Medical
Are the life sciences the best premedical majors?
The medical school admission process can be overwhelming. There is no definitive path that guarantees admission. Prospective students are meant to create their own way that could bring them an acceptance letter. That is why some individuals with a 3.6 GPA and a 508 MCAT score get accepted, and others with a better academic record…
Read MoreLimiting COVID chaos during the school year
Child: “Will I go back to school this fall? Parent: “I’m not sure yet.” Child: “Do you know when we’ll find out?” Parent: “I also don’t know that yet.” Child: “Will school be the same for the whole year?” Parent: “I don’t know that either.” Sound familiar? If the only thing you do know is…
Read MoreAn patient’s ode to healers
Pages of my life turn over As the breezes of time flow over me. Remembrances of your presence As the world welcomed my first born so many years ago. Your calming voice and words of wisdom reminded me that life Would be different, but oh so much better. My little baby girl would grow to…
Read MoreAfter 4,380 days, a pair of Danskos — and a calling — fall apart
My Danskos literally disintegrated last month. I was in the hospital team room, finishing up my patient notes at the end of a busy hospitalist shift. I happened to look down at the floor, and there they were: black chunks on the carpet. I thought, “Who left such a huge mess under the desk?” I…
Read MoreRural communities have unique vulnerabilities worsened by the pandemic [PODCAST]
“While Imperial County faces a confluence of vulnerabilities that have led to its susceptibility during COVID-19, it is not alone. Like an insidious undercurrent, these deficiencies are lurking in every region of the United States. Structural issues require structural solutions—to effectively contain COVID-19, our local, state, and federal leaders must address these underlying faults…
Read MoreIntentions don’t sanitize impact
While there are certainly instances of malicious intent in thoughts, feelings, and actions, most people operate with the intent to do good, be good, offer good to the world – but what we do isn’t always received in the way we set out to offer it. In the words of Oscar Wilde, “No good deed…
Read MorePlease call your child’s pediatrician. Checkups and vaccines are more important than ever.
“We haven’t been to the doctor since COVID started.” “It was just a checkup; we didn’t need to go to it.” “We are trying to avoid going to the doctor unless it is really important.” I have taken care of many children and their families who have postponed checkups due to fear of catching COVID-19…
Read MoreWhy doctors should be trained to speak out and lead the movement for social justice
Dr. Anthony Fauci, National Institute of Health Director of Allergy and Infectious Disease and White House Coronavirus Task Force member, recently underwent surgery to remove a vocal cord polyp. This is not surprising given that a major risk factor for developing vocal cord polyps is overuse of the voice, something Fauci has likely experienced during…
Read MoreWhy this physician created the Cancer and Pregnancy Registry
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed during pregnancy. In fact, 5 percent of invasive breast cancers occur in women less than 40 years of age, and 7 to 14 percent of premenopausal breast cancers occur in pregnant women. Harrington and other surgeons in 1943 felt that the prognosis was so poor for pregnant…
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