Medical
This physician is retiring. Here’s his most valuable lesson.
In a few weeks, I will be retiring. After 31 years and more than 100,000 patient visits, I will be hanging up my stethoscope. Over the years, there have been tremendous highs but also horrible lows. The latter includes having been victimized by a frivolous lawsuit where my patient suffered injuries attributed to a medicine…
Read MoreCOVID, paternalism, and the death of patient autonomy
A year ago, if you had asked me if most doctors respected their patients’ wishes, I would have answered with a resounding yes. If you had asked me if medicine had divorced its paternalistic roots when physicians trampled over ideals like patient autonomy and non-malfeasance, I would have said yes. But that was last year,…
Read MoreMisinformation is endemic in our society, but it is not a new problem
Misinformation is endemic in our society, but it is not a new problem. Misinformation passed along with or without an ulterior motive has been around for as long as humans have been communicating. What is new is that digital media allows expertly designed misinformation to spread quicker and more ruthlessly exploit individuals’ preconceived notions through…
Read MoreHoliday jangle: Tricky conversations around COVID safety with family and friends
This holiday season, many of us are discussing topics with loved ones that may have seemed unimaginable just a year ago. “What do you mean, you aren’t coming to your cousin’s house for the holiday party? We’ve been going there for 20 years!” “Tell me why I should wear a mask in my own home!”…
Read MoreUnderstanding the business of medicine: How to pursue excellence in the medical field
Your success in the medical field is not solely contingent upon your clinical dexterity but often results from the mastery of various industry aspects. What separates a great doctor from a good doctor is their cognizance of both the clinical and business sides of medicine. The market, risks, and trends of medical businesses are a…
Read MoreHow to make peace with purpose
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary Oliver, The Summer Day Ikigai is a Japanese concept that means “a reason for being.” The word “ikigai” is usually used to indicate the source of value in one’s life or the things that make one’s life…
Read MoreWhen coaching physicians with wellness, don’t lead with mindfulness [PODCAST]
“In my work with physicians and physician leaders in academic medicine, I learned that physicians are highly self-reflective and aware of the pressures they face; however, they are frequently the last to ask for help, and the first to deprioritize their own self-care. This has led to high suicide rates in the overall physician population. For coaches…
Read MoreDuring the pandemic, many health care workers won’t be home for Christmas
He was a healthy 36-year-old paramedic with a loving wife and an adorable little boy. Jim loved his job. The rush, the adrenaline, the blaring lights through downtown hurrying to get to the major hospital. Cardiac arrests, gunshot wounds, tragic auto accidents, respiratory arrests, CPR, compressions, starting IVs. Speaking to the ER physician en route…
Read MoreWhy can I trust the COVID vaccine?
Many friends have asked for my perspective on the COVID vaccine. Answering this requires both an explanation of clinical trials and an understanding of what normally slows down pharmaceutical development. Importantly, COVID vaccines are required to go through the same process as every other pharmaceutical. These include the following: Preclinical trials. In this stage, researchers…
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