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What we have to gain from weight loss drugs

Conditions

November 9, 2023

Twenty years ago, the headlines were grim. It was common for studies to warn: “Rising childhood obesity will decrease life expectancy.” In large part, those predictions came true. The rise in obesity – both in children and adults – has correlated to a catastrophic rise in chronic disease that continues to affect life expectancy, cost of care, and quality of life.

But take a look at the health news headlines now, …

Medical ethics dilemma: a hemodialysis decision

Jennifer Lycette, MD

Conditions

November 9, 2023

An excerpt from The Committee Will Kill You Now.

“You couldn’t get her niece to budge on the hemodialysis decision?” Harper sank into the resident lounge’s threadbare couch and kicked up her feet.

“Nope.” Noah slumped in the chair across from her. It was late afternoon, and he’d almost finished checking off …

A doctor’s thoughts on The Retrievals podcast

Valerie LeComte, DO

Physician

November 9, 2023

I recently listened to the podcast mini-series The Retrievals. It was fascinating and absolutely worth a listen. It’s the story of a Yale infertility clinic where a nurse was stealing fentanyl and replacing it with normal saline. As a result, women ended up getting egg retrievals with only midazolam, no pain control. There were interviews with women who described the horrific pain of the procedures but didn’t feel that they …

Innovative approaches to mental health with a cognitive neuroscientist [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

November 8, 2023

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

Join us on this episode as we delve into the fascinating world of cognitive neuroscience with our guest, Moshe Bar. Discover how simple word associations and cognitive activities can transform mental health and address mood disorders like …

From mental health facilities to prisons: a concerning shift

L. Joseph Parker, MD

Physician

November 8, 2023

According to a report from the U.S. Department of Justice, 37 percent of the people in prison have a history of mental health problems. This was not always the case. The United States at one time had state mental health facilities, where those with mental illness could be treated. From 1870 to 1955, these numbers increased until it peaked at almost 600,000. This was 0.36 percent of the then population …

Life beyond career milestones across industries

Harvey Castro, MD, MBA

Tech

November 8, 2023

Navigating career transitions across diverse fields

Embarking on a career transition can be as daunting as it is exciting. Whether you’re a seasoned physician contemplating a shift into humanitarian work, a military veteran eyeing the entrepreneurial landscape, or a tech professional eager to innovate in the startup realm, the journey ahead is paved with unique challenges and opportunities. This guide offers strategic insights …

Physicians can write their way to increased empathy

Laya Jalilian-Khave, MD

Physician

November 8, 2023

“When and how much?” I tried to recall the list of questions for intoxicated patients. A middle-aged man, much older than the demographics printed on the documents I hold, was writhing in pain, vomiting, and sobbing. The paper stated: chief complaint – mouse poison pellet ingestion, attempting suicide. “How and why?” I kept asking. I was his first encounter upon entering the emergency room, a terrified fifth-year medical student at …

Prioritizing physician wellness and industry change [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

November 7, 2023

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

Join Dike Drummond, a family practice physician, burnout survivor, and executive coach. In this episode, we’ll delve into the future of health care in the United States, discussing workforce demographics, the impact of burnout, the role of …

The power of bibliotherapy to heal

Andrea Sonnenberg, JD

Conditions

November 7, 2023

We are in the midst of an alarming global mental health crisis. Its impact is felt most acutely by our youth. Nearly 20 percent of children ages 3-17 in the U.S. have a mental health issue, and suicidal behaviors among high school students increased more than 40 percent in the decade before 2019. As for 2020 and beyond, the isolation and sudden changes brought on by COVID exacerbated …

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The power of bibliotherapy to heal

How to reduce your taxes as a doctor

Amarish Dave, DO

Finance

November 7, 2023

Understanding and implementing effective tax planning strategies can make a significant difference in your financial health. Doctors often face unique tax challenges due to their high-income nature, and this article will explore key tax planning strategies tailored to the needs of medical practitioners.

1. Choose the right business structure. One of the initial steps in tax planning for doctors is selecting the most advantageous business structure for your practice. The most …

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How to reduce your taxes as a doctor

A life-changing illness started with a popcorn kernel and just-in-case treatment

Carol Raye

Conditions

November 7, 2023

My decade-long struggle began with a tiny piece of popcorn hull stuck under my gum, which led to a visit to the dentist and an antibiotic, prescribed just in case that persistent irritation behind a tooth was an infection. The antibiotic, clindamycin, cleared my gut of healthy microbes to make way for a dangerous outbreak of Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile, leaving me with severe diarrhea that nearly killed me.

I suffered …

Social media’s impact on mental health [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

November 6, 2023

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

Join us as we explore the profound impact of social media on mental health, particularly among young people, with our guest, Mohammed Umer Waris. As a family medicine resident, Mohammed brings a unique perspective on the intersection …

Encountering a gentle soul amidst stomach cancer

Veronica Bonales, MD

Conditions

November 6, 2023

It was the final hour of my shift, and I was cleaning up for my colleague who would be taking over. Glancing at the clock, I decided I could see one of the “easy” fast-track patients just to help offload the board a bit. I figured he wasn’t going to take long, as his complaint on the board was “sore throat.” What I came to find out was that he …

Antisemitism is at a historic high not just in other countries, but right here in America

Joshua D. Lenchus, DO

Physician

November 6, 2023

October 7, much like Pearl Harbor or September 11, 2001, is a day that will forever be etched in infamy for Israel and Jews worldwide. Not since the Holocaust have so many Jewish people been killed in a single day. This was not a random act; it was a meticulously planned and incentivized scheme aimed at obstructing the progress of peace in the Middle East. Brutality, depravity, and inhumanity were …

A surprising acne rosacea remedy

Martin C. Young, MD

Conditions

November 6, 2023

I have typically managed my mild case of acne rosacea (AR) with affordable over-the-counter (OTC) medications, but there has always been a residual redness that bothered me.

Recently, while reading about Demodex, microscopic mites that live on the faces of many of us in our hair follicles and sebaceous glands, I became interested in their potential connection to AR. I wondered if a topical mitocidal treatment might be helpful. Some research …

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A surprising acne rosacea remedy

Empowering health care professionals through mindfulness [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

November 5, 2023

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

We delve into the critical issue of physician burnout and the transformative power of mindfulness in health care. Our guest, Seema Desai, a dentist and life coach, shares her expertise on how mindfulness can benefit health care …

Posttraumatic growth: Embracing the healing and transformation

Edith Shiro, PhD

Conditions

November 5, 2023

When a traumatic experience shatters our world and we’re left to pick up the pieces, the idea that we can heal, and actually transform as a result of …

The real story behind Woodstock is not the brown acid

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Physician

November 5, 2023

In my search for ever-obscure rock music from my generation – not the greatest generation but the flower generation – I came across a CD collection of rare songs titled “Brown Acid: The Seventeenth Trip,” appropriately subtitled: “Heavy Rock from the Underground Comedown.” The record review began as follows: “Lucky number 17? You better believe it. We here at Brown Acid have been scouring the highways and byways of America …

Expertise about a drug doesn’t make you an expert about the stock

Amarish Dave, DO

Finance

November 5, 2023

As doctors, we are highly skilled in our respective specialties, but when it comes to managing our finances and investments, we may encounter unique challenges. One common pitfall is the tendency to invest heavily in medical stocks or health care-related assets due to familiarity and overconfidence. Just because we know a disease or drug doesn’t mean we can make a good decision on the stock of a company. Even if …

From compassionate care to corporate medicine: Physicians speak out

Jason E. Liebowitz, MD, Kenneth M. Prager, MD, and Wendy Dean, MD

Physician

November 5, 2023

Four years ago, I (JEL) had just finished a fellowship and was elated to start my dream job in a physician-owned and operated group practice. The doctors in the group were tight-knit supporters of each other and the local community. Right away, I began building meaningful relationships with the patients and colleagues that I thought would be with me for decades. But without warning, in year two, the group’s senior …

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