Getting a second opinion can save lives. It is time we make Miranda rights for patients.

Physician
December 27, 2020

The Lebanese-born former American oncologist Farid Fata committed one of the most malicious acts of greed by a medical professional in recorded history.

Fata spent six years telling otherwise healthy people that they had cancer and needed immediate chemotherapy. He then fraudulently billed over $34 million in charges to Medicare and private insurance companies. Fata will arguably spend the rest of his life in prison, but the …

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Surgical smoke evacuators and inertia in the time of COVID [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 26, 2020
YouTube video

“Early in the pandemic, in thinking of and discussing possible solutions to help protect health care workers, two of my former colleagues and I recalled a device called the Surgical Smoke Evacuator (SSE), which we used extensively since the 1990s when we worked together at the University of Pittsburgh to collect and …

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Negotiate your employment agreement after residency

Finance
December 26, 2020

A lot is happening when graduating medical residents are looking for employment after completing graduate medical education. They are finishing their residencies, taking the specialty boards, and trying to decide where they will be spending the rest of their lives. Considering a new job offer can be both exciting and stressful. It is natural in such circumstances to focus on what the job promises, where it is located, and how much it pays—and easy to overlook the fact …

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Talking politics in the exam room [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 25, 2020
YouTube video

“The medical profession now understands that social determinants of health are probably the most important driver of a patient’s overall health, and these determinants are largely the result of political decisions. Clearly, we have a professional responsibility to teach our patients the science underlying their health issues. Don’t we also have a …

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Why corruption is ruining your health care [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 24, 2020
YouTube video

“Doctors help patients, and they love us for it. We fix bones, replace joints, cure killer infections, and control diabetes with insulin. We use painless scans for diagnosis. Liver, kidney, and heart transplants are now routine. Some patients get cured of lymphomas, leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, and testicular cancer. Lives are prolonged …

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The laws of The House of God and Man’s 4th Best Hospital

Physician
December 24, 2020

Forty-two years ago, when I had finally finished the seven revisions of my first novel, The House of God, my editor said, “Why don’t you add a glossary and a list of The Laws of the House of God.”  Writing the Laws, I hardly needed to refer to the text; they just flowed out. The Laws became common parlance, not only tacked up in on-call rooms but even, recently, listed …

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Why dog poop is a metaphor for challenge, controversy, and change

Physician
December 24, 2020

I run outside, barefoot, and encounter natural phenomena along the way.  One of these is dog poop.  Ironically, there’s been recent chatter about dog poop on our community Facebook page.  It’s a topic worthy of multiple posts and the impetus for the rather absurd bit of writing to follow.

The Facebook posts center on those anonymous people who fail to pick up their dog’s waste.  Since I’m …

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How to develop a mission-driven personal brand [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 23, 2020
YouTube video

“When it comes to social media, embrace a micromedia mindset. That means sharing entertaining, informative content that provides value. Think of yourself as the editor of your newspaper. Newspapers include various content: current events, interviews, information and research, op-eds, and more. Some of these are news-driven — like current events and information …

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Why male circumcision should be delayed

Conditions
December 22, 2020

In Finland, lawmakers recently voted to make an existing ban on female genital mutilation more explicit by outlining punishments for such manipulation under the Finnish criminal law. This bill’s passage was widely applauded as it furthers the global efforts to eradicate female genital mutilation (FGM). While the bill received majority support in the parliament, a contentious debate ensued around an amendment in the …

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Does your doctor’s age matter? [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 21, 2020
YouTube video

“If I had $100 for every time I walked into a patient’s room, introduced myself as the doctor, and was immediately asked, ‘Hey, how old are you?’ I might be able to retire right now — at the age of 28. Of course, I am exaggerating, and yet this question echoes for …

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The FDA should consider vitamin D as a pharmaceutical agent for COVID

Conditions
December 21, 2020

While the current COVID pandemic has created serious health challenges, there has been a dramatic increase in research examining the effects of vitamins on COVID infections. Many studies report the positive effects of vitamin D in boosting our immune system and protecting against COVID. Studies and seminars have shown that for those people who do not receive vitamin D from outdoor sun …

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Don’t underestimate the value of intergenerational relationships [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 20, 2020
YouTube video

“With the rapid growth of modern medicine and awareness in lifestyle and environmental influences, individuals can live longer and healthier lives. Approximately 15.2 percent of the U.S. population consists of individuals 65 years and older. To make the added years of life expectancy fulfilling, older adults need to stay socially connected and …

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An introduction to medical-legal consulting

Physician
December 20, 2020

As many of you know, burnout is an increasingly serious problem for physicians, affecting over 50 percent of clinicians in some studies conducted before our current COVID-19 pandemic.  In fact, in an interesting study, one of every four physicians is looking to do some non-clinical work, in part, to ease the stress of today’s clinical practice.

In one survey just completed, more than 48 percent of physicians reported that since the …

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Issues faced by LGBTQ individuals in the operative setting [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 19, 2020
YouTube video

“Studies have repeatedly demonstrated a vast majority of pain physicians don’t feel like they have adequate training in meeting the unique needs of this patient population, though most agree that such efforts are very necessary. This disconnect between demand and supply is a problem, a big one.

With the current pandemic stretching …

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To Dr. Biden from an MD: Please keep using your deserved title

Physician
December 19, 2020

A recent op-ed published by the Wall Street Journal, “Is There a Doctor in the White House? Not if You Need an M.D.,” has sparked a lot of controversy and immense backlash. The author Joseph Epstein, a former Northwestern University professor, first addresses the future First Lady as “kiddo” and continues with “’Dr. Jill Biden’ sounds and feels fraudulent, not to say a …

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How to be a transformational, supportive leader during COVID-19 [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 18, 2020
YouTube video

“The behavior of managers and supervisors in organizations affects the mental health of their employees. This is especially true during times of uncertainty, such as a global pandemic.

Does a leader’s health and well-being change how they lead?

Early evidence shows that when leaders are experiencing challenging conditions, they are more likely to become …

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What it’s like to be pregnant in a pandemic [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 17, 2020
YouTube video

“What has kept me comprised during this entire time has been the realization that this whole situation is not normal. It’s not normal for me; it’s not normal for millions of other people. This is not how pregnancy is supposed to go. This is a pandemic and an uncertain time for …

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Utilize a baseline test to uncover COVID brain fog

Conditions
December 17, 2020

It’s been dubbed “COVID brain fog,” the neurological symptoms suffered by an estimated 80 percent of people who are hospitalized with COVID-19. These are early dementia-like neurological problems that patients face even after recovering from COVID-19, and there is a concern that people who recover from the disease have a higher risk of long-term cognitive decline.

We have always encouraged people age 50 and over to undergo a baseline cognitive assessment. …

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10 things parents want their pediatrician to know (from a pediatrician mom’s perspective)

Physician
December 17, 2020

Throughout my years of pediatric training and being a mother, I have benefited from viewing medicine from both sides. I have also tried to hone listening to and understanding my patients’ parents and their perspectives. I have listed 10 things that I believe most parents wish their child’s pediatrician knew.

We are just worried about our kids

First and foremost, we are worried about and invested in the health and happiness of …

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