Medical

“I believe that the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity is daring to dare.” – Maya Angelou Are you sheltering in place, while your practice has slowed down, and non-essential procedures and surgeries are postponed? If so, you’re probably worrying about what’s going to happen when people are out again. While the activity…

I am a middle-aged gastroenterologist almost 15 years out of training. I have a chronic medical disease and had a bout with lymphoma two years ago, both of which require me to stay indefinitely on immunosuppressive drugs. I am certainly not the only health care worker who is scared. Most winters that I will contract…

Medicine is a difficult calling. You already know the sacrifices. As an undergraduate, you gave up time with friends and family so you could be accepted into medical school — where you worked even harder. You understand that the practice of medicine requires you to take responsibility for the care of others … and the…

The coronavirus (COVID-19) is the single-most important topic on the minds of Americans, and it remains the subject of regular updates from health officials. And yet, despite the abundance of scientific facts and guidance surrounding the disease, misinformation abounds as confusion persists. Avoiding many of the worst consequences and doomsday predictions will depend, in part, on the ability of…

Early data from China and Italy shows that the outbreak disproportionately kills older adults. The rapid spread of these infections in the United States has triggered informal and formal efforts to protect frail and vulnerable populations like those in nursing homes. Informal recommendations like social distancing have greatly changed the day-to-day lives of most Americans…

Right now, we are all afraid. We’re all afraid of something called COVID-19. Grocery store shelves are empty. People are fighting over toilet paper rolls. It’s beginning to look a little like Armageddon. You’ve seen the photos, heard the stories, watched the news coverage. COVID-19 is real. It’s real, and the incredible infectivity of it…

Much is written about the advantages for primary care physicians and patients of working within a retainer model, direct primary care, concierge-type care model. Little is written about the downside or disadvantages. It is time to shine a light on the benefits and challenges of concierge and standard models through an experienced lens, particularly as…

I am a pediatrician. Daily I see kids with fevers and coughs who test negative for influenza. Some have pneumonia. I am not able to test them for SARS-CoV2, so I encourage them to self-quarantine. If I find nothing else, I tell them they have a viral illness. They ask me if it’s “the coronavirus,”…