Medical

Have you ever watched a movie, television show, or read a book where the villain is a medical doctor? If you are a psychiatrist, you will be alarmed by how many times the villain in these stories turns out to be a psychiatrist. In all fairness, psychiatry has had its share of blunders. However, in…

This piece is a retelling of the poem “Do not go gentle into that good night” by Dylan Thomas. As an emergency physician who has borne witness to suffering and death, I have felt the futility and bravery of fighting against the dying of the light among individuals from all walks of life. Bearing witness…

Intermittent fasting (IF) is an approach to eating based on timing. The idea is that fasting for long enough allows insulin levels to fall low enough that our body will use fat for fuel. Growing evidence in animals and humans shows that this approach leads to significant weight loss. When combined with a nutritious, plant-based…

“While our bodies have been a bastion of the heart and soul of medicine, a group of our peers thought it was acceptable to diminish the capabilities of our bodies to pictures on social media. They thought our ability to be exceptional physicians was inversely proportional to the number of pictures that showed us holding…

Physicians dedicate their lives to serving their patients and the communities in which they reside.  We work tirelessly to educate and protect people, regardless of their background, political affiliation, immigration status, or gender.  Most of us have worked to educate our local and state governments, schools, and patients about this pandemic to empower them to…

So much is different and hard during this pandemic — including planning for the holidays. It’s understandable to want to gather with friends and family. We are all so worn out by the COVID-19 pandemic, and need some cheering up. And most of us have friends and family that we haven’t been able to really…

George Floyd’s murder magnified attention to police brutality and inspired collective activism leading to structural reforms and demands for abolition. His death provoked a national reckoning with the racism infecting all major American institutions, including American medicine. Health care providers (HCPs) have since called for diagnosing and treating systemic racism and promoting antiracism in medicine.…

Years and years ago, I wrote a novel called The House of God, based largely on my experiences as an intern at what was then known as Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. At its core, the book was about the injustice in medical training. A lot has changed in medicine in the ensuing 40-plus years, not…

When Jayden called our clinic to talk about worsening migraines, a medication change was one potential outcome. But moments into our telehealth visit, it was clear that a cure for her problems couldn’t be found in a pill. “He’s out of control again,” she whispered, lips pressed to the phone speaker, “What can I do?”…