Medical
Meniscus tear surgery and treatment: What you need to know to decrease your pain
Meniscus injuries of the knee are common. There are lots of treatment options, including meniscus tear surgery or injections. But which one is the best to address your meniscus tear pain? The data surprises almost everyone. History of meniscus tear treatments Orthopedic surgeons used to perform a total meniscectomy for patients with meniscus tears. This…
Read MoreTreating mild hypothyroidism: Benefits still uncertain
Your thyroid, a tiny, butterfly-shaped gland located in front of your windpipe (trachea) and below your voice box (larynx) can have a profound impact on your health and well-being. Throughout life, your thyroid is constantly producing hormones that influence your metabolism. These hormones affect your mood, energy, body temperature, weight, heart, and more. A brief…
Read More13 tips for medical students starting their clinical rotations
Each year, medical students across the country prepare to start the long-anticipated core clinical rotations. Suddenly, we’re thrust into a world of constant adaptation and evaluation, with many highs and many lows. As I finish up the year and new students get ready to start, I’ve been asked time and time again for my advice.…
Read MoreClinicians shouldn’t be punished for taking care of needy populations
It has always been financially rewarding for doctors to take care of rich patients. People with more money … well, they have more money to spend on health care. But shouldn’t this more money/higher payment relationship go away in Medicare? It doesn’t, and some recent payment reforms may be making matters worse. Medicare is a…
Read MoreLifestyle medicine is a prescription to treat physician burnout [PODCAST]
“Lifestyle medicine equips practitioners with the tools to affect change. One of the biggest job satisfiers for physicians is positively impacting the trajectory of their patients’ lives. Having a parent tell you that their child is ‘a different person’ because of the time you spent with them is priceless. This is why I believe if…
Read MoreFinding a common chord with a patient
”I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.” — Maya Angelou Before starting my dive into medicine, almost four years ago, I was an avid violinist, pianist, disc golfer, and novice chef. Each of these activities felt comfortable and familiar–like “home.” But when I began medical school, I…
Read MoreDoctoring in the age of COVID and the possibility of dying in the near future
On January 19, the first case of the coronavirus in the United States was announced. Initially, COVID cases were detected in Washington. As time elapsed, other states did best to prepare for if and when COVID came to our area. As spring break arrived, my husband, an intensivist, debated the best course of action regarding…
Read MoreCOVID-19 in Italy: the good, the bad, and the ugly
The good Italians star at disorganization, disobedience, and discord. They sneak past no-entry signs, light up under no-smoking signs, barrel along at 80 in 35 mph zones, fasten their seat belts under their butts. Plus, they had the worst COVID-19 epidemic in Europe. So how come they’re doing so well now? Europe battles a second…
Read MoreRacial disparities and maternal mental health during COVID
As the coronavirus pandemic has unfolded, the uncertainty of this crisis has stoked heightened awareness and precaution in each aspect of our lives. We have incorporated personal protective equipment into our human interactions, and we are compulsively practicing sanitation rituals. Our social connections have been tethered at a distance for months on end. As a…
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