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Why poor diets are contributing to a surge in colorectal cancer cases among young people

Conditions

April 26, 2023

An alarming trend has emerged in my medical practice in recent years: I’m seeing more and more young adults with colorectal cancer.

When I began practicing as a family physician 21 years ago, I never saw patients in their 40s and 50s with the disease, much less ones in their 30s. Now, I diagnose two to three people in those age groups every year.

On the heels of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness …

From reincarnation to meridians: Exploring the world of spiritual science [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 25, 2023

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Join us on this episode of the podcast, where we speak with Marc Nelson, a scientific researcher, about the growing field of spiritual science. Despite the historical divide between science and spirituality, Nelson shares how pioneering work …

The secret side of a brilliant ICU physician revealed

Debbie Moore-Black, RN

Conditions

April 25, 2023

As I look at his obituary pictures, I can’t help but feel a sense of longing. I wish I could have known him – that other side of him that his family, friends, and colleagues are sharing in their photos. They’re all smiling and laughing, hugging each other, and radiating a genuine sense of happiness.

He was one of our main ICU physicians, a brilliant man who could meticulously turn a …

5 pieces of advice every young doctor needs to hear

Sapana Adhikari, MD

Physician

April 25, 2023

As I finish my 21st year of clinical practice, I have been reflecting a lot about my career. Several friends asked me for advice as their children begin medical school. Instead of repeating myself, I decided to make a list. Here are the five things I would tell my younger self.

1. Just apply. Recently, I attended a luncheon and sat next to a female physician. I hadn’t met …

The truth about hard cases and abortion: Separating fact from fiction

Michael McCutchen, MD, MBA

Physician

April 25, 2023

Though celebrated by anti-abortion advocates across the country, the overturning of Roe v. Wade by no means closed the book on the abortion debate. However, it was a victory for both human rights and federalism. The decision reinforced that the U.S. is a constitutional republic composed of individual states, each with its own agenda. States are now individually empowered to enact abortion legislation anywhere along the human gestation cycle. As …

Advancements in technology offer hope for those with Alzheimer’s disease

Naheed Ali, MD, PhD

Conditions

April 25, 2023

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2020, approximately 5.8 million people in the U.S. were living with Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive brain disorder affecting memory, thinking, and behavior. The prevalence of this disease is expected to continue to rise as the population ages. The number of people living with the disease is projected to grow threefold to 14 million by 2060. While there is …

Processing grief: a vital step for health care workers during COVID-19 [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 24, 2023

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In this episode, our guest Susan MacLellan-Tobert, a pediatric cardiologist and physician coach, delves into the challenges faced by healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite being …

The butterfly effect of financial decisions: lessons learned from Silicon Valley Bank

Osmund Agbo, MD

Finance

April 24, 2023

It is no longer news that Silicon Valley Bank has collapsed like a pack of cards. Quite unsettling is also the uncanny way the whole enterprise unraveled like a Ponzi scheme. Faced with uncertainty and a crisis of confidence, investors went on a withdrawal binge. But how does the crash of a bank for tech startups in Santa Clara, California, that caters to extremely high net worth individuals concern an …

How lack of access to clean water is devastating developing countries

Connor Christensen

Policy

April 24, 2023

Maybe dogs aren’t the only ones drinking water from a toilet bowl. In the United States, we have easy access to clean water. We use culinary water to do our dishes, bathe, wash our cars, and even fill our toilets. Most Americans don’t ever consider the possibility of running out of drinkable water; the same can’t be said for the friends I made in the Philippines. Let me tell you …

Binary medicine harms our gender-expansive patients

Alexandra Beem

Policy

April 24, 2023

The first time I saw a preceptor use the American College of Cardiology’s atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (mercifully, ASCVD) risk calculator, I was hooked. As a first-year medical student, data nerd, and aspiring primary care provider, I love a good diagnostic tool. Watching as he entered our patient’s pertinent medical history, I ran down the list of risk factors for cardiovascular disease we’d just learned in my …

A better future in migraine management: the essential role of primary care

Bradley Torphy, MD

A pediatrician’s memorable experience with a patient with Down syndrome

Alexander Rakowsky, MD

Physician

April 24, 2023

Recently, two of my most beloved teachers came to our continuity clinic as Mrs. Melendez brought in her daughter, Maria, for her annual physical (not real names). I have known the Melendez family for nearly the entire 18+ years I have been at this clinic, at first taking care of their four older children who were at that time in early middle school through high school. At one of the …

“Hospitalsplaining”: the condescension problem in physician employment contracts [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 23, 2023

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In this episode, we have Dennis Hursh, a physician contract lawyer, sharing his experiences in dealing with hospitals and their tendency to condescend towards physicians and their lawyers, also known as “hospitalsplaining.” He discusses a recent example …

Twenty-Six: a story from a pediatric surgeon [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 23, 2023

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes!

In this episode, Yael Dreznik, a pediatric surgeon and author of the book Twenty-Six, shares her personal story and insights into the life of a surgeon. From the early morning rituals to the fear of making mistakes, …

Transparency and honesty: the keys to fixing America’s broken health care system

Michele Luckenbaugh

Conditions

April 23, 2023

When I was growing up, I remember my father saying the phrase, “Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.” In today’s world, I find myself often recalling those words. Most of life these days should not be taken at face value.

It also appears that if you shout out falsehoods frequently enough, then it seems that members of extreme political groups will believe it as the gospel truth. …

To improve health care, respect doctors’ humanity with a living wage

Kelley Butler, MD

Physician

April 23, 2023

“What should we do?” I asked my partner. I looked down at our dog, who was limping in pain and whose treatment was just quoted at nearly $1000. Just yesterday, our brakes collapsed, and repairing our car would also be a hefty expense. He sighed, knowing we didn’t have the money for either but definitely not both. My partner and I are both resident physicians in San Francisco and here …

The secret life of physicians: work, home, and the battle for balance

Scott Abramson, MD

Physician

April 23, 2023

When we physicians discuss “work-life balance,” we often imply that our dedication to our work is so consuming and imbalanced that we end up sacrificing time with our families. To achieve a better balance and promote a healthier family life, we strive to limit our work hours to make more time for our home lives.

I wonder if the reverse can also be true. When our home life becomes overwhelming or …

The dos and don’ts of physician employment contracts: Understanding the role of letters of intent in negotiations

Dennis Hursh, Esq

Finance

April 23, 2023

A letter of intent (sometimes called a “term sheet”) can be useful for physicians and those who recruit them. The purpose of letters of intent in physician contracts is simply to ensure that both parties are “on the same page” as far as the major terms of the agreement they hope to enter. For example, if you expect to be paid $300,000 a year, but the employer is expecting …

Breaking up with nursing: a heartfelt letter

Lauren Powers, RN, CCRN

Conditions

April 23, 2023

I write this letter with a heavy heart. Our story began during my sophomore year in college, but after a decade with you, I can’t help but feel our dynamic has changed. Intrusive thoughts of leaving you have etched their way to the forefront of my mind. The harder I try to quiet them, the louder they declare themselves. They’ve grown from whispers to screams, and I can’t ignore them …

Empowering anesthesia residents: lessons in trust from an anesthesiologist [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 22, 2023

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes!

In this episode, we speak with George Tewfik, an anesthesiologist, about the importance of recognizing and addressing knowledge gaps in anesthesia residents. George discusses how new residents may arrive with a sense of false confidence that can …

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