management and safe use of opioid analgesics — exploring the path forward.” I attended the workshop in person to offer comments on behalf of chronic pain patients. A summary of my observations at the time was published by the now-defunct Pain News Network. The following extended extract is from …
Physician compensation secrets: 2024 MGMA DataDive insights [PODCAST]
Why every physician craves a break from daily chaos
In today’s medical world, cancer treatment guidelines are constantly evolving. CME events are held worldwide to help health care professionals become more familiar with new treatments. They can be live events held at specific locations or online activities. I will not go into further detail about the CMEs or industry-sponsored CMEs because that is not the focus of this story.
The best thing about being a physician is the opportunity to …
The hidden truth about ghost networks: one mom’s fight for mental health care justice
Jane Doe – her real name being hidden to protect her young child – thought she knew how to help her eight-year-old son “”Baby Doe.” She was well-educated, employed in a professional role by a federal agency, and comfortable navigating bureaucracies and unresponsive gatekeepers. More importantly, she was a fierce advocate for her child, who had been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and needed occupational and speech therapies, which …
A neurosurgeon’s 23 simple things you can do (in five minutes or less) to improve your brain health
Here are 23 simple things you can do (in five minutes or less) to improve your brain health. Do one of them each day. Keep it up for a few short weeks and your brain will sing your praises.
Attitude of gratitude
The act of being grateful improves mental health in a number of ways, such as making the grateful person less prone to depression and fostering stronger relationships. Becoming more grateful …
Why rapid weight loss drugs may not be the health solution they seem [PODCAST]
8 important things everyone should know about tongue-ties and lip-ties by a pediatric dentist
As a pediatric dentist and owner of a tongue tie center, I pride myself on having a conservative and collaborative approach when it comes to treating oral restrictions. Too many providers rush to release, and too many parents are misinformed thinking the release is going to be a “magic fix.”
I’ve compiled a list of important things that I feel everyone (both providers and parents) should know about tongue-ties and lip-ties.
1. …
The heartbreaking lesson about life, love, and the “doctor hustle”
“Bring me flowers now while I’m living.
I don’t need your love when I’m gone.
Don’t spend time, tears, and money on my old breathless body.
If your heart is them flowers, bring ’em on.”
These are the words of that great philosopher and country music singer, Tanya Tucker. A friend of hers had died, and someone suggested they bring flowers for the deceased. Tanya thought about this a moment. As she reflected on …
Past Week
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is talking when they should be listening
-
What the death of UnitedHealth CEO reveals about our broken health care system
-
American tears and allyship: Who is at your table?
-
The future of orthopedic care: Embracing the ASC-urgent care model
-
Do you think the needle is moving in health care?
-
The impact of digital health tools on preventing chronic disease: a public health revolution
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Past 6 Months
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If you are pro-psychiatry, should you be anti-RFK?
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Restoring compassionate pain care: a call to action
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Is the Goldwater Rule hindering us?
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How one ER’s choice changed my son’s life forever
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How to dress like a doctor
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Ways that one can succeed in dermatology residency: words of wisdom from a program coordinator
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Recent Posts
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How fee-for-service shapes your doctor’s decisions
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How being “the problem” can make you a force for change
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The testosterone surge: Are men chasing solutions or creating new risks?
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How primary care could transform our health system [PODCAST]
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Navigating Goodhart’s Law dilemma and the future of AI in medicine
-
A wake-up call for dementia detection: the urgent need for precision tools across health care
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Past Week
-
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is talking when they should be listening
-
What the death of UnitedHealth CEO reveals about our broken health care system
-
American tears and allyship: Who is at your table?
-
The future of orthopedic care: Embracing the ASC-urgent care model
-
Do you think the needle is moving in health care?
-
The impact of digital health tools on preventing chronic disease: a public health revolution
-
Past 6 Months
-
If you are pro-psychiatry, should you be anti-RFK?
-
Restoring compassionate pain care: a call to action
-
Is the Goldwater Rule hindering us?
-
How one ER’s choice changed my son’s life forever
-
How to dress like a doctor
-
Ways that one can succeed in dermatology residency: words of wisdom from a program coordinator
-
Recent Posts
-
How fee-for-service shapes your doctor’s decisions
-
How being “the problem” can make you a force for change
-
The testosterone surge: Are men chasing solutions or creating new risks?
-
How primary care could transform our health system [PODCAST]
-
Navigating Goodhart’s Law dilemma and the future of AI in medicine
-
A wake-up call for dementia detection: the urgent need for precision tools across health care
-
