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My battle with atrial fibrillation

Conditions

December 31, 2023

A while ago, I wrote about my experience during an attack of atrial fibrillation (afib), lamenting the fact that my management never included a proper physical exam. Nevertheless, chemical cardioversion was successful, and my hospital stay was brief.

The episode was precipitated by a small pulmonary embolus acquired during sinus surgery the day before. I had experienced an episode of afib some 15 years previously and had remained free, I think …

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My battle with atrial fibrillation

How one doctor’s stories transform lives [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 30, 2023

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Join Laya Jalilian-Khave, a physician and post-doctoral fellow in psychiatry. Laya shares her profound journey from medical school in Tehran to practicing medicine in diverse settings, including the border regions of Iran and Afghanistan. Discover how she …

Revolutionizing health care: Rethinking burnout and resilience

Vickie Leff, LCSW

Conditions

December 30, 2023

I read all the time about the strategies and measures physicians and other health care professionals take to mitigate, reduce, or immunize themselves against burnout, moral distress, and empathic strain. We have been talking about this for decades, with an increase in “burnout” as a result. It seems time to shift the paradigm to allow for more productive discussions, acceptance, and strategies. Instead of talking about burnout, resilience, and self-care …

To address youth mental health, we must address insurance barriers

Alex Stavros, MBA

Policy

December 30, 2023

It’s been two years since the American Academy of Pediatrics declared a national state of emergency in children’s mental health. Yet sadly, very little has changed. This year, 25 percent of youth have been diagnosed with a mental health condition. More than 20 percent of teens have seriously considered suicide, and more than 40 percent of high school students reported that they’d felt so sad …

Unmasking the profit-driven influence on American health care decisions

Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD

Physician

December 30, 2023

The practice of medicine has been significantly enhanced by advancing technology. However, even with four years of medical school and an MD degree, this only provides the foundation for what is needed to be a good doctor. A critically important skill is the ability to make sound medical decisions.

This is why there is a hierarchy in training that begins after medical school, progressing through internship, residency, fellowship, and eventually leading …

Clinical work to new horizons [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 29, 2023

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Join Kim Downey, a physical therapist, David Fessell, a radiologist, and Todd R. Otten, a family physician, as they share their journeys and expertise. Discover their unique perspectives on well-being, health care transformation, and strategies for achieving …

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Clinical work to new horizons [PODCAST]

The hidden gem of family medicine: a rural clinic’s triumph

Amy Ellingson, MD

Physician

December 29, 2023

I want to share this good news, but at the same time, I am a bit afraid to let the word get out. Our rural health clinic in Brewster has found a way to keep family medicine alive.

My generation of doctors has experienced incredible changes. The internet revolution is one of them. When I went to medical school in 1995, the internet was slow and clunky and limited in its …

A doctor’s journey through babka and beyond

Scott Selinger, MD

Physician

December 29, 2023

I couldn’t even describe what it meant to be a spiritual person or put words to what spirituality is, yet I would be facilitating a class for MS1s on the importance of and how to take a spiritual history. I was looking for some thinking space; my girls kept telling me I should quit my job as a primary care physician and just bake, and there was something telling me …

Medical professional gaslighting: the lack of psychological safety in medicine

Tracey O'Connell, MD

Physician

December 29, 2023

Toward the end of my third year of medical school, I was 25, newly married, and overwhelmed by responsibility. I hadn’t enjoyed the clinical rotations. The hours and the degree of human suffering were just too much. My husband and I fought about how unavailable I was. I had to complete my 6-week psychiatry rotation 3 hours away from home. I wasn’t sleeping well, so I went to student health …

A patient advocate’s battle scars in health care [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 28, 2023

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Join Dinaaz Lentin, a patient advocate. In this discussion, Dinaaz shares her powerful book, BATTLE SCARS: A courageous memoir of one person’s life experience within our health care system. Get ready to dive into her personal journey, …

Debunking sensational euthanasia myths in the Netherlands

M. Bennet Broner, PhD

Conditions

December 28, 2023

While surfing cellphone news headlines, my attention was caught by one from the New York Post that blared: “Dutch are Euthanizing Autistic People.” The Post aims for sensationalism, and the headline implied mass slaughter, akin to the Nazi gassing of individuals with mental disabilities. As euthanasia is of academic interest to me, I felt compelled to read the story.

The article’s basis was a study conducted at Kingston University, London. …

How to shed old narratives and forge a powerful new identity in 2024

Parastoo Jangouk, MD

Physician

December 28, 2023

Like other business owners and private medical groups, I tend to work more hours towards the end of the year.

December is an endless marathon trying to see more patients, add more procedure hours, and double book the office and endoscopy sessions on the clinic side. On the business side, we are creating more content and marketing our online programs.

Patients have met their deductibles; they need to check their screening colonoscopies …

How religious freedoms impact patient care

Patricia A. Gabow, MD

Physician

December 28, 2023

An excerpt from The Catholic Church and Its Hospitals: A Marriage Made in Heaven?

The ability of Catholic hospitals and physicians to withhold some medically accepted care from patients based on their own religious and moral beliefs is made possible by numerous protections of religious freedoms. However, patients look to their …

The direct care model’s win-win for patients and physicians

Grace Torres-Hodges, DPM, MBA

Physician

December 28, 2023

As I approach 25 years of practicing medicine in the same community where my parents dedicated 50 years to their medical careers, I’ve been privileged to develop lasting relationships with individuals who have entrusted me with their health care. The continuity of care and community connection is exactly how many of us envisioned our medical journeys, and for that, I am so thankful!

I recognize the importance of legacy. The profound …

Hidden truths and medical intrigue [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 27, 2023

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Join Jennifer Lycette, a novelist and rural hematology-oncology physician. We discuss Jennifer’s latest work, The Committee Will Kill You Now, a novel that explores the dark side of the …

Navigating a leave of absence from medical school: a comprehensive guide

Stephanie E. Moss

Education

December 27, 2023

Taking a leave of absence (LOA) from medical school is a significant decision that involves careful consideration of various factors. In this article, I will consolidate valuable information on types of LOAs, reasons for taking one, and crucial considerations during and after. This information comes from my own experience taking an LOA between my 2nd and 3rd year of medical school, and the results of an anonymous survey of 16 …

An approach to conflict resolution: More than one thing can be true

Jill Wener, MD

Physician

December 27, 2023

The past months have unearthed and amplified passionately opposing opinions about international events, in particular regarding Palestine and Israel. In addition to attending protests, calling my representatives, and having conversations with people I know, I’ve been publicly sharing my feelings about Palestine and Israel. While I stand firm in what I believe, my feelings around it are complex: I’m Jewish, and I’m anti-Zionist.

We encounter complex beliefs and feelings, many of …

A Cuba missionary journey: Witnessing faith amidst hardship

William Lynes, MD

Physician

December 27, 2023

I had the honor and privilege of visiting Cuba for a missionary trip this past week. As I ponder that amazing time, I will put my thoughts in this essay.

Cuba is a small, sad country in the Caribbean. While one can see the tropical beauty and its former potential, the country has been ruined by a communist government and an overarching U.S. embargo, whose presence is now unnecessary. The Cuban …

From fear to empowerment: Beating breast lump anxiety [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 26, 2023

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Join Tami Burdick, a patient advocate and the author of Diagnosis Detective: Curing Granulomatous Mastitis. Tami shares her personal journey with granulomatous mastitis (GM) and how she navigated the fear of a breast lump. Discover the relationship …

Discover the hidden world of state medical board complaints

Gretchen E. Green, MD

Physician

December 26, 2023

In a world of 24/7 news coverage often highlighting high-verdict medical malpractice cases, few physicians know about thousands of complaints that undergo review by state medical boards each year. Most complaints are filed by patients and/or family members, malpractice payment reports by insurance companies, and actions by other state medical boards. In North Carolina, where I practice, nearly 3,000 complaints were filed in 2021, 1,835 of which were filed …

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