Finding voices with AI: a call to developers, administrators, and corporations to support ethical speech therapy
As a speech-language pathologist, I’ve dedicated my career to helping people find their voices—sometimes literally, sometimes figuratively. Whether I’m working with children struggling to develop language, adults recovering from strokes or traumatic brain injuries, or older adults managing degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, the goal is always the same: to connect, to communicate, and to live fully. Communication is fundamental to being human. Yet, when it’s lost, regaining it becomes a …
The heart of family medicine: a doctor’s journey of compassion and care
After 30 years of practice and expertise in family medicine, with two specialties—one in Romania in general and preventive medicine for four years, and another in family medicine with Michigan State University for three years—I had my first forced vacation. Three weeks ago, I had a total hip replacement, which went excellently. I’m in great shape, but staying home 24/7 is something new. I discovered that the day feels much …
How a systems approach can revolutionize pain and depression treatment
As a health care writer and patient advocate for over 27 years, I have interacted with thousands of patients who experience chronic severe pain, caregivers who support struggling family members, and clinicians who treat painful conditions. Depression and anxiety are very common in these patients and may significantly complicate treatment. Untreated depression – or under-treated pain – can cause increases in healing times, suicidal ideation, and Read more…
States have the power to influence health care
Individual states in the United States can significantly shape key health care areas through policy.
In early 2024, a KKF analysis indicated that Americans collectively held around $220 billion in medical debt.
North Carolina has one of the highest percentages of adults facing medical debt, at 13.4 percent. On July 1, 2024, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) …
How to set boundaries and rediscover purpose in health care [PODCAST]
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We dive into the critical issue of physician burnout and the challenges facing primary care providers with family physician Santina Wheat. Discover practical strategies for reclaiming joy in medicine, setting boundaries, and rediscovering …
What if the solution for physicians’ struggles was right in their faces, yet remains unrecognized?
Nothing is more of an insult than suggesting that the 1.2 million very intelligent practicing physicians in our nation, whom we trust to keep us healthy, have never come up with a revolutionary cure for what has now become health care and physician crises. Who knows better about the actual practice of medicine and the multiple problems and challenges they face daily than physicians themselves?
The mental function of due diligence …
Finding your “why”: lessons for future medical students
I still remember the day I opened my acceptance letter to medical school. It felt surreal—a rush of excitement and pride that had me packing my bags months before classes began. As a kid, I was always a dreamer. My dolls weren’t just toys; they were part of elaborate stories where every character had a purpose and a world of possibilities ahead of them. Medicine represented the ultimate story—a chance …
The clash between MBA ethics and the Hippocratic tradition in medicine
My father wanted me to get an MBA from the Harvard Business School, but I wanted to be a doctor, so I am more attuned to the MBA’s excellence in many areas but differences in ethical principles from medicine. Nowhere does maximizing returns for stockholders or returns for nonprofits also include the principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence for our patients. But this principle is foundational in medicine and has been …
From chaos to calm: a story of resilience and finding inner peace
My mom won’t be home that weekend
Since it was a Sunday, I told my dad that I needed to wake up early for work, so he should wake me up in the morning.
My mom and dad have very different approaches to waking up their children.
My mom’s approach is more aggressive. She shouts at the top of her lungs, turns on the light, and snatches the quilt from us. Sometimes, she …
Redesigning shift work to improve patient care and well-being [PODCAST]
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Join emergency physician Maureen Gibbons as they explore the concept of rethinking shift work in health care. They discuss how distributing shifts among multiple physicians can reduce burnout, enhance job satisfaction, and improve …
Gender affirming care: a matter for the Supreme Court or a matter for a medical malpractice court?
Of note, today, of all days, when the Supreme Court of the United States is to consider state bans on treatments for gender-affirming care of transsexual youths, virtually every internet site on the subject is blocked.
Nevertheless, I am a medical student in 1967. I do not need the internet; I lived through the beginning of gender-affirming care. My memory is clear.
I am reminded of the story of Dr. John Money, …
The power of names: Superstition in the neonatal intensive care unit
An excerpt from Yankee Doctor in the Bible Belt: A Memoir.
We work in high-pressure environments, where Dr. Death is often lurking. We can be superstitious. We can protect ourselves with a sense of humor. We can use words as a smokescreen to protect our sanity. See below.
I was a resident working in the NICU. The shifts were long—sometimes as long as thirty hours in …
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How attention therapy transforms speech delay in young children
In order to develop good speech and conversation skills, a child must pay attention to the speaker and respond back when spoken to. The importance of sustained attention, listening to, and focusing on another person by the young child is often overlooked and not recognized by parents and therapists alike. Many children with a speech delay and those with suspected autism show decreased attention along with their speech delay. Many …
How physicians can turn their income into long-term wealth [PODCAST]
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We dive into the critical yet often overlooked topic of wealth-building for physicians. Guest Amir Baluch, an anesthesiologist and financial expert, shares actionable strategies for diversifying investments, creating passive income streams, and leveraging …
Dispelling misconceptions and myths about pathology and laboratory medicine
More than any other discipline of medicine, the specialty of pathology has an image problem. This is ironic for a field whose basic premise centers around images. This is also most unfortunate for medicine at large, as pathology constitutes a highly important component of modern medical care. It is estimated that 70 percent to 80 percent of all medical decisions are based either totally or partially on pathologic and/or laboratory-produced …
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The hidden crisis: congenital heart diseases in low and middle-income countries
The cries of a newborn baby are usually a sign of life and hope, but for many families in low and middle-income countries, these cries can signal the beginning of a long and arduous journey. Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are a significant health burden, particularly in these regions, where they account for the highest years of disability. Despite advancements in medical science, the incidence of CHDs remains constant or may …
Why the opioid crisis and youth mental health demand urgent parity reforms in 2025
At the beginning of 2024, the nation continued to experience the impact of three declared public health emergencies with significant behavioral health implications: COVID-19, Mpox, and the opioid crisis. At the same time, three major national associations continued to highlight what they first described in 2021 as a “youth mental health crisis.” As we enter 2025, emergency declarations for two of these — Mpox and COVID-19 — have …
Breaking the emotional flatline: Reclaiming empathy in medicine [PODCAST]
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Join us as we explore the emotional toll of high-stakes health care with physician, speaker, and thought leader Pamela Buchanan. Discover her insights on the “emotional flatline,” a defense mechanism that shields health …
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Insurance denied her a voice, but this doctor wouldn’t back down
Our nation and the health care industry have been in shock following the assassination of the CEO of one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S. The brazen killing of Brian Thompson and the suspected shooter Luigi Mangione has captured America’s attention. The assassination has focused public outrage toward the health care insurance industry and revealed a lack of empathy for the victim and his family. A recent survey …
Past Week
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What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
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Make cognitive testing as routine as a blood pressure check
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The hidden cost of delaying back surgery
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The dreaded question: Do you have boys or girls?
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Rethinking patient payments: Why billing is the new frontline of patient care [PODCAST]
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The broken health care system doesn’t have to break you
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Past 6 Months
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What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
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What happened to real care in health care?
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Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting
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The hidden bias in how we treat chronic pain
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A faster path to becoming a doctor is possible—here’s how
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Residency as rehearsal: the new pediatric hospitalist fellowship requirement scam
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Recent Posts
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An introduction to occupational and environmental medicine [PODCAST]
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Does silence as a faculty retention strategy in academic medicine and health sciences work?
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Why personal responsibility is not enough in the fight against nicotine addiction
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How dismantling DEI endangers the future of medical care
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Alzheimer’s and the family: Opening the conversation with children [PODCAST]
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AI in mental health: a new frontier for therapy and support
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Past Week
-
What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
-
Make cognitive testing as routine as a blood pressure check
-
The hidden cost of delaying back surgery
-
The dreaded question: Do you have boys or girls?
-
Rethinking patient payments: Why billing is the new frontline of patient care [PODCAST]
-
The broken health care system doesn’t have to break you
-
Past 6 Months
-
What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
-
What happened to real care in health care?
-
Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting
-
The hidden bias in how we treat chronic pain
-
A faster path to becoming a doctor is possible—here’s how
-
Residency as rehearsal: the new pediatric hospitalist fellowship requirement scam
-
Recent Posts
-
An introduction to occupational and environmental medicine [PODCAST]
-
Does silence as a faculty retention strategy in academic medicine and health sciences work?
-
Why personal responsibility is not enough in the fight against nicotine addiction
-
How dismantling DEI endangers the future of medical care
-
Alzheimer’s and the family: Opening the conversation with children [PODCAST]
-
AI in mental health: a new frontier for therapy and support
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