Surgery
Top tips to find success as a plastic surgeon, according to an industry veteran
Over the past 20-plus years, I have made my mark within the plastic surgery field. I firmly believe that dedicating valuable time to understanding each patient and grasping their sense of aesthetics and beauty is essential in providing exceptional patient care. My goal is to not only meet their expectations but also bring their unique vision to life.
Since my childhood, I have been known for my artistic and creative nature. …
Neurosurgeons fail to fix a wayward night owl
My tribe consists of competitive overachievers. We used to call them “gunners” in medical school, and Gunners tend to be morning people, or “larks.” Let’s be honest; people are impressed by those who are up at 4 a.m., training for their next ultramarathon before heading to their noble jobs. A typical conversation among neurosurgeons at a morning conference might go something like this:
Ned: “How are you this morning, Rena?”
Rena: “Great, …
The shoulders of giants
I regretfully told my 65-year-old patient in the preoperative area, “I’m going to have to cancel your case.” We both knew this was coming. He suffered from a large inguinoscrotal hernia that was symptomatic but not dangerous, a condition that had threatened his welfare for the past several months. Given his education level and social issues, his career prospects were limited to manual labor. I sensed his desperation to return …
Life and death in the trauma unit [PODCAST]
A surgeon without health care
I’m squished in an unnaturally upright seat. My elbows slowly develop pressure sores atop rigid armrests, with my wife on one side and a semi-uncomfortable stranger on the other. I stare at my lopsided gray tray table, sporting a Styrofoam cup of lukewarm coffee, the chalice special of Sky Chefs. My ears have become one with the perpetual background hum of engines, a prelude to the impending orchestra of jet …
Life-changing surgery: Embracing my true self
An excerpt from Beautiful Monster: A Becoming.
The day of the surgery we show up early to the small clinic. After a brief wait we are taken into the back, where the doctor draws a map of my body-to-be on my now-body, detailing the road to my new life. The anesthesiologist …
Learning health equity from activists: a paradigm shift for physicians
The practice of evidence-based medicine and lifelong learning are core tenets of medicine. Through courses, conferences, and lectures, physicians have regularly turned to their colleagues for continuing education. For decades, this reliance on physician-to-physician teaching has been a fitting choice for the subjects at hand, which usually related to clinical practice. In recent years, there has been widespread development of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Holding to previous patterns, …
Inside the life of a transplant physician [PODCAST]
Mental health matters: lessons from a surgeon’s journey [PODCAST]
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Join Mohini Dasari, a general surgeon. She shares her personal journey through the demanding world of surgical training, touching on her experiences with mental health challenges, the difficult decision to leave a prestigious transplant surgery fellowship, and …
Navigating complex ICU conversations: a trauma surgeon’s perspective
An excerpt from All Bleeding Stops: Life and Death in the Trauma Unit (Mayo Clinic Press, December 2023).
Trauma surgeons, particularly in our roles as directors of a surgical intensive care unit, must frequently chat with families of critically ill patients after they have sustained …
Cosmetic surgeons’ contribution to mental health
The global cosmetic surgery market has witnessed remarkable growth in recent years—in 2021, it was valued at $67.3 billion, and projections suggest it will reach a staggering $201 billion by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.6 percent from 2022 to 2031. We can largely attribute this exponential growth to society’s increasing desire for enhanced aesthetic value and the evolving beauty standards of our time. As societal …
Innovations in surgical education [PODCAST]
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Join Ruchi Thanawala, a cardiothoracic surgeon, as we explore the transformative power of technology in surgical training. Discover how innovation is reshaping the way we educate future surgeons, improve feedback, and address critical issues of equity in …
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Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories
What is working?
I often encounter variations of this question on social media. The response is frequently met with silence or lackluster positivity.
I’ve engaged in conversations with numerous inspirational physicians who have shared their tales of burnout and recovery.
As part of their healing journeys, in addition to their active medical practices, the physicians below have all obtained coaching certifications. These doctors are now even busier than before, but they find fulfillment …
Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern
One day, you find yourself on the edge, peering into the abyss. Then someone pushes you in. Welcome to the first day as a surgery intern. Few folks outside of medicine fully fathom the rigors a doctor must endure during post-graduate training. From the get-go, we were thrown into the fire, responsible for complicated, sick hospital patients, in what felt like a prolonged boot camp, where ridiculously long hours, horrid …
Exploring disfigurement and self-worth
An excerpt from Rearranged: An Opera Singer’s Facial Cancer And Life Transposed.
In the usual post-op haze after reconstructive surgery, in a wide-open, multi-bed recovery room partitioned by wavy muslin walls, I heard one strangled sentence rise above the racket of skittering curtain hooks.
“Honey, I’m a monster!”
My gaze swiveled toward a …
Motorcycle helmet laws: Balancing freedom and financial impact
Several years ago, I cared for a young man who crashed his motorcycle at highway speeds. He arrived, slightly dazed, with a few broken bones. Because he was wearing a full-face helmet, he had sustained only a concussion. The paramedics brought in his helmet as they often do, this one with the metal side buffed down to the inner plastic cushion from the grinding contact with the asphalt. Had he …
From academic medicine to private practice [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes!
Join Carmen Fong, a colorectal surgeon, as she shares her journey through the world of medicine. Carmen’s experiences highlight the challenges women face in academic medicine, from gender disparities to work-life balance. We delve into her decision to transition to private practice, …
Surgical decision-making: Navigating catastrophic scenarios
Let me describe what it’s like to operate in a potentially disastrous situation. Notwithstanding having one’s faculties and wits gathered and finely honed, being as in command of yourself as you can possibly be, it may test and demand everything you can bring to bear. I’ve been in war, where I feared daily for my life. It’s not pleasant, but in some way you can get used to it. In …
Explore the rise in facelift options and embrace the trending popularity
The facelift procedure was first described in 1901 by Eugene Hollander and in 1916 by Erich Lexer. Over the last century, the facelift has become the gold standard for facial rejuvenation and continues to grow in popularity. One of the reasons we can attribute this growth spurt to is the options and advancements in how facelifts are handled. Let’s delve into the fascinating realm of modern facelifts, exploring the incredible …
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Past Week
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Why primary care doctors are drowning in debt despite saving lives
-
New student loan caps could shut low-income students out of medicine
-
How federal actions threaten vaccine policy and trust
-
Are we repeating the statin playbook with lipoprotein(a)?
-
Why transgender health care needs urgent reform and inclusive practices
-
mRNA post vaccination syndrome: Is it real?
-
Past 6 Months
-
COVID-19 was real: a doctor’s frontline account
-
Why primary care doctors are drowning in debt despite saving lives
-
New student loan caps could shut low-income students out of medicine
-
Confessions of a lipidologist in recovery: the infection we’ve ignored for 40 years
-
A physician employment agreement term that often tricks physicians
-
Why taxing remittances harms families and global health care
-
Recent Posts
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The silent cost of choosing personalization over privacy in health care
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How IMGs can find purpose in clinical research [PODCAST]
-
Why the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is essential to saving lives
-
Medicaid lags behind on Alzheimer’s blood test coverage
-
The unspoken contract between doctors and patients explained
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AI isn’t hallucinating, it’s fabricating—and that’s a problem [PODCAST]
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