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What happens if medical malpractice attorneys take over

Howard Smith, MD

March 6, 2025Mar 6, 2025

Senator Dick Durbin proudly describes his career in the following quote: "Before I was elected to Congress, I worked in a courtroom. For years, I defended doctors and hospitals, and for years, I sued them on behalf of people who…

Senator Dick Durbin proudly describes his career in the following quote: “Before I was elected to Congress, I worked in a courtroom. For years, I defended doctors and hospitals, and for years, I sued them on behalf of people who were victims of medical malpractice.”

Thirty percent, 131 members, of the House of Representatives and 51 percent, 51 members, of the Senate are lawyers. Senator Durbin is one of 182 lawyers …

Why ADHD kids struggle and how we can truly help

Paige Kalika, DO

March 6, 2025Mar 6, 2025

How do I talk to my kid about ADHD? You're not alone. Your child's pediatrician should be your first stop in this journey. As a neurospicy pediatric neurologist with an ADHD child, this is how I discuss this topic with…

How do I talk to my kid about ADHD?

You’re not alone. Your child’s pediatrician should be your first stop in this journey. As a neurospicy pediatric neurologist with an ADHD child, this is how I discuss this topic with my patients and their families.

The first thing I ask my patients is, “Are you trying harder?” Because that’s what we keep telling them to do—try harder! Every single child nods eagerly …

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Janet Constance Coleman-Belin

Physicians are not quitting medicine—they are expanding their impact

Jawaria Suhail, MD

March 6, 2025Mar 6, 2025

The moment I was born, my future was decided for me—I was going to be a doctor. My mother had made up her mind, and from that point forward, my path seemed clear: medical school, residency, patient care for life.…

For many physicians, this is the only path we have ever known. Medicine is not just a career; it is an identity, a commitment, a calling. But …

Medical education

Breaking the cycle of pain: practical steps to improve medical training

March 6, 2025Mar 6, 2025

Medical training is hard for everyone, but faculty and administration influence trainee success—and have the power to drive change. This article follows "The hidden cost of medical training: Debt, depression, and despair," which left one crucial question unanswered: What can…

Medical training is hard for everyone, but faculty and administration influence trainee success—and have the power to drive change.

This article follows “The hidden cost of medical training: Debt, depression, and despair,” which left one crucial question unanswered: What can be done to improve medical training?

The answer is simple, but not easy: We must fix it.

Mending what’s broken

While mindfulness, meditation, and resilience are valuable tools, they’re too often used to …

How poor doctor-patient communication leads to worse outcomes [PODCAST]

March 5, 2025Mar 5, 2025

Family physician Pamela Buchanan discusses her article, "How poor communication is killing patients and burning out doctors," exploring the devastating impact of unclear or avoided conversations in health care. Pamela shares firsthand experiences from the emergency room, where patients often…

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Family physician Pamela Buchanan discusses her article, “How poor communication is killing patients and burning out doctors,” exploring the devastating impact of unclear or avoided conversations in health care. Pamela shares firsthand experiences from the emergency room, where patients often arrive not just for treatment but for clarity about their …

Do microplastics cause dementia?

Do microplastics cause dementia?

Marc Arginteanu, MD

March 5, 2025Mar 5, 2025

Let's begin by understanding the scope of the dementia problem: According to data from Alzheimer's Disease International, before you finish reading this sentence, someone, somewhere in the world will have developed dementia. Here comes another sentence, and there goes another…

Let’s begin by understanding the scope of the dementia problem: According to data from Alzheimer’s Disease International, before you finish reading this sentence, someone, somewhere in the world will have developed dementia. Here comes another sentence, and there goes another new case of dementia. There goes another. And so on.

In 2020, the organization estimated that more than fifty-five million people across the globe were suffering from dementia. What’s more, this …

Read more…

Understanding Ramadan: a guide for dermatologists treating Muslim patients

Aamir Hussain, MD

March 5, 2025Mar 5, 2025

As dermatologists, we often encounter patients with diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, each presenting unique considerations for treatment planning. For Muslim patients, Ramadan—a month-long period of fasting observed by approximately 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide—can significantly influence dermatological care. This article provides an overview of Ramadan, explores the compatibility of topical medications, injections, and oral medications with fasting, and offers practical guidance for developing treatment plans that respect patients’ religious practices …

Why friendships fade: Understanding the seasons of life

Osmund Agbo, MD

March 5, 2025Mar 5, 2025

Recently, a close friend of mine reached out, expressing his frustration over our mutual friend, who, for some time now, has ignored his calls and messages. We spoke at length, the conversation charged with emotion, and the underlying theme of our exchange led me to reflect deeply on the nature of friendships in adulthood. I have decided to share these reflections.

John and Darrel (not their real names) were two best …

Our transgender patients need our advocacy now

Amy Philipp, DO

March 5, 2025Mar 5, 20252

(I will speak here specifically about transgender folks, but also affected are those born intersex and those who identify as non-binary.) We, as physicians, have a duty to do what is right for our patients. Most, if not all of…

(I will speak here specifically about transgender folks, but also affected are those born intersex and those who identify as non-binary.)

We, as physicians, have a duty to do what is right for our patients. Most, if not all of us, entered this profession with the great intention of helping others with scientifically proven treatments in order to limit or relieve illness and suffering.

LGBTQ+ members of our society have long faced …

How to combat the rise of health care ransomware [PODCAST]

March 4, 2025Mar 4, 2025

Health care executive Cecil Pineda discusses his article, "Under siege: the escalating ransomware crisis in health care," examining the alarming rise in cyberattacks on hospitals and health systems. Cecil highlights the growing frequency and financial toll of ransomware attacks, with…

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Health care executive Cecil Pineda discusses his article, “Under siege: the escalating ransomware crisis in health care,” examining the alarming rise in cyberattacks on hospitals and health systems. Cecil highlights the growing frequency and financial toll of ransomware attacks, with major incidents affecting patient care, disrupting operations, and costing billions. …

Health technology

Why your EHR’s certification matters more than you think

Sara Pastoor, MD

March 4, 2025Mar 4, 2025

Modern EHRs and “CEHRT" Electronic health records (EHRs) and their role in modern health care are inescapable today. But have you ever stopped to ask: Is my EHR certified? And more importantly, why does that matter? As any EHR user…

Modern EHRs and “CEHRT”

Electronic health records (EHRs) and their role in modern health care are inescapable today. But have you ever stopped to ask: Is my EHR certified? And more importantly, why does that matter?

As any EHR user knows, not all EHRs are created equal. A little-known differentiator is that some systems are Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT), while a growing number of newer systems are not. If you’ve …

Health technology

AI agents in health care: Balancing innovation, trust, and evidence-based implementation

Harvey Castro, MD, MBA

March 4, 2025Mar 4, 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) agents significantly transform health care by automating routine tasks, enhancing clinical decision-making, and reducing administrative burdens. These intelligent systems are increasingly applied in medical documentation, diagnostics, and patient engagement, offering substantial potential for improved patient outcomes and…

However, substantial challenges in establishing trust, regulation, and evidence-based validation remain critical to achieving widespread adoption. AI in health care has received considerable attention, but clinical

…

Health technology

Artificial intelligence in health care: What your patients want to know

Cory Hayes, MPH & Jeanna Blitz, MD & Sailee Bhambere, MPH

March 4, 2025Mar 4, 2025

Most patients feel it is important to be informed when artificial intelligence (AI) will play a role in their care. Although most anticipate that AI will make health care at least somewhat better in the next five years, many express…

These mixed feelings highlight the importance of addressing patient concerns and providing clear, accessible information. To help patients better …

How doctors’ words can make or break patient care

Scott Abramson, MD

March 4, 2025Mar 4, 2025

Perhaps almost as important as our history-taking, our diagnosis, and our care of patients are the words we use to communicate that history-taking, that diagnosis, and that care. Scenario one: the not so good A while ago, I happened to…

Perhaps almost as important as our history-taking, our diagnosis, and our care of patients are the words we use to communicate that history-taking, that diagnosis, and that care.

Scenario one: the not so good

A while ago, I happened to witness a family hospital conference about their dad’s new diagnosis of cancer. There were ten family members present, all very devoted and concerned, though not particularly medically sophisticated. With much compassion and …

The Corrupted Blood incident: What a video game pandemic teaches about public health

Neil Anand, MD

March 4, 2025Mar 4, 2025

In the fall of 2005, an invisible threat swept across the digital computer game World of Warcraft, spreading panic, overwhelming entire cities, and leaving countless players scrambling for answers. It wasn’t a new raid boss or a cunning video game developer-driven event—it was a computer virus. The Corrupted Blood incident, as it came to be known, started as a simple computer bug in a video game dungeon. Within days, it …

American College of Physicians & The Podcast by KevinMD

Why physicians must uphold their oath in challenging times [PODCAST]

March 3, 2025Mar 3, 2025

Janet A. Jokela, an infectious disease physician, discusses her article, "Doctors, grounded in our oath, must act now more than ever," reflecting on the physician's solemn commitment to patient care, integrity, and advocacy. With increasing challenges to public health institutions…

Listen on Apple Podcasts · Spotify

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Janet A. Jokela, an infectious disease physician, discusses her article, “Doctors, grounded in our oath, must act now more than ever,” reflecting on the physician’s solemn commitment to patient care, integrity, and advocacy. With increasing challenges to public health institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease …

What’s going on with left-sided breast cancer: a curious phenomenon

Thomas Amburn, MD

March 3, 2025Mar 3, 2025

In clinical research, chart review is nearly as familiar as daily functions like walking or breathing. My days are full of identifying missing variables, finding them in the electronic medical records, then documenting them in my meticulously organized data sheets. However, during these chart reviews, my mind tries to find a way to break out of autopilot by looking for trends in the data. That’s how I recently noticed the …

The future of psychiatry: How AI and genetics are reshaping mental health care

Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD

March 3, 2025Mar 3, 2025

The field of psychiatry is in greater demand than ever in the 21st century. As our lifestyles evolve and the global economy becomes increasingly knowledge-based, psychiatry plays a crucial role in enhancing and optimizing cognitive and emotional functioning. The father of American psychiatry, Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signatory of the Declaration of Independence, once stated, “Temperate, sincere, and intelligent inquiry and discussion are only to be dreaded by the advocates …