I write widely as a subject matter expert on U.S. policy for the regulation of prescription opioid pain relievers and of clinicians who employ them in managing their patients’ chronic pain. Because I am a patient advocate and the spouse of a chronic pain patient, I hear from a lot of suffering people. In one form or another, many of their pleas amount to, “My doctor has deserted me, …
25 years ago, at the age of 42, I had my first mammogram, which was part of my routine checkup. I had no symptoms at the time.
I was devastated when the radiologist discovered a shadow in my left breast. To confirm this, a biopsy was scheduled, and indeed, the biopsy confirmed that I had breast cancer.
I consider myself fortunate because we caught it early, and there was no involvement of …
My breast cancer journey: Why mammograms matter
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Join Brian Hudes, a gastroenterologist. We’ll delve into the evolving landscape of gastroenterology in the United States, exploring historical decisions, changing demographics, and the impact on physician salaries. Discover the challenges and potential solutions in this vital …
Insights into the gastroenterology workforce [PODCAST]
The practice of evidence-based medicine and lifelong learning are core tenets of medicine. Through courses, conferences, and lectures, physicians have regularly turned to their colleagues for continuing education. For decades, this reliance on physician-to-physician teaching has been a fitting choice for the subjects at hand, which usually related to clinical practice. In recent years, there has been widespread development of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Holding to previous patterns, …
Learning health equity from activists: a paradigm shift for physicians
What do you do if you get an administrative or court subpoena to produce “all” medical records on one or more patients? Are you sure that your electronic medical records can even create a true “legal” chart? With everything recorded chronologically? How would you know if something was left out?
And if you get an administrative or court subpoena for “all” medical records, what does that mean? What about access logs …
Navigating subpoenas and EHR integration
One of the most memorable scenes in Goodfellas occurs early on, when the audience is introduced to most of the crew at the Bamboo Lounge. Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) and Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci) get into a tense exchange. Tommy seems to get offended after Henry calls him funny. “I’m funny how, Tommy wants to know?” “I mean, funny like a clown? I amuse you? I make you laugh?”
Unknown to …
Kick start your writing with a surprise
Are you happy and satisfied with your private medical practice today? Over 65 percent of physicians admit they aren’t. Such a high percentage is indicative of serious problems within the medical profession that aren’t being resolved. These issues are increasing, not decreasing.
Some believe it’s the result of several stress factors among practicing physicians stemming from variable pressure-inciting sources inside and outside the medical practice business. Others sanctify their distress and …
Private medical practice: thriving with business knowledge
I have wanted to work in medicine ever since my eleven-year-old cousin passed out during my uncle’s birthday party. He suddenly fainted when we were supposed to cut the cake. We rushed to the emergency room. Doctors diagnosed him with blood cancer after a couple of months, which was too late for him to survive. That incident sparked my interest in becoming a physician assistant. I put all my efforts …
Turning adversity into hope: my path to a career in medicine
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Join Tami Burdick, a patient advocate and author of Diagnosis Detective: Curing Granulomatous Mastitis. Discover the ins and outs of medical gaslighting, learn to recognize the red flags, and explore how both patients and health care providers …
Unmasking medical gaslighting [PODCAST]
In today’s fashion landscape, one may wonder if size truly matters anymore. With the prevalence of spandex in clothing, determining one’s actual size has become a challenging feat. The question arises: what role does spandex play in the ongoing obesity crisis? Does it hinder our ability to make informed choices about our weight and health?
Consider this scenario: you weigh 130 lbs., but the pants you wear contain 2 percent spandex. …
The Spandex dilemma: Does size still matter?
In a world often marred by division, conflict, and hatred, the concept of love may seem like a fragile flower struggling to bloom amidst a harsh and unforgiving landscape. However, it is precisely in such a world that the power of love shines most brilliantly. Let us explore the importance of love in a world full of hate and consider insights into how individuals and communities can foster love to …
Love in a world full of hate: a beacon of hope
“America’s health care system is neither healthy, caring, nor a system.”
– Walter Cronkite
Hospitals, revered as places of healing and recovery, hold secrets and harbor mistakes that can take a heavy toll on patients. These hidden truths, often concealed behind the walls of health care institutions, come with dire consequences. Supported by alarming statistics and credible sources, this exploration unveils some of the most unsettling aspects of the health care system.
As …
Hospital secrets that patients don’t know
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Join Kara Wada, a board-certified academic adult and pediatric allergy, immunology, and lifestyle medicine physician. We’ll delve into the world of ragweed allergies, exploring their prevalence, causes, and practical tips for managing symptoms. Discover how factors like …
What you need to know about ragweed allergies [PODCAST]
October is an important month for many, but I’m not actually talking about Halloween. However, for many, it can be a reminder of something very scary that happened in their lifetime. For me, it isn’t October, a month dedicated to breast cancer awareness.
March was when breast pain and a self-detected lump would lead me on an exhaustive journey for answers. Something evil had definitely been brewing, like a witch’s pot, …
When a breast lump is as scary as Halloween
Compelling storytelling on your resume can help you stand out as a job candidate. However, storytelling and the story of your life (which is the meaning of curriculum vitae) are not the same.
With so many resumes flooding the job market, it can be challenging to make yours stand out. That’s where storytelling comes in. By incorporating storytelling into your resume, you can showcase your unique experiences, skills, and accomplishments in …
The power of storytelling in your resume
On October 28, 1918, a San Francisco horseshoer named James Wisser urged a street corner crowd to throw away their masks in defiance of a local mask mandate issued a few days before. He was shot twice after resisting a local health inspector’s attempt to force compliance. At that time, most of the medical community believed that cotton gauze masks were useful in slowing infection rates, but dissenting …
When mandates fail to protect, science can help
In psychiatry, we are trained to prepare our patients for the end of treatment. Treatment planning focuses on goals and strategies to help the person eventually end their need for therapy and external interventions. Interestingly, even with this anticipation of ending our relationship as part of the focus, it is not unusual for patients to disappear.
Ghosting doctors and treatment personnel is sadly commonplace in the mental health space. I have …
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Join Nicholas A. Daniels, an internal medicine physician and the author of Outbreaks and Pandemics: The Life of a Disease Detective. In this episode, we delve deep into the crucial role disease detectives play in solving and …
Heroes of pandemic control [PODCAST]
A woman who asked us to call her Strawberry taught me cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for the first time, more than thirty years ago. I was getting my Girl Scout badge in babysitting, and it was a requirement. The class involved an overview of the “ABC’s” and half-hearted compressions on our friends. We did a craft afterward.
A few years later, I took my second CPR class in my high school natatorium. …
The lifesaving power of CPR: a 30-year journey
I am writing to express my extreme disappointment in my specialty’s national board organization and its lack of response to the tragedy still unfolding in Israel. Ophthalmology oral boards are currently scheduled for 10/20/2023 through 10/22/2023, and I have received multiple notifications this week regarding testing logistics but not a single reference to a terrorist attack on the scale of the bombing of the Twin Towers in New York City. …
Disappointment with a specialty board’s response to Israel crisis
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