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What does it mean when we say someone has died after a long illness?

Conditions

February 27, 2023

My personal doctor and two of my cherished mentors died within the past several years, each “after a long illness,” according to their obituaries. Rock legend David Crosby (The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) recently died “after a long illness,” as stated by his wife, Jan Dance.

David Crosby’s co-musicians were perplexed that his widow would attribute his death to a long illness. Crosby certainly …

Closing the gap: Improving mental health care access for communities of color in the COVID era

Megan Amarbayan, MPP, Sammer Marzouk, and Alister Martin, MD, MPP

Policy

February 27, 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated disparities in mental health care access for communities of color. The care gaps in mental health are further accentuated as more health care services, such as mental health, begin to be delivered virtually through telehealth services. As much as 60 percent of mental health care is being delivered by telehealth. Mental health-related telehealth visits reached a massive uptake between …

The comfort of colleagues: a story of love and loss in palliative care

Eve Makoff, MD

Physician

February 27, 2023

“I just can’t. I can’t,” Wendy sobbed into my hair. We barely made it out the door when our bodies collapsed together, puddles holding puddles. The children, 5 and 7, had just left with their tiny grey backpacks, tiny soldiers off to the abyss. Pastel crayon drawings taped to every pale pink wall: “Mom! Get well soon!” But she wouldn’t. Rainbows and stick figures clung to the white paper on …

Telehealth takes the stage: How virtual visits are revolutionizing health care [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

February 26, 2023

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

Join us for an insightful conversation with Lyle Berkowitz, a physician executive, as he discusses the growing trend of telehealth and its impact on patient care. With the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating the use of virtual visits, consumers …

The importance of childhood obesity prevention: a doctor’s perspective

Nathan J. Hemerly, DO

Conditions

February 26, 2023

I’m starting to see this trend of podcasts and articles that seem to be raising the white flag against childhood obesity. We should all agree with physicians that these conversations should be approached carefully and thoughtfully. We should agree that there are clear reasons to promote regular exercise and a healthy diet. We should agree with the clear health benefits of maintaining a healthy weight. There are clear mental health …

The pebble versus the rock: a case for mental health reform

Tomi Mitchell, MD

Physician

February 26, 2023

What would you expect to see if you threw a pebble in a pond? You would likely see a ripple in the water, extending wider than the diameter of the pebble. Seeing a pebble drop into a pond and create ripples is always mesmerizing. It’s amazing to observe the concentric circles slowly expanding outwards from the point of impact. It’s a fascinating example of how energy can travel through water, …

Combining academic medicine and private practice: a success story

Francisco M. Torres, MD

Physician

February 26, 2023

In the United States, physicians are typically categorized as either academics or private practitioners. However, a case can be made that it is possible to construct a career path that incorporates both professional avenues. I was put in an excellent position to realize this during my fellowship at LSU, which structured some parts of its community medicine program in a way that resembled private practice.

I enjoyed my experience as a …

Why your intuition is key to better physical and emotional health

Jennifer Shaer, MD

Physician

February 26, 2023

In residency, we are trained to follow our intuition. In pediatrics, this translates into learning how to recognize a sick kid. Of course, we are taught what to look for on the physical exam and the labs and what protocols to follow, but we are also taught how to listen to our instincts. When our gut tells us we have a sick kid, we don’t overthink; we set into action. …

From studying to baby kicks: Navigating motherhood in medical school

Natalie Eichner-Seitz

Education

February 26, 2023

It’s 1:30 p.m. on a Tuesday, and I’m sitting comfortably, propped up by four pillows with my feet on a medicine ball in front of the sofa. I laugh with complete delight as I stare at my belly and see the spunky kicks of my daughter, dancing inside my womb to the beat of her own music. The joy I feel is indescribable. But then, I look around. A UWorld …

Unlocking the power of gratitude [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

February 25, 2023

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

Join us on this episode as we explore the power of gratitude with Cindy Tsai, an internal medicine physician. We all hear about the benefits of gratitude and the importance of being thankful for what we have. …

Miscommunication leads to misunderstandings: the tragic consequences of misinterpreted sobriety

Mary Braun, MD

Conditions

February 25, 2023

At her first visit, still lightly jaundiced, Jennie wanted to talk about a liver transplant.

I told her that she had to be sober for six months before they would consider putting her on the list. She told me proudly that she had been sober for three weeks.

“How are you doing without alcohol?”

“Going without alcohol would be very hard for me,” she said, “I have just one glass of wine each …

Breaking free from corporate medicine: one doctor’s quest for ethical care

Wendy Dean, MD and Simon G. Talbot, MD

Physician

February 25, 2023

An excerpt from If I Betray These Words: Moral Injury in Medicine and Why It’s So Hard for Clinicians to Put Patients First.

In late March 2021, during a lull between the third and fourth waves of the coronavirus pandemic, I drove to the small town three hours west of the …

The power of listening: a poem from a chronic pain patient to their doctor

Aaron Morgenstein, MD

Physician

February 25, 2023

Per the CDC, 11 to 40 percent of Americans struggle with chronic pain. All physicians must treat patients with chronic pain, whether they are spine surgeons or primary care physicians. It is a disease we can not escape.

We do not have a one-time pill to fix chronic pain.

Unlike other diseases, we do not necessarily have a cure for chronic pain. In medical school and residency, we are provided with …

The hidden dangers of the Nebraska Heartbeat Act

Meghan Sheehan, MD

Policy

February 25, 2023

Nebraska has taken another step towards effectively banning abortion and criminalizing the practice of medicine. I want to try to clarify that this bill is not supported by the medical community. It does not seek to improve the lives of Nebraskans. In truth, this bill is not what it seems, and I hope you will take a minute with me to turn down the emotional noise from both sides and …

Does ageism lurk behind mandatory retirement for physicians?

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Physician

February 25, 2023

Several years ago, a good friend and colleague – the chairman of a psychiatry department – notified people about his retirement in a department newsletter. He wrote, “I sent out a letter to the alumni and adjunct faculty that I will retire on June 30 [2021]. I had decided five years ago that when I reached a certain age, I was going to retire. Such decisions have multiple determinants and …

Moving beyond weight-centered approaches in childhood obesity [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

February 24, 2023

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

In this episode, we sit down with guest Wendy Schofer, a pediatrician, to discuss the current state of childhood obesity and the need for a change in approach. Over the past two decades, the prevalence of children …

From stroke to strength: one person’s story of overcoming challenges

Mike Campsey, MD

Conditions

February 24, 2023

My story began in the early morning of November 17, 2021, and resulted in a re-birthing of who I am and what I’m becoming. I had a massive stroke that caused paralysis of my right side and left me unable to speak. I was life-flighted to the hospital where I work, and suddenly, I became the patient, not the caregiver. I received thrombolytics, then went to the neuro-interventional suite, where …

What does an ENT doctor know about childbirth?

Ronald Halweil, MD

Conditions

February 24, 2023

An excerpt from Fifty Years a Doctor: The Journey of Sickness and Health, Four Plagues and the Pandemic.

I went to medical school for four years.

I was a medical intern for one year and a surgical resident for one year. And finally, an otolaryngology resident for three years.

My medical license permits …

Unlocking the power of graphic medicine: the key to improving health literacy

Caroline Berberian

Conditions

February 24, 2023

According to the Office of the Surgeon General, only about 12 percent of the U.S. population has suitable health literacy skills. Health literacy is the repertoire of knowledge we fall back on to comprehend medication instructions, understand our risks for certain diseases, and make decisions regarding our own well-being. Wading through a convoluted medical system like the United States is difficult even for those fortunate enough to have access to …

The ICU experience that changed a young doctor’s perspective forever

Olivia Tomasco, MD

Conditions

February 24, 2023

As a healthy 30-year-old intern with an infant, I never expected to land in the ICU on a random Thursday at 10 a.m. As I prepared to start my first precepted thoracentesis at the VA, I suddenly began to experience double vision. Assuming it to be a weird manifestation of anxiety, I politely stepped out to try to gather myself. I ran some cold water and splashed it on my …

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