Medical

No break for 12 hours. We beg to go to the bathroom just for a nano-second. You know, in between not skipping a beat to hang life-saving IV drips, assisting with central line insertions and arterial lines and intubations of the sickest. We pretty much just go door to door literally saving lives. Code blues,…

How did the human heart adapt during our evolution as a species? To explore that question, Harvard cardiologist Dr. Aaron Baggish led a unique study that compared the hearts of African great apes, Mexican farmers, and American athletes. But the findings also have a practical message. “They reinforce the importance of regular brisk walking or…

1. Stay up to date on recommendations. Information on the coronavirus changes daily. Last week we were only screening patients with travel history. This week, we’ve realized travel history no longer matters. At first, we assumed those infected would have fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Now we know that younger people could present with…

These are unprecedented times.  As a mid-career ER physician and mom of four kids, COVID-19 has changed everything.  Schools are closed, all public events canceled, and the United States has declared a national emergency.  There is a heightened sense of urgency at work.  Scenarios that seemed absurd 24 hours ago are now a frightening reality. …

The first step on any journey is having a direction to follow. When you decided to become a physician, you no doubt sought out advice from trusted mentors: advisors, other physicians, even peers who had traveled that road before you. Becoming a physician likely started as an abstract thought that became all-consuming. Somewhere along the…

Strange times right now, huh? The spread of COVID-19 is expected to be massive because the virus is sneaky I live in Maryland, and our schools are shut down statewide due to coronavirus (COVID-19). That means that since I’m a pediatrician, I’ve been peppered with questions from patients, family, and friends wondering what they’re going…

Recently, I realized that something needed to change in my family life. With three busy daughters at three different schools who participate in multiple activities along with my full-time job as an anesthesiologist, my life depended on accurate and concise communication. However, this was the third time in a week that a ball had been…

14 years ago, I recited the Hippocratic Oath, and two sections have always stuck with me: “Into whatsoever houses I enter, I will enter to help the sick” and “I will use treatment to help the sick according to my ability and judgment.” The events over the last couple of weeks have affected me deeply. …

It’s a devastating fact: More than a million Americans could die from the novel coronavirus. But we can prevent this catastrophe through simple measures like sleeve sneezing, washing our hands, and staying home when we’re sick. The problem is, nearly everyone goes to work when they’re sick. We need to fix that. Consider this scenario. Monica…