“As a family physician for more than 40 years, I have seen countless patients struggling to alleviate chronic pain, with far too many turning to self-destructive coping methods such as alcohol and opioids. Unfortunately, the struggle with chronic pain isn’t going away – and more alarming is the fact that those suffering …
Listening to pain in our younger patients [PODCAST]
In his bestselling book How Not to Die, physician Michael Greger described how his grandmother, diagnosed with advanced heart disease at 65, transformed her health and lived for many years after switching to a whole-food, plant-based diet.
It was a seminal event for Dr. Greger that inspired a career dedicated to promoting the impact of lifestyle behavior on health. As lifestyle medicine-certified clinicians practicing in a palliative medicine …
The surprising role for lifestyle medicine in palliative care
If my mother gave birth to me today instead of over 60 years ago, she would probably be dead based on her risk factors. She was Black, had gestational diabetes, and gave birth to a 9-pound 4-ounce baby girl via C-section. She would have been discharged from the hospital on post-op day four rather than post-op day seven. But, thank God, my mother, unlike her mother, lived. I never knew …
If my mother gave birth to me today, she would probably would die
“COVID has brought us new challenges and a genuine opportunity to be part of the critical response to optimize the care we deliver not just to our patients but also to their families and caregivers. I am lucky, blessed to do this work every day and carry such a deep passion.
We are …
A deep passion for palliative medicine [PODCAST]
There are no two ways about it: The health care system in the United States and Canada is failing. Few want to talk about a dirty little secret, but the facts are clear. Health care costs are rising at an unsustainable rate, and millions of Americans are uninsured or underinsured. The system is not accountable to the people it is supposed to serve.
Having experienced both the Canadian and United States …
The health care systems in the United States and Canada are failing
There are times in medicine when the focus is on how hard it is to be a doctor in these uncertain times. We focus on patient care demands, reimbursement challenges and financial instability, and the general lack of feeling rewarded. And that can keep physicians stuck in a cycle of comparing what’s possible with the present circumstances.
Hey, I get it. I’ve been there. I’ve looked at senior attending physicians and …
Unlock the power of comparison for more clarity in your career
After years of searching for answers to my pain, I was finally diagnosed with endometriosis during my second year of medical school. However, the joy of finally having a diagnosis quickly became overshadowed by the knowledge that I was now a part of the 1 in 4 female physicians who suffer from infertility. As a married 27-year-old future doctor with at least six more years of training, …
The hidden costs of fully covered infertility treatment
“I spent the first three days sitting next to my dad’s hospital bed, watching his chest rise and fall slowly. He was asleep the majority of the time, fighting off something unknown. Anytime he moved, I jumped up from my chair and stood where he could see me just in case …
Advocating for a sick parent by confronting physician bias [PODCAST]
I am almost divorced.
I thought about staying private about this. And I mostly have over the last nine months. But here’s the thing — this decision is one of the best ones of my entire life.
I have not been at all immune to the roller coaster of emotions. The last few months have brought me peace and happiness. And as I have shared my story with more friends, I recognize …
I am standing before a team of fellows, residents, medical students, and pharmacists on Monday morning about to start rounds on the oncology service. And as the intern is about to dive into the first patient presentation, I take a moment to ask a question: “Is anyone here into aviation?” This context is met with an awkward pause, people’s eyes looking down, and a bit of confusion. I make an …
10 ways medicine is like the airline industry
Maintaining a relationship during nursing school takes some effort. Your time is taken up by studying, classes, clinicals and labs. Oh, did I mention studying? At the end of the day, there is just not much time left for significant others. Now, I am referring to romantic relationships here, but the same concept also applies to friendships.
I’ve put together a list of tips from my own experience to hopefully give …
How to maintain your relationships during nursing school
“What these substances have in common is that they are widely considered to fall into the category of psychedelics. What else they have in common is that the vast majority of us physicians learned nothing about them in medical school or residency, as most psychedelics are classified as Schedule …
What clinicians need to know about psychedelic medicine [PODCAST]
Back on the internet, you are looking for something to make you angry. It’s a habit you picked up as a researcher, stuck in your lab until sunset, walking home to those empty walls. It’s one you’ve kept as a medical student.
It’s always the most belligerent takes that ignite you. The ones that leap to the front line, waving old middle school science like it’s pure, unshifting truth. It needles …
On the internet, you are looking for something to make you angry
I thought it would be easier than ICU nursing. After 33 years as an ICU nurse, I had to leave. I just couldn’t take the pounding on the chests of little old men and women. Hearing and feeling their ribs crack while CPR was performed. I couldn’t handle these poor patients who should have had a peaceful death when the inevitable was near.
Family members with expectations of miracles. Denial. Rationalization.
And …
A patient hit me: Why I say anti-assault prayers
Dear new intern:
As you embark on a year that will prove at different times stimulating, frustrating, rewarding, and exhausting, you’ve likely already been inundated with suggestions on how to thrive, or at the very least, survive what lies ahead.
While I have no pithy advice or intern life-hacks to offer, I suggest one (perhaps strange) practice I hope you will consider and strive to exhibit as you weather the highs and …
Hospitals are some of the least hospitable places
“Greater demands in the U.S. for billing and regulation-related documentation contribute to the excess time burden of EHR systems compared with other countries. A high volume of clinical alerts and other distractions in the EHR, as well as various other inefficiencies (such as locked computer screens and repetitive sign-in …
How much time do physicians spend in the EHR? [PODCAST]
“Have you ever had feelings of depression?”
I regretted asking that question the moment it slipped out of my mouth. In the span of what felt like 5 minutes but was probably 30 seconds, both the patient and I immediately became awkward. The patient hesitated and her breathing hitched. My heart rate became rapid and my palms got sweaty. Her eyes turned red, her face tilted downwards, her fingers tremored. By …
Why did it feel like I failed my patient?
Through all the changes that we experienced in the past two years, two trends became quite popular: staying home to binge-watch television and getting medical care over your phone. Interestingly, neither are new, and both have been around for 20+ years in various forms. Both have become mainstream by the common denominator of COVID-19. This pandemic has allowed for many device-based conveniences to become top of mind, from Instacart and …
Virtual care is convenient, but is it better for everyone?
“The COVID-19 pandemic has been raging in the United States for over two years. Health care workers across the country have been chronically pushed to their limits as we navigate difficult situations on a daily basis. The advent of the COVID-19 vaccine, although a powerful tool in our crusade …
How to cope with pandemic fatigue [PODCAST]
On December 27, 2017, as the result of a medication error, 75-year-old Charlene Murphey died tragically at Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The nurse who administered the medication, RaDonda Vaught, was criminally convicted for the mishap and the case ultimately caught the attention of the entire global health care community.
Unfortunately, medical errors are not an uncommon occurrence in health care. In fact, they are believed to be the third leading …
The criminalization of true medical errors is a step backwards for patient safety
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