Cutting opioid use in half: a hospital’s pain management breakthrough

Physician
March 23, 2025

I’ve witnessed what’s possible when we rethink pain management. By implementing a multimodal assessment approach at my hospital, I achieved a 50 percent reduction in inpatient opioid use, measured in morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs). The Numeric Pain Scale (NPS)—that 0-10 score we’ve leaned on too much—drives overuse when it’s the only guide, and with the U.S. consuming 80 percent of the world’s opioids as just 4.4 percent of its population, …

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Why cancer care remains inaccessible for India’s poor

Physician
March 23, 2025

Cancer is a disease that demands long-term, resource-intensive treatment, posing an especially heavy burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In nations like India, where a significant portion of the population comprises daily wage earners, farmers, and small shop owners living in villages, the challenges are even more pronounced. For these individuals, a cancer diagnosis can feel like a death sentence—not just due to the disease itself but because of …

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Adventure as medicine: the wellness benefits of travel [PODCAST]

Podcast
March 22, 2025
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Physician Stacey Funt discusses her article, “The healing power of travel: How adventure transforms mind, body, and spirit.” Stacey explores how travel serves as a potent remedy for physical, emotional, and spiritual …

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From retail to medicine: a doctor’s journey through burnout and bureaucracy

Physician
March 22, 2025

Long ago, before I started practicing medicine, I worked in the retail sector. I was 15 years old when I earned my first real paycheck. Surely, I worked other odd and end jobs before that first “real job.” I mowed neighborhood lawns, shoveled snow off neighbors’ driveways, delivered newspapers—anything I could do to make a dollar or two. But those odd jobs were not “real jobs” with tangible or steady …

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Confronting the silent struggle: Physicians and the emotional toll of medical errors

Physician
March 22, 2025

If I were to bet that the majority of physicians are familiar with that pit in their stomach—that sinking feeling of dread that comes with recognizing things aren’t going well—I’d probably win that bet. Contrary to collective wisdom, Wu (2000) first formalized recognition that doctors involved in critical incidents need help too. Now, twenty-five years later, doctors are still held to a standard that eschews the idea of making mistakes. …

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How social media is shaping teen mental health and what we can do about it

Conditions
March 22, 2025

As social media’s influence has surged, so too has the debate over its effects on psychological well-being. Once envisioned as a means to connect communities and amplify self-expression, these platforms are now under scrutiny for their potential long-term impact on mental health—especially among adolescents.

During this critical stage of development, social interactions play a pivotal role in helping adolescents shape identity, influencing their sense of self and belonging. This …

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The hidden cost of health care: How rising debt threatens your access to care

Policy
March 21, 2025

Before a discussion of entitlements and welfare programs is started, a primer on the fiscal situation of the country seems appropriate. Service on the national debt is now second only to Social Security as a government expenditure. The debt is now about $36 trillion. Government revenues are 18 percent of GDP. Spending is 25 percent of GDP. Seventy-six percent of spending has been mandatory, leaving 24 percent as discretionary. The …

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Match Day 2025: Safeguarding the future of medical students amid crisis [PODCAST]

Podcast
March 21, 2025
YouTube video

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Janet A. Jokela, an infectious disease physician, discusses her article, “Match Day 2025: Protecting our students’ futures.” She explores the unprecedented challenges facing medical students, including a U.S. measles outbreak, censorship at …

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When caring for pets becomes a life lesson

Physician
March 21, 2025

I had two bunnies over a year ago. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a proper environment for them, just a large cage in the courtyard. During the day, they would roam freely, and I would lock them in the cage at night for their safety.

They were very dear to me. I talked to them, cuddled them, and let them eat whatever I ate. They loved eating from my hands. …

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Riding out a frivolous lawsuit: a physician’s experience with medical malpractice claims

Physician
March 21, 2025

On August 6, 2021, a medical malpractice lawsuit was filed against me. The case involved care I provided between June 29, 2018, and August 3, 2018, while I was an employee at a medical weight loss clinic in Bethesda, Maryland. I resigned from that clinic in November 2018 due to concerns I had about my employer.

The complaint alleged that the patient was defrauded, hospitalized, sustained liver damage, suffered …

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Pain as a messenger: What your skin is telling you [PODCAST]

Podcast
March 20, 2025
YouTube video

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Osteopathic physician Amelia L. Bueche discusses her article, “From skin to soul: What pain reveals about our health.” In this episode, Amelia delves into the skin’s role as the body’s largest organ …

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5 steps to ride out a non-compete without uprooting your family

Finance
March 20, 2025

In 2025, I celebrated a monumental milestone: I saw a patient within 20 miles of my home. While this may be a daily occurrence for most physicians, it was something I could not do for 18 months due to a non-compete clause from my previous job.

When I left my position as an academic cardiologist, I was bound by a non-compete clause that prevented me from practicing cardiology within …

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How couples counseling helps break the cycle of conflict

Conditions
March 20, 2025

Language is the architecture of our perception. It impacts the way we experience ourselves in relation to others, the moments that make up our daily lives, and why we emphasize one input while ignoring others. I first learned this in a linguistics course that explored the difference between, for example, “I dropped the book” in one language versus “the book fell from me” in another. This shows up in intimate …

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The hidden burden of pulmonary embolism in Africa

Conditions
March 20, 2025

In 2025, we will commemorate 77 years since the death of one of America’s most influential presidents, Theodore Roosevelt. He was the 26th and youngest president of the United States, succeeding William McKinley. Roosevelt was a pioneer of peace, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 after successfully mediating the end of the war between Japan and Russia. He accomplished many great things for the people of America and the …

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What every physician should know before buying into a medical practice

Finance
March 20, 2025

If you have been offered the opportunity to buy into a medical practice, congratulations! For most physicians, this will be a tremendous opportunity. Being offered an ownership interest indicates that the current owners recognize your worth and are inviting you to “join the club.” It is hard to imagine a greater validation from your peers.

At the same time, physicians do need to protect themselves from a bad deal. In my …

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When state legislators are given the opportunity, they vote overwhelmingly for doctor autonomy in pain treatment

Policy
March 20, 2025

As I have written elsewhere, the United States is now embroiled in a highly contentious debate concerning the causes of the so-called “opioid crisis.” Prescribing guidelines updated in 2022 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Veterans Administration (VA) have become the basis for continuing scientifically unsupported restrictions on patient access to long-term prescription opioid therapy. Doctors …

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Why abuse in health care is forcing doctors to leave the profession [PODCAST]

Podcast
March 19, 2025
YouTube video

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Psychiatrist Devina Maya Wadhwa discusses her article, “How abuse in health care is driving doctors out of medicine.” In this episode, Devina shares her experiences as a physician working in acute care …

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Medical curriculum 2.0: Integrating technology and innovation in medical education

Education
March 19, 2025

Just as society has been transformed by technology solutions driven by connectivity and ubiquitous information, medical practice is undergoing a digital transformation that was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Today’s medical students will practice in a world where technology is a more integrated part of health care; technology and innovation should become a cornerstone of medical education and training. This proactive approach will prepare future physicians for the technology-driven health …

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From burnout to breakthrough: How a coaching culture transforms health care

Physician
March 19, 2025

Last year, 54 percent of physicians reported symptoms of burnout. Behind that statistic are thousands of dedicated professionals who entered health care to help people, only to find themselves drained.

I know because I was one of them.

I’m going to share how transforming my approach to leadership through coaching not only saved my career but can revolutionize outcomes across our entire health care system.

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