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Conditions and diseases

What U.S. veterans with ALS deserve to know

When considering the diseases that United States veterans are burdened with, you might think of COPD, Type 2 Diabetes, certain cancers, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. However, there is another disease diagnosed at twice the rate in veterans compared to…

When considering the diseases that United States veterans are burdened with, you might think of COPD, Type 2 Diabetes, certain cancers, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. However, there is another disease diagnosed at twice the rate in veterans compared to the general population: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is one of the only diseases known to occur at an increased rate in all veterans, regardless of when or how long …

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What U.S. veterans with ALS deserve to know

Medical education

How COVID-19 shaped my view on neurosurgery: a medical student’s insight

The COVID-19 pandemic has left an indelible mark on every aspect of health care, including neurosurgery. As a fourth-year medical student navigating my neurosurgical rotations during this unprecedented time, I experienced firsthand how the pandemic reshaped our approach to medical…

The COVID-19 pandemic has left an indelible mark on every aspect of health care, including neurosurgery. As a fourth-year medical student navigating my neurosurgical rotations during this unprecedented time, I experienced firsthand how the pandemic reshaped our approach to medical education, patient care, and surgical practice. This period has been transformative, challenging my understanding of neurosurgery and reinforcing the need for adaptability and resilience in the face of unforeseen challenges.

Before …

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How COVID-19 shaped my view on neurosurgery: a medical student’s insight

Physician voices

The unlikely friendship between a young doctor and an elderly scholar

He is 75 years old, and I am 30. Wondering how we met? It was a very casual meeting in a park. I live in a four-story building with numerous flats. There is a long walking and jogging track and…

He is 75 years old, and I am 30. Wondering how we met? It was a very casual meeting in a park.

I live in a four-story building with numerous flats. There is a long walking and jogging track and a playground in front of my building.

On the opposite side of this ground, there are huge bungalows and fancy houses.

People from both sides of the road come here to walk and …

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The unlikely friendship between a young doctor and an elderly scholar

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Conditions and diseases

Psychological safety for all: Why this phenomenon matters to everyone

We saw the smile vanish from her face instantly. Our colleague, a zestful individual with a passion for obstetrical care, fell silent after our superiors met her ideas for improving her training experience with defensiveness and deflection. After the meeting,…

We saw the smile vanish from her face instantly. Our colleague, a zestful individual with a passion for obstetrical care, fell silent after our superiors met her ideas for improving her training experience with defensiveness and deflection. After the meeting, she confessed she was losing hope about getting robust enough exposure to delivering babies and managing laboring mothers prior to completing residency. For her, this was essential to her securing …

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Psychological safety for all: Why this phenomenon matters to everyone

The Podcast by KevinMD

Telltale hearts: the untold power of patient stories in medicine [PODCAST]

We welcome Dean-David Schillinger, an internal medicine physician and public health leader. Dean-David discusses his book, Telltale Hearts: A Public Health Doctor, His Patients, and the Power of Story. Drawing from over three decades of experience in one of the…

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We welcome Dean-David Schillinger, an internal medicine physician and public health leader. Dean-David discusses his book, Telltale Hearts: A Public Health Doctor, His Patients, and the Power of Story. Drawing from over three decades of experience in one of the nation’s busiest public hospitals, he shares powerful insights on how listening …

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Telltale hearts: the untold power of patient stories in medicine [PODCAST]

Medical education

The surprising power of laughter and creativity in medical training

Teaching is a blast! As an attending, I love to employ offbeat methods, with absurdity and humor, at times skirting the edge of political incorrectness, all for the purpose of enhancing one's medical education. Educating medical students and residents by…

Teaching is a blast! As an attending, I love to employ offbeat methods, with absurdity and humor, at times skirting the edge of political incorrectness, all for the purpose of enhancing one’s medical education.

Educating medical students and residents by practicing physicians is a tried-and-true element of medical education, a practice dating back through the ages, where those without formal education in the art of teaching provided instruction. This tradition continues …

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The surprising power of laughter and creativity in medical training

Physician voices

Reclaiming joy in health care: Taking control amidst systemic challenges

The American Medical Association recently reported a decline in physician burnout rates, which is fantastic news. Decreasing burnout means happier doctors, improved patient care, and healthier relationships with family and friends. Yet, even with this progress, burnout rates in my…

The American Medical Association recently reported a decline in physician burnout rates, which is fantastic news. Decreasing burnout means happier doctors, improved patient care, and healthier relationships with family and friends. Yet, even with this progress, burnout rates in my own specialty, family medicine, along with other primary care specialties, remain staggeringly high—over 50 percent. As primary care providers, we are often the first point of contact in the health …

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Reclaiming joy in health care: Taking control amidst systemic challenges

Physician finance

The surprising struggles of retirement no one warned you about

2

It took me forever to retire—three years or so. It took so long that my nurses got tired of bringing me purple cakes decorated with whipped cream stethoscopes, but I did it. Now, a few years later, I can tell…

It took me forever to retire—three years or so. It took so long that my nurses got tired of bringing me purple cakes decorated with whipped cream stethoscopes, but I did it. Now, a few years later, I can tell you that the things I worried about were not the ones that gave me trouble.

I had mostly agonized about money—had we saved enough to last us the rest of our …

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The surprising struggles of retirement no one warned you about

The Podcast by KevinMD

Fall prevention in hospitals: How technology can save lives [PODCAST]

We dive into the persistent challenge of fall prevention in hospitals with our guest, Christine Gall, a nurse executive. Despite advancements in patient safety, falls remain a significant issue, resulting in severe injuries and even death. We explore why traditional…

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We dive into the persistent challenge of fall prevention in hospitals with our guest, Christine Gall, a nurse executive. Despite advancements in patient safety, falls remain a significant issue, resulting in severe injuries and even death. We explore why traditional prevention strategies often fail, the staggering human and financial costs of …

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Fall prevention in hospitals: How technology can save lives [PODCAST]

Health policy

A lack of specialized care continues to shortchange Medicaid moms who face the greatest threat from the maternal mental health crisis

In the shadow of America's maternal health crisis, Medicaid mothers are fighting an uphill battle against systemic neglect. Many of these mothers are facing a cruel reality: the more they need help, the harder it is to get. It is…

In the shadow of America’s maternal health crisis, Medicaid mothers are fighting an uphill battle against systemic neglect. Many of these mothers are facing a cruel reality: the more they need help, the harder it is to get.

It is far from uncommon for new mothers in the United States to find themselves thrust into the throes of postpartum depression after welcoming a new life. Most of them, about three-quarters, …

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A lack of specialized care continues to shortchange Medicaid moms who face the greatest threat from the maternal mental health crisis

Physician voices

Why EHRs are ruining health care: a doctor’s shocking truth

7

Here it is … an epic post about EHRs. I've been waiting for years to write this. Literally, years. Ever since 2014, when I was required to attend 30+ hours of unpaid training for this new EHR, I knew this…

Here it is … an epic post about EHRs.

I’ve been waiting for years to write this. Literally, years.

Ever since 2014, when I was required to attend 30+ hours of unpaid training for this new EHR, I knew this post would be written. I did have the option of 10 additional unpaid training hours to become a “gold star super user.” That status would have allowed me to teach every confused …

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Why EHRs are ruining health care: a doctor’s shocking truth

The Podcast by KevinMD

How social media shaming is hurting future doctors [PODCAST]

We sit down with anesthesiologist Jonathan Cohen to explore the impact of social media on the medical learning environment. Recent posts by senior physicians have sparked debate on the public shaming of trainees and the consequences for psychological safety in…

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We sit down with anesthesiologist Jonathan Cohen to explore the impact of social media on the medical learning environment. Recent posts by senior physicians have sparked debate on the public shaming of trainees and the consequences for psychological safety in medicine. Jonathan shares insights on how online behavior can affect the …

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How social media shaming is hurting future doctors [PODCAST]

Physician voices

Save the economy: Choose a surgery center for your procedure

"In this short Life That only lasts an hour How much - how little - is Within our power." —Emily Dickinson Health care around the world faces an existential crisis. While the quality of medicine continues to improve, its cost…

“In this short Life
That only lasts an hour
How much – how little – is
Within our power.”
—Emily Dickinson

Health care around the world faces an existential crisis. While the quality of medicine continues to improve, its cost remains unbridled and out of control. Better means more expensive, be it a drug or an imaging modality. The whole world is aware of this impending financial crisis, and heads are hunched together to find …

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Save the economy: Choose a surgery center for your procedure

Physician voices

Stop using “whole person care” if you are not assessing and providing whole person care

4

The latest term hitting the health care benefit, insurance company, and point solution ecosystem is "whole person care." This term is beginning to be used as a marketing buzzword and is losing its meaning. What is the definition of whole…

The latest term hitting the health care benefit, insurance company, and point solution ecosystem is “whole person care.” This term is beginning to be used as a marketing buzzword and is losing its meaning.

What is the definition of whole person care? The DHHS/NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health defines it as “looking at the whole person—not just separate organs or body systems—and considering multiple factors that promote …

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Stop using “whole person care” if you are not assessing and providing whole person care

Conditions and diseases

The shocking fall of a respected ICU nurse

In the ICU, there was an experienced nurse. She was full of information and knew the policies and procedures inside and out. She was proficient in her role as an ICU nurse. But she was flawed. Something was wrong. Each…

In the ICU, there was an experienced nurse. She was full of information and knew the policies and procedures inside and out. She was proficient in her role as an ICU nurse.

But she was flawed. Something was wrong.

Each day, she came to work wearing a gold bracelet, which she made sure everyone knew was valued at $15,000. She wore two-carat diamond rings. She would arrive, showing off her fancy pocketbook …

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The shocking fall of a respected ICU nurse

The Podcast by KevinMD

Don’t let the SECURE Act devastate your legacy [PODCAST]

We sit down with Freddie Rappina, a financial advisor, chartered financial consultant, and accredited investment fiduciary, to explore how the SECURE Act and SECURE Act 2.0 have changed the landscape of retirement and estate planning. Freddie breaks down the new…

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We sit down with Freddie Rappina, a financial advisor, chartered financial consultant, and accredited investment fiduciary, to explore how the SECURE Act and SECURE Act 2.0 have changed the landscape of retirement and estate planning. Freddie breaks down the new 10-year rule for inherited retirement accounts, explaining its potential tax implications …

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Don’t let the SECURE Act devastate your legacy [PODCAST]

Medical education

Redefining failure in neurosurgery: a student’s perspective on growth and learning

Failure is a word that carries a heavy burden, particularly in the field of neurosurgery, where precision is paramount and the stakes are often life and death. As a 4th-year medical student preparing to enter this demanding specialty, I have…

Failure is a word that carries a heavy burden, particularly in the field of neurosurgery, where precision is paramount and the stakes are often life and death. As a 4th-year medical student preparing to enter this demanding specialty, I have come to realize that failure is not something to be feared, but rather an essential part of the learning process. During my rotations, I have witnessed and experienced firsthand how …

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Redefining failure in neurosurgery: a student’s perspective on growth and learning

Conditions and diseases

What you need to know about near-death experiences

Imagine a medical syndrome so common that as many as one in five patients who nearly die in a medical setting experience it. Also, imagine that this syndrome has a profound, lifelong effect on both the patient and their family.…

Imagine a medical syndrome so common that as many as one in five patients who nearly die in a medical setting experience it. Also, imagine that this syndrome has a profound, lifelong effect on both the patient and their family. Finally, imagine that if this syndrome is mishandled by the patient’s physician, it may have major adverse consequences for the patient and their loved ones.

Sounds like something all physicians and …

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What you need to know about near-death experiences

Physician voices

Performing in the clutch: lessons from a pediatric airway surgeon

I have a confession to make: I have blood on my hands. My actions have led to the death of children. Now, that sounds extreme, and in reality, it is. Not in the course of everyday life, of course. But…

I have a confession to make: I have blood on my hands. My actions have led to the death of children. Now, that sounds extreme, and in reality, it is. Not in the course of everyday life, of course. But as a pediatric otolaryngologist (ENT) and airway surgeon, I have had to make near-instantaneous decisions with life-or-death consequences for the patient. Fortunately, the vast majority of the time, things go …

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Performing in the clutch: lessons from a pediatric airway surgeon

The Podcast by KevinMD

Why postpartum care is failing new mothers [PODCAST]

We sit down with Phindile Chowa, an emergency medicine physician, to discuss her personal and professional journey through postpartum care. Phindile shares her harrowing experience of childbirth and postpartum depression, shedding light on the gaps in the health care system…

Listen on Apple Podcasts · Spotify

Listen and followApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeMore apps · Browse all episodes

We sit down with Phindile Chowa, an emergency medicine physician, to discuss her personal and professional journey through postpartum care. Phindile shares her harrowing experience of childbirth and postpartum depression, shedding light on the gaps in the health care system that leave many new mothers without adequate support. We delve into …

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Why postpartum care is failing new mothers [PODCAST]

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