The choice between integrity and power in a world of chaos

Physician
September 27, 2024

The world is benefited by a variety of human beings. Almost everyone can contribute greatly to our societies, no matter what their personal drives. Even the selfish and hate-filled can give us people like Henry Ford, the antisemitic supporter of Hitler who had union organizers beaten, but also doubled the standard wage for his workers and gave us the assembly line, standardized production, and vertical integration. His closest parallel today …

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Internal medicine physicians: leaders and the foundation of comprehensive health care

Physician
September 27, 2024

American College of Physicians  

The nickname bestowed on us residents by our internal medicine residency program director was “city savages.” There was a tremendous amount of pride amongst the residency programs in Boston back in the late 1980s, and it was no different in my program.

I recall exploring residencies in Boston. While interviewing at another highly regarded Boston Hospital, I asked the …

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7 principles for happiness as a surgical resident

Physician
September 27, 2024

1. Accept that your life is never going to be “normal.” What type of people decide to be surgeons? The type who have something a bit “wrong” with them, that’s who. The type who are OK with having their career occupy most of their identity. If you’re considering surgical residency, this is probably you. Accept it. Each person’s path is different, and there is no absolute correct one. A work-life …

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How pre-procedure optimization could save your life—and the economy

Physician
September 27, 2024

The term “organ harvesting,” once a misnomer for organ procurement after organ donation, echoes in the phrase “procedure harvesting,” which could be an inadvertent misnomer for procedure procurement following procedure donation. Who knows if some may even suggest preemptive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation when cardiac arrest seems imminent during an elective non-cardiac procedure? Regardless, while pre-procedure optimization is always a goal for elective procedure procurement—and may even be achievable in emergent …

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AI-driven anesthesia: a threat to jobs or a new era of care? [PODCAST]

Podcast
September 26, 2024
YouTube video

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In this episode, anesthesiologist Matthew Sherrer and health care consultant Martin Nowak join us to explore the evolving landscape of anesthesia care in the era of AI and automation. We’ll discuss the rise …

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A new approach to antidepressants and anxiolytics: the microbiota-gut-brain axis

Conditions
September 26, 2024

Our understanding of anxiety and depression has evolved over the years, leading to advancements in diagnosis, treatment, and clinical management. However, their prevalence has not lessened; in fact, it has heightened in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its effects will last for years to come, so all mechanisms that can influence its incidence should be thoroughly considered, and the gut microbiota is the newest emerging target for antidepressant …

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The power of emotional intelligence: a personal story and lessons for physicians

Physician
September 26, 2024

The student I worked with quietly said, “Dr. Reinking, I think you multiplied wrong.” My shoulders tensed slightly, and my stomach dropped. We had just spent the better part of an hour working through a feeding and fluid plan with a patient’s family. The child had recently undergone open heart surgery. Feeding intolerance is relatively common after surgery and in children with congenital heart disease. Fluid management is also important …

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Full Medicaid expansion needed to retain Georgia’s physicians

Policy
September 26, 2024

Georgia was ranked 5th worst place to practice in a recent Medscape article (“Best and Worst Places to Practice 2024”), using five criteria: physician compensation, cost of living, malpractice premiums, the health of the state’s residents, and physician burnout levels. As current and future physicians and health advocates, this column will add context by detailing our experiences practicing in Georgia.

The article identified challenges that Georgia physicians encounter. Particularly concerning is …

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Why this doctor says medicine is broken and what can be done about it

Physician
September 26, 2024

This is a highly encapsulated but accurate portrayal of the emotional weight of the conversation and the tension between a physician’s personal challenges and the desire to heal, both for themselves and their patients.

Patient/Physician (P): I’m an old blues man, and I think you understand I’ve been singing the blues ever since the world began.

Psychiatrist (Me): I hear you. That timeless blues spirit runs deep, carrying the weight of lived …

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How biomarkers are advancing dementia detection and care

Conditions
September 26, 2024

For decades, physicians have relied on diverse biological indicators to diagnose and monitor normal development, health, and diseases. Such indicators are important from the time we are born, when APGAR scores are recorded in the labor and delivery room, throughout our childhoods, when pediatricians monitor growth curves closely, and into adulthood, when our height, weight, and vital signs initiate virtually every medical appointment. For adults, these indicators, collectively known as …

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E-cigarettes aren’t as safe as you think: the fertility risk you must know [PODCAST]

Podcast
September 25, 2024
YouTube video

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

We sit down with Yemi Famuyiwa, a renowned fertility specialist, to discuss the hidden dangers of e-cigarettes and their impact on reproductive health. As e-cigarettes continue to gain popularity, evidence reveals alarming risks, …

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The hero’s journey: Understanding professional identity formation in graduate medical education

Physician
September 25, 2024

“Every person is the hero of their own story.”
– Aaron Saguil, MD

Problem:

The demands of medical training continue to put trainees and faculty at a high risk of burnout and mental health issues. Initial responses to this crisis centered around educational approaches. For these approaches, the unit of analysis is the individual. The unstated assumption of educational approaches is that the problem of burnout stems …

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Neurosurgical innovations that could define my generation of surgeons

Education
September 25, 2024

As a fourth-year medical student on the cusp of entering neurosurgery, I am constantly amazed by the innovations revolutionizing this field. These advances promise not only to transform the practice of neurosurgery but also to redefine the training and skill set required for the next generation of neurosurgeons. From virtual reality (VR) for surgical planning to novel minimally invasive techniques and the emergence of personalized medicine, these cutting-edge technologies hold …

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Gus Walz and the male loneliness crisis 

Conditions
September 25, 2024

As Tim Walz accepted the vice presidential nomination at the DNC, his teenage son, Gus, inadvertently became internet famous after clips of him crying and exclaiming, “That’s my dad!” circulated. While many across the political spectrum found the display of emotion endearing, inevitable ugliness ensued.

Ann Coulter commented in a since-deleted post on X: “Talk about weird.” Podcaster Mike Crispi mocked “Walz’s stupid crying son” as a “puffy …

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Why we’re never prepared for death—even after years of medical training

Conditions
September 25, 2024

I remember the first time I pronounced a patient dead—that’s something they make sure you learn well in medical training, as nobody wants to get it wrong. They taught us how to apply pressure to the fingernail to ensure the patient does not respond to pain while holding the patient’s hand, watching for breaths, and feeling for a pulse. They taught us to take our time to ensure we got …

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Can AI solve physician burnout or create a new crisis? [PODCAST]

Podcast
September 24, 2024
YouTube video

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

We sit down with Dike Drummond, a family practice physician, to explore how AI-powered note-writing software is revolutionizing medical documentation. While these tools offer short-term relief to overworked physicians by drastically reducing charting …

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Medical malpractice: Are you at risk? Discover the startling facts.

Physician
September 24, 2024

Medical providers play a crucial role in your health and well-being, so expecting them to perform their duties with care and competence is natural. However, if they fall short and make errors, you can file a medical malpractice claim to seek accountability for any harm they cause.

Medical malpractice occurs when a health care professional provides care that falls below the accepted standard expected in their field.

When studying medical malpractice, it …

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The use of artificial intelligence in the enforcement of health care regulations

Physician
September 24, 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a virtual construct that uses algorithms, data, and computational power to simulate human intelligence in machines. Physicians and health care professionals often imagine AI as a futuristic, benevolent, childlike humanoid with the unique ability to love, as depicted in the 2001 Steven Spielberg movie A.I. Artificial Intelligence. However, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) disagrees. In 2022, the DOJ announced the widespread deployment of AI, …

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The power of togetherness: Finding connection and friendship in giving circles to increase your impact

Physician
September 24, 2024

Doctors in most medical specialties spend a significant amount of their time interacting with people, yet medicine is considered one of the loneliest professions. I’ve heard this at several surprising points in the past few years from physicians I would not have suspected felt isolated. Over these last years, there have been increasing opportunities to find meaningful connections with other physicians through online communities, some of which have in-person gatherings …

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GMP vs. non-GMP: the hidden truth about your supplements

Meds
September 24, 2024

Suppose you are looking for multivitamin supplements. You pick up two containers of multivitamins and wonder which one you should get. At first glance, they have similar labels, but then you notice that one has a comment indicating that the supplement was manufactured in a registered GMP-compliant facility, and the other does not.

Then you ask yourself the following questions: How much of what ingredients are included in proprietary blends? Where …

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