Why pelvic floor disorders deserve more attention
She’s the reason I pee when I sneeze. She’s the reason I fart when I walk. And yet, I would give birth to my daughter again, a thousand times over. And that, I think, is the crux of the cross we bear as mothers — bearing children and, specifically, bearing down.
As a resident, I attended the Pelvic Floor Symposiums held by my institution. They were fascinating discussions led by …
From WWII to chronic pain: a family’s legacy of courage and sacrifice
Memorial Day just passed, and I reflected on those in my extended family who were lost in battle. My stepfather’s two brothers, whose names are carved in the World War II monument of a nearby small town, are most prominent in my mind. If I remember correctly, one died in Germany and the other in the Pacific. My stepdad was so affected by the loss of his older brothers that …
When a doctor’s heart falls: Witnessing raw emotion in medicine
On this particular day, my heart rolled off my arm and crashed on the cold exam room floor. I summoned the strength—from where? I don’t know. Ginny cried, and between sobs, she described a brain tumor, the one that left him in a bed for a year. I handed her two tissues (one was never enough) and heaved my stool forward. I wrapped my entire arm around her as tears …
Lessons learned in psychiatry: How experience shapes your career
I am now in the twilight of my psychiatric career. Yes, I can write that without wincing now, almost, well, maybe just a little. I have made decisions in the last twelve months that have changed my daily schedule, my work life, and my relationships profoundly. Everyone around me, including friends, family members, and even some of my coworkers, thought that I was retiring. It’s not working any longer. Quitting. …
DEA vs. doctors: Who’s really breaking the law on controlled substances? [PODCAST]
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Join us as we delve into the intricate web of discrepancies surrounding pain medication availability and governmental oversight. Our guest, L. Joseph Parker, a research physician, sheds light on recent revelations regarding the …
Incurable psychiatric disorders: Should we offer palliative care or medical aid in dying?
The application of palliative care to intractable psychiatric disorders has been debated at least since 2010, when a journal article reported that a patient with severe anorexia nervosa died in hospice after being referred there by her psychiatrist. The New York Times published a thought-provoking article earlier this year on the same topic: whether we should ever deem severe, treatment-refractory anorexia incurable and terminal.
Are there incurable psychiatric patients?
Proponents …
Don’t wait until you’re old: Diseases hitting younger generations now
The news is rife with articles about younger people getting cancer, heart attacks, high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, and arthritis. We used to think of these as diseases of aging, but now we are finding high blood pressure and atherosclerosis in people as young as 20. The guidelines for colon cancer screening have been lowered to age 45 for people at normal risk. Experts can’t explain why this is happening. …
Hemophilia treatment: new hope with gene therapy and other advancements
Hemophilia and other bleeding disorders are rare genetic conditions that affect the body’s ability to properly form blood clots. People with these conditions often face challenges in accessing appropriate care and treatment. This is true not only in developed countries but also in low- and middle-income countries around the world.
One of the biggest access to care issues for people with hemophilia and bleeding disorders is the availability of specialized treatment …
From medicine to fictional memoir: an author-psychiatrist explores opioids [PODCAST]
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Today, we are joined by James Champion, a psychiatrist and author of Adventures of an American Medical Student. With his extensive experience in mental health and addiction, James brings a unique perspective to our discussion, …
Why my doctor never mentioned pelvic floor dysfunction (and why it matters)
I was 31 when I learned I had a pelvic floor: the set of muscles, ligaments, and tissues that stretch like a hammock across the pelvis. Like many women, my pelvic awakening came far too late in life. The phrase was never uttered in high school sex ed, never brought up by my gynecologist, and — despite spending most of my 20s shuttling around the health care system trying to …
Operating room etiquette: tips for pre-med students
“You know how to scrub, right?” The short story is no, I did not yet know how to scrub.
As a premedical student, the operating room is different from anywhere else I have been. Just as with any new environment—whether it’s a friend’s home, a workplace, or a place of worship—there are customs to learn. These unspoken rules become second nature to those accustomed to the surroundings. As a newcomer, it’s …
Bridging the gap: When experience meets innovation in health care
Reflecting on a recent meeting about upcoming audits by regulatory agencies, I couldn’t help but notice a significant shift. As the lone male leader and the second eldest person present, surrounded by a dynamic group of younger women, I couldn’t deny the passage of time since I embarked on my journey in administrative and public psychiatry. Far from lamenting, I welcomed this change, recognizing its necessity and long-overdue arrival. Witnessing …
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Health care costs: Looking in the mirror for solutions [PODCAST]
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Join us for a discussion on the complexities of the U.S. health care system with orthopedic surgeon Alejandro Badia. We’ll delve into the evolving perceptions surrounding health care, exploring factors contributing to its …
Burned out doctors, compromised care: a doctor’s story
Physicians are often seen as pillars of strength, guiding patients through their most vulnerable moments. However, behind the white coats and the stethoscopes lies a troubling reality: an alarming rise in physician burnout.
In the U.S., data from the American Medical Association and the Mayo Clinic found that physician burnout has reached 54 percent, compared to the 45 percent reported in a similar study conducted in 2011; this translates to an …
The DEA’s latest targets: doctors treating addiction instead of pain
I have been writing for a while about how the DEA will run out of targets for opioid prosecutions because most doctors are too terrified to treat pain, and now it looks like it has happened. Three doctors in Tennessee were recently convicted of prescribing controlled medications “outside the usual practice of medicine” and “not for a legitimate medical purpose.” The interesting thing is that these doctors weren’t treating pain; …
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Modernize medical education or face failure
In 1950, newly trained physicians may have gone the entire lengths of their careers without experiencing a doubling in medical knowledge. In 2011, Densen predicted that medical knowledge would have a doubling time of approximately 73 days – or 0.2 years – by 2020. “What was learned in the first three years of medical school,” according to Densen, “will be just 6 percent of what is known …
Examining the coverage of DOs in the mainstream media
In mainstream media, physicians are often depicted wearing a white coat, stethoscope, and name badge with the letters “MD.” In contrast, television and news coverage of doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) is notably absent or skewed. As a result, osteopathic medicine is not as well-recognized or well-known as allopathic medicine. One example was seen recently on ABC’s The View, where host Sunny Hostin described DOs as not being medical doctors. …
Broken but beautiful: Healing ourselves and the world [PODCAST]
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Join Nessa Meshkaty, an internal medicine, pediatrics, and infectious disease physician, as she explores the profound intersections of empathy, human connection, and societal challenges in this thought-provoking podcast. Drawing on insights from her …
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How AI became my medical tutor
“The patient is a 59-year-old male presenting with fatigue on exertion, pallor, and mild numbness and tingling in both feet. No family history of anemia or diabetes, but I still want to rule them out with a blood test. Does that sound reasonable?”
This is the 6th or 7th question I’ve asked in today’s session, but my tutor doesn’t mind the repetitiveness.
“Yes, performing blood work is a reasonable approach to help …
Past Week
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How the CDC’s opioid rules created a crisis for chronic pain patients
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How to build a culture where physicians feel valued [PODCAST]
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Why vaccine access still fails America’s most vulnerable groups
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Medical school admissions are racing toward an AI-driven disaster
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The silent crisis hurting pain patients and their doctors
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From the other side of the table: a plea for empathy
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Past 6 Months
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How trade wars could destroy the U.S. health care system
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Cutting opioid use in half: a hospital’s pain management breakthrough
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How hospitals are quietly taking control of physicians
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The hidden bias young female physicians face every day
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How the system hunts physicians who refuse to kneel
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How to advocate for your transgender child’s health care
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Recent Posts
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A surgeon’s startling ketamine experience [PODCAST]
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How doctors can thrive despite declining reimbursements
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How DrKoop.com rose and fell: the untold story behind the Surgeon General’s startup
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Why prescribing medicine to kids scares even experienced doctors
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When empathy becomes “toxic”
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Leading with care: a new approach to health care leadership for well-being [PODCAST]
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Past Week
-
How the CDC’s opioid rules created a crisis for chronic pain patients
-
How to build a culture where physicians feel valued [PODCAST]
-
Why vaccine access still fails America’s most vulnerable groups
-
Medical school admissions are racing toward an AI-driven disaster
-
The silent crisis hurting pain patients and their doctors
-
From the other side of the table: a plea for empathy
-
Past 6 Months
-
How trade wars could destroy the U.S. health care system
-
Cutting opioid use in half: a hospital’s pain management breakthrough
-
How hospitals are quietly taking control of physicians
-
The hidden bias young female physicians face every day
-
How the system hunts physicians who refuse to kneel
-
How to advocate for your transgender child’s health care
-
Recent Posts
-
A surgeon’s startling ketamine experience [PODCAST]
-
How doctors can thrive despite declining reimbursements
-
How DrKoop.com rose and fell: the untold story behind the Surgeon General’s startup
-
Why prescribing medicine to kids scares even experienced doctors
-
When empathy becomes “toxic”
-
Leading with care: a new approach to health care leadership for well-being [PODCAST]
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