American College of Physicians

American College of Physicians & The Podcast by KevinMD

Hurricane season is a fifth season, and medicine has to plan for it [PODCAST]

September 12, 2026Sep 12, 2026

In South Louisiana, hurricane season is treated like a fifth season of the year. Angela C. Johnson explains what that means for physicians and patients. She is an internal medicine physician and member of the American College of Physicians Board…

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Obesity stigma treats a medical problem as a moral failing

September 9, 2026Sep 9, 2026

I think of "Tim" often. He was a coworker, dedicated to his job as a staff member and doing his best on behalf of our medical students, staff, and faculty. He was smart, funny, insightful, and always helpful. Having no…

I think of “Tim” often. He was a coworker, dedicated to his job as a staff member and doing his best on behalf of our medical students, staff, and faculty. He was smart, funny, insightful, and always helpful. Having no local family, he retired early and was happily settling into retirement in the community. We did not hear from him for a while. Then the bad news arrived. He had …

American College of Physicians & The Podcast by KevinMD

Why physician is not the same as provider [PODCAST]

June 29, 2026Jun 29, 2026

Calling a doctor a provider sounds harmless. The American College of Physicians says it isn't. Janet Jokela, former treasurer of the American College of Physicians, professor, and medical educator, discusses the KevinMD article "Physician vs. provider is an ethics issue,…

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Calling a doctor a provider sounds harmless. The American College of Physicians says it isn’t. Janet Jokela, former treasurer of the American College of Physicians, professor, and medical educator, discusses the KevinMD article “Physician vs. provider is an ethics issue, not just style.” She walks through how the word “provider” entered medicine through Medicare in 1965 and ended up …

Physicians and natural disasters: the fifth season

June 17, 2026Jun 17, 2026

As our calendars roll forward into the month of June, the summer season brings thoughts of family vacations, graduation ceremonies, and outdoor gatherings to many. But for me and others along the Gulf Coast, June 1 carries added meaning as…

Hurricane season brings months of planning, forecasting, and preparation. Having practiced in south Louisiana for over 25 years through residency and beyond, …

Physician vs. provider is an ethics issue, not just style

May 12, 2026May 12, 2026

A position paper about using the term physician instead of provider? What does this have to do with biomedical ethics? I fully support calling ourselves physicians and not providers, and have been sensitive to this issue in part thanks to…

A position paper about using the term physician instead of provider? What does this have to do with biomedical ethics?

I fully support calling ourselves physicians and not providers, and have been sensitive to this issue in part thanks to American College of Physicians (ACP) President Emeritus Dr. Robert McLean’s call to action in his 2019 inaugural address. At first, I was puzzled that this became an issue for the …

American College of Physicians & The Podcast by KevinMD

Reclaiming human dignity as the foundation of medical practice [PODCAST]

April 1, 2026Apr 1, 2026

Former Treasurer of the American College of Physicians Janet A. Jokela discusses the article "The service of humanity: Recommitting to physicians’ ethical duties." Janet reflects on her visit to the Ronald Reagan Museum where she found profound connections between the…

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Former Treasurer of the American College of Physicians Janet A. Jokela discusses the article “The service of humanity: Recommitting to physicians’ ethical duties.” Janet reflects on her visit to the Ronald Reagan Museum where she found profound connections between the former president’s views on diversity and the medical profession’s ethical …

Policy

The service of humanity: Recommitting to physicians’ ethical duties

March 4, 2026Mar 4, 2026

Recently, my husband and I passed through Eureka, IL (pop. 5,200). We stopped at Eureka College, which is President Ronald Reagan's alma mater and the host of the Ronald Reagan Museum. As visitors to many presidential libraries, we thought this…

Recently, my husband and I passed through Eureka, IL (pop. 5,200). We stopped at Eureka College, which is President Ronald Reagan’s alma mater and the host of the Ronald Reagan Museum. As visitors to many presidential libraries, we thought this sounded like an interesting place. It did not disappoint.

On display were many photographs, documents, letter sweaters (the “Dutch” played football for Eureka College), and more, including quotes. The …

American College of Physicians & The Podcast by KevinMD

Personal memories reveal the transformation of HIV care over four decades [PODCAST]

January 13, 2026Jan 13, 2026

Professor and senior associate dean of engagement Janet A. Jokela discusses her article "Reflecting on the significance of World AIDS Day from the 1980s to now." Janet shares harrowing memories from her time as a medical student in the mid-1980s,…

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Professor and senior associate dean of engagement Janet A. Jokela discusses her article “Reflecting on the significance of World AIDS Day from the 1980s to now.” Janet shares harrowing memories from her time as a medical student in the mid-1980s, recalling the fear and stigma that surrounded the early days …

Conditions

Reflecting on the significance of World AIDS Day from the 1980s to now

December 10, 2025Dec 10, 2025

What is the significance of World AIDS Day? While pondering this question, many memories came flooding back. As a medical student in 1985, I was given the option to go into the room of a patient with pneumonia who was…

What is the significance of World AIDS Day?

While pondering this question, many memories came flooding back. As a medical student in 1985, I was given the option to go into the room of a patient with pneumonia who was infected with this new disease. “You don’t have to,” as at that time my attending wanted to protect me. Regardless, I gowned up, put on a mask and gloves, and went …

American College of Physicians & The Podcast by KevinMD

Rediscovering the sacred power of the patient story [PODCAST]

November 25, 2025Nov 25, 2025

Professor and senior associate dean of engagement Janet A. Jokela discusses her article, "Celebrating internal medicine through our human connections with patients." Janet shares moving stories from medical students who are discovering the profound importance of human connection, often for…

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Professor and senior associate dean of engagement Janet A. Jokela discusses her article, “Celebrating internal medicine through our human connections with patients.” Janet shares moving stories from medical students who are discovering the profound importance of human connection, often for the first time. She explores how these early, sacred connections …

Education

Celebrating internal medicine through our human connections with patients

October 26, 2025Oct 26, 2025

Students have been sharing with me their reasons for deciding to pursue a career in internal medicine, a fitting topic for this year's upcoming Internal Medicine Day. The most moving stories are those describing them seeing the person behind the…

Students have been sharing with me their reasons for deciding to pursue a career in internal medicine, a fitting topic for this year’s upcoming Internal Medicine Day. The most moving stories are those describing them seeing the person behind the patient, often for the first time.

Many students also mention, of course, their attraction to solving puzzles, the thrill of making a diagnosis, and their desire to have impact, wanting …

American College of Physicians & The Podcast by KevinMD

How collective action is shaping physician empowerment and patient care [PODCAST]

September 24, 2025Sep 24, 2025

Physician leader Janet A. Jokela discusses its article "Collective action as a path to patient-centered care." The piece reflects on the evolution of physician unions since the 1980s, beginning with housestaff associations focused on scut work and duty hours, through…

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Physician leader Janet A. Jokela discusses its article “Collective action as a path to patient-centered care.” The piece reflects on the evolution of physician unions since the 1980s, beginning with housestaff associations focused on scut work and duty hours, through the Libby Zion case that transformed resident supervision, to today’s …

Collective action as a path to patient-centered care

September 10, 2025Sep 10, 2025

When I began my internal medicine residency in 1987 at Boston City Hospital, all new interns were enrolled in the Housestaff Association, the residents' union. Some of my resident peers were active leaders in the union. Coming from Minneapolis and…

When I began my internal medicine residency in 1987 at Boston City Hospital, all new interns were enrolled in the Housestaff Association, the residents’ union. Some of my resident peers were active leaders in the union. Coming from Minneapolis and moving to Boston, I was trying to absorb all the new things (such as Fenway Park and the jinxed Red Sox, in the pre-world-champion days) and keep my head …

American College of Physicians & The Podcast by KevinMD

Federal shakeup of vaccine policy and the battle for public trust [PODCAST]

August 30, 2025Aug 30, 2025

Physician leader Janet Jokela discusses her article "How federal actions threaten vaccine policy and trust," highlighting the unprecedented removal of expert members from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and its replacement with individuals lacking clinical experience, some holding anti-vaccine…

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Physician leader Janet Jokela discusses her article “How federal actions threaten vaccine policy and trust,” highlighting the unprecedented removal of expert members from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and its replacement with individuals lacking clinical experience, some holding anti-vaccine views. Janet explains the downstream risks to immunization standards, insurance …

Conditions

How federal actions threaten vaccine policy and trust

August 13, 2025Aug 13, 2025

How many times have we heard "Whatever you say doc, I know you will do right by me. You always have and I know you will." Or, "What do you think, doctor? Do you think I should do this?" Or,…

How many times have we heard “Whatever you say doc, I know you will do right by me. You always have and I know you will.” Or, “What do you think, doctor? Do you think I should do this?” Or, “Thanks, doc, I am so glad you are here.” These statements imply trust, the sacred trust between physician and patient and an exceedingly complex topic.

While it has been important to …

American College of Physicians & The Podcast by KevinMD

Confronting the return of measles and vaccine misinformation [PODCAST]

July 24, 2025Jul 24, 2025

Infectious disease physician Janet A. Jokela discusses her article, "Measles is back: Why vaccination is more vital than ever." Recounting her own experience diagnosing a case in the 1990s, Janet contrasts that contained incident with the current crisis in 2025,…

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Infectious disease physician Janet A. Jokela discusses her article, “Measles is back: Why vaccination is more vital than ever.” Recounting her own experience diagnosing a case in the 1990s, Janet contrasts that contained incident with the current crisis in 2025, which has seen over 1000 cases and the first pediatric …

Conditions

Measles is back: Why vaccination is more vital than ever

May 31, 2025May 31, 2025

As an infectious disease fellow years ago, I was called to the hospital in the middle of the night for a possible case of measles. I reviewed the clinical basics, as I was not quite sure what to expect, not…

As an infectious disease fellow years ago, I was called to the hospital in the middle of the night for a possible case of measles.

I reviewed the clinical basics, as I was not quite sure what to expect, not previously having seen a case of measles. The emergency room staff had promptly isolated the patient in a negative pressure room. I masked up and went in to see the patient, …

American College of Physicians & The Podcast by KevinMD

More than a meeting: Finding education, inspiration, and community in internal medicine [PODCAST]

May 26, 2025May 26, 2025

Former American College of Physicians treasurer and infectious disease physician Janet A. Jokela discusses her article, "Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting." She shares her personal reflections on the profound value of attending the American College of Physicians…

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Former American College of Physicians treasurer and infectious disease physician Janet A. Jokela discusses her article, “Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting.” She shares her personal reflections on the profound value of attending the American College of Physicians annual internal medicine meeting, drawing from decades of experience. Janet …

Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting

April 29, 2025Apr 29, 20253

"So wonderful to see you!" This phrase was heard repeatedly all over the convention hall at the recent American College of Physicians annual meeting, Internal Medicine 2025. Held in New Orleans last April, the meeting welcomed attendees from across the…

“So wonderful to see you!”

This phrase was heard repeatedly all over the convention hall at the recent American College of Physicians annual meeting, Internal Medicine 2025. Held in New Orleans last April, the meeting welcomed attendees from across the country and the world, with everyone focused on the latest updates in internal medicine and connecting with colleagues.

Why do I attend the annual internal medicine meeting?

…