Here is a challenge: Review the schedule of patients you have seen today. As you recall each patient, ask yourself this question: Did I genuinely feel compassion towards my patient in that encounter?
I will be brutally honest with you (and myself). For me, on many days, that figure is maybe, at best, about 5 percent.
It’s tough. We are running 30 minutes late. Three irritated waiting room patients yearn for our …
The myth of compassion fatigue
An excerpt from Mirrors and Windows: Reflections on the Journey in Serious Illness Practice. This reflection was written by Chris Onderdonk, one of over 50 contributors.
I’m sitting next to Tony in the surgical intensive care unit doing my best to make out what he’s writing. He’s intubated and I’ve just …
A space to pause, reflect, and be in community
Last week, my niece, Maria Piedad Villadiego Carrascal, the only child of my sister, Maria A., graduated from medical school. In doing so, she became the seventh member of the Carrascal family to embrace medicine as a profession. It was an emotional moment. I could not hold back tears as I watched the event, which was streamed live.
By chance, the week before graduation, she and her cousin, my nephew Mauricio, …
Celebrating a family tradition: a recent medical school graduation
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We delve into urologist William Lynes’ emotional journey as a physician grappling with burnout and the weight of medical decisions. A distressing note triggers introspection, unraveling the hidden turmoil of a healer. Join us to explore the …
A letter that shook this urologist [PODCAST]
COVID reminded me of why I became a doctor. Below is an unpublished account (in short story form) of my most memorable day during the height of COVID. It is a reminder that we can remain true to our intrinsic motivators rather than victims of extrinsic factors. And most of us still have the opportunity to choose every day which forces rule our day: intrinsic or extrinsic.
On a Tuesday morning …
A memorable day during COVID: Staying true to my calling
Pain is the primary reason people seek medical care. Pain is also the problem that ignited the opioid crisis and continues to supply fuel. Eighty percent of opioid misuse begins with a pill prescribed for pain. Purdue invested heavily in marketing Oxycontin to physicians, training them that home opioids are the standard of care for recovery from surgery. While addiction debunked the myth of universal safety, two fallacies embedded in …
The preference for insurance coverage of opioids over non-pharmaceutical options explained
After much outcry, UnitedHealthcare announced that they are no longer moving forward with their controversial prior authorization policy that would require members to get approval from the insurance company to receive a diagnostic colonoscopy to detect cancer. Instead, UnitedHealthcare has discussed implementing an alternative: an advanced notification process that would require physicians to collect and submit patient data before performing non-screening and non-emergent colonoscopies. This latest policy change is …
Removing workflow burdens and improving access for colorectal cancer screenings
Investing in mutual funds can be a great investment choice for doctors who often have little time to analyze individual stocks. This is especially true for financial planning for early-career physicians. Mutual funds immediately provide diversification. But have you ever wondered what the letters after the mutual fund mean: A, B, C, or I? Well, picking the right class of a mutual fund can have a big impact on …
Little-known facts doctors should be aware of when purchasing the right class of mutual funds
I saw shocking photos from Northern Italy and New York City, reviewed my life insurance, and thought about my three kids. I didn’t chicken out, but I thought about it long and hard as I sat, sipping tea through trembling lips, preparing—whatever that meant. In the end, I got COVID twice while working the frontlines. A few scars, disorders of my hearing, smelling, and tasting. I am dealing. Today, COVID …
The struggle of a computer-based doctor
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We join hematologist Toyosi Onwuemene who shares her transformative journey from clinician to scientist. A decade ago, she faced obstacles trying to build a research career without support, funding, or training. Now, she sheds light on the …
Building a fulfilling research career as a physician [PODCAST]
In April of 2022, I decided to leave medicine after 18 years of practice, 13 of which were spent working with electronic medical records. During my final visit with a patient and her husband, as I informed them of my decision to retire from medicine, I noticed a peculiar look on the husband’s face. He was a quiet man who rarely said much during their visits, but I could tell …
Leaving medicine behind: a quest for purpose and well-being
“There’s no such thing as postpartum depression.”
These were the unsolicited words from my obstetrician in the third trimester of my first pregnancy.
“It’s only sleep deprivation,” she explained.
As an MD, I’d been taught there was indeed such a thing as postpartum depression. But as the patient in that interaction, a pregnant woman, I didn’t feel in any position to challenge her words. They would, however, stick in my brain forever. Even …
The harm of the “just do it” culture in medicine: a story of postpartum depression
A recent study in Annals of Family Medicine confirms what many providers have long believed: stronger patient-provider relationships can yield better patient health outcomes.
It only stands to reason. Patients and providers can better understand and manage health conditions when communicating regularly and sharing information openly. This is especially beneficial when patients have multiple chronic conditions.
Enhanced relationships and communication also help providers identify barriers to care, so they can serve …
It takes a village to strengthen patient-provider relationships
It was at the very beginning of the fourth year of medical school that Kristen and I had our first kid. So, we decided to get life insurance. I didn’t know who to turn to at first, but then I was directed to an insurance agent at a well-known mutual fund company who happened to be my friend’s brother. As I sat down, he asked if I was healthy. To …
The reason every resident must get disability insurance during training
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Join Wendy L. Hunter, a pediatrician, as she shares a powerful story about a teenage girl found alone, having a seizure outside her clinic’s front door. This incident prompted Wendy to explore trauma-informed care in her practice. …
Trauma-informed care in pediatrics [PODCAST]
If you’ve experienced a migraine headache before, the sensation is often very distinct: throbbing pain, sensitivity to light and loud noise, and sometimes nausea and vomiting. Migraine symptoms can be uncomfortable and distressing.
Equally concerning is when a migraine sufferer recognizes these symptoms in their child. Migraines typically emerge during early adolescence, particularly when females reach menarche (their first menstrual period). However, as many as half of the children can experience …
Understanding migraine symptoms in children
She was oil, and I was vinegar. We didn’t mix. Ever. Even though we wanted the best outcome for our ICU patients, we stood on opposite poles of the earth. Sometimes, there’s only room for one alpha dog, one ultimate bully. And that person wasn’t me.
Mr. Williams, 68 years old, received the tragic news from his physician. He was experiencing strange and unusual symptoms: slurred speech, muscle weakness, lack of …
Bully nurse in ICU: a shattered moment for a dying patient
My new internist began my annual checkup with a nervous confession: “You are my first patient with cardiac sarcoidosis.” Even during an urgent care visit for potential cellulitis, I was met with raised eyebrows from the treating physician who reviewed my chart: “Very interesting, I’ve never seen a case of this heart disease.” With over 7000 rare diseases affecting more than 25 million people in the United States alone, patients …
Heart disease in the shadows: a closer look at cardiac sarcoidosis
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Join clinical psychologist Lisa Miller and neurosurgeon Philip E. Stieg as he discusses how the human brain is hard-wired for connection and the neuroprotective effects of spirituality. Discover practical ways to cultivate a sense of community, enhance …
Exploring the neuroprotective power of spirituality [PODCAST]
You have undoubtedly invested countless hours in honing your medical expertise to become great at helping others. Your commitment to the well-being of your patients is commendable, but sometimes, when you give too much of yourself, you can experience that dreaded burnout. That overwhelming sinking feeling, like you’re constantly spinning your wheels but not going anywhere. So today, I want to emphasize the importance of embracing your expanded identity and …
Embrace an expanded identity: Become more than just a doctor
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