Ms. Laura was a vibrant and feisty lady with a personality that filled the room. She had been my patient two months ago when she was admitted for an irregular heartbeat and COPD exacerbation. She was a smoker, and despite her heart issues, she had a strong will to live. I had advised her to quit smoking, but it was a habit that was hard to break.
When I saw her …
From hope to heartbreak: a story of loss in the ICU
Not too long ago, I was struggling over a plate of meatloaf in the doctor’s dining room. Fortunately, the table conversation was better than the food. Somehow it turned to how early career doctors tend to mirror the culture and clinical habits from their training program and how it often takes years to unlearn habits that don’t serve us well in the long run, particularly habits related to work-life integration. …
Unlearning our habits: a journey from intelligence to wisdom
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Today’s episode features John Chase, an orthopedic surgeon and author of You What?!: Humorous Stories, Cautionary Tales, and Unexpected Insights About A Career in Medicine.
John shares some of his most memorable moments interacting with patients throughout his …
Lessons from an orthopedic surgery journey [PODCAST]
March 30, 2023, is National Doctors’ Day in the United States.
It’s that one day when the leaders of our profession, at every level, take a moment and thank us for the work we’ve done. Nothing says “thank you for ensuring that I get a 4-6 figure bonus this year,” like a slice of cold pizza or donut. Currently, I work at a pretty great place – but at other sites, …
Beyond pizza and pens: National Doctors’ Day should be about saving lives
Every day, in my job as an anesthesiologist, I am called upon to manage conflict. Sometimes, it’s between two members of my team, sometimes it’s between coworkers, and many times it is a conflict I may have with my own co-worker or peer.
Whether it’s because someone I supervise is chronically late or underprepared, I have to go …
The education landscape is rapidly changing as technological advancements, and artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly integrated into learning environments. One of the most exciting aspects of this shift is the potential for AI to revolutionize the way we educate and empower students. Soon, we can expect more YouTube college credits and widespread utilization of AI-driven platforms like Khan Academy, which already uses …
This is not an ordinary 1000 Rupee note. It’s a happy memory for me.
For those who say I always share depressing stories, this one is for you, for a change.
We performed concurrent chemotherapy and radiation on a 70-year-old lady with nasopharyngeal carcinoma a few months back. She was elderly and frail, and she experienced a lot of mucositis and skin radiation …
The beauty of a patient’s gratitude
As we pause on Doctors’ Day to salute America’s physicians and all the ways they’re contributing to healthier families and communities, it’s important we also recognize the extraordinary pressures physicians are facing in a time of rising burnout, proliferating obstacles to delivering care and increasing governmental interference into the once-sacred patient-physician relationship.
Three years after we were first introduced to COVID-19, there …
Physicians are a finite resource we need to protect
I now understand. As soon as I clocked out for the last time, I started to breathe again. The race, the rat race, everything is fast-paced and there’s no time to breathe when you’re in it.
But now I have time, and I don’t know what to do with it. I sleep, I wake up, I make some coffee, walk the dogs, and the rest of the day is empty. I …
From clocking in to clocking out: the transition to retirement
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Today’s show discusses the telltale signs of a toxic relationship between physicians and their job, with guest Elizabeth Hughes, a dermatologist. In this episode, we delve into the similarity between an emotionally manipulative marriage and a career …
Breaking free from a toxic relationship with medicine [PODCAST]
With no true endgame or advance directive, Tom Brady’s legacy as an NFL superstar and family man remains nebulous.
Is his recent retirement from football officially the end? Will he entertain offers to stay alive and play one more year? With being at the 45-year-old “yard line” and facing the goalpost at the end of the football field, what’s his endgame for the next year?
When do the false promises end …
Tom Brady’s legacy and the importance of personal integrity in end-of-life choices
I work as a physician in a hospital. As much as we wish it were New Amsterdam with a little”Grey’s Anatomy and Dr. House in the background diagnosing — I can tell you the reality is much different.
Every health care article comments on how overworked and tired our health care workers are. I can tell you this is true. It’s not a TV show where the staff performs neurosurgery while …
The hidden truths of hospital life: What doctors wish you knew
Affiliate marketing has grown in popularity, especially with physicians. Affiliate programs allow individuals to earn a commission by promoting products and services. It can be highly lucrative for those that have a large following. Physicians tend to follow a pack like a school of fish or a flock of birds. Thus, making it easy for some to prey on others by promoting their affiliate links for their own financial gains.
Individuals …
10 commandments of ethical affiliate marketing for physicians
I am a Desi doctor, where Desi refers to someone from India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh.
I am currently a final-year resident in radiation oncology at a private-sector hospital in Pakistan.
During my medical school and house job, I worked in a public sector hospital where I experienced a high patient influx, a heavy workload, and limited resources. This environment made me a true “Desi doctor.”
Now, in this private sector hospital, I have …
The heart of a Desi doctor: Balancing emotions and resources in oncology
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We welcome Shannon Dowler, a family physician and author of the book Never Too Late: Your Guide to Safer Sex after 60. In this episode, we delve into the sexual revolution that began in the 1960s and …
Safe sex for seniors: Dispelling myths and embracing safe practices [PODCAST]
In 2017 at the age of 62, I retired from my position as a family nurse practitioner when the small, independently owned private practice where I had been employed for 20 years was sold to the local hospital. I had been having some odd motor symptoms that were diagnosed as akinetic-rigid Parkinson’s disease in 2015.
The stiffness and reduced fine motor coordination on my dominant left side made many common tasks, …
Overcoming Parkinson’s: a journey of laughter and resilience
They’re very easy to spot. Sometimes it’s the crisp, brand-new lab coat or the shadows under their eyes. Often it’s announced in large letters on their ID badge. Or the badge is hidden, which is also a tell. If they’re trying to avoid being spotted, they’ll usually say they’re “working with” my doctor, as though I can’t figure out what that means.
Well, hello, resident doctor.
I see a lot of you …
The untold struggles patients face with resident doctors
An excerpt from Sleep Reimagined: The Fast Track to a Revitalized Life.
Stimulus control is highly useful in treating insomnia and can be considered a partner to sleep restriction because it helps maximize sleep efficiency by limiting disturbances. Stimulus control is based on the concept of conditioning and association. Its goal …
Maximize sleep efficiency with stimulus control
For 44 years, Iranians have been living in captivity. Since the death of Mahsa Jina Amini, Iranians are no longer willing to tolerate life under the Islamic Republic and have spearheaded the largest women’s rights movement of our century.
With the focus on the people in Iran, few have discussed the challenges faced by the Iranian diaspora in this fight for the liberty of the Iranian people. For months, major news …
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Today’s guest is Maha Al-Ghafry, a pediatric hematologist-oncologist who shares her experience with clinical rounds.
As health care professionals, we know the struggle of clinical rounds, where you receive patient handoffs, pre-round on EHR, physically pre-round on patients, …
Surviving clinical rounds: tips and tales from a pediatric hematologist-oncologist [PODCAST]
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