Medical
Stiff and achy in the mornings? How to fix that
Some days I feel incredibly ancient. Not in age or my knowledge of modern music (although my millennial daughter may disagree), but in how my body feels. There are mornings when everything is rusty and creaky. You know what I mean: the stiffness and dull aches (and accompanying grunts and groans) that occur after you…
Read MoreCOVID-19 and the cruel death of my mother
I am very happy to hear that the CDC decided to prioritize health care workers and long-term care residents to be the first to receive the vaccine for the COVID-19 vaccine. It is very personal to me as a health care worker and a daughter. My mom was admitted to an assisted living/personal care home…
Read MorePreparing for the USMLE despite 2020’s obstacles
I came from Malaysia dreaming of completing my residency in the U.S. and becoming a nephrologist. Luckily, I interviewed for programs before COVID-19 shook the world, and I began my residency at Yale University Bridgeport Hospital in June 2020. Having just reached my target score for the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) after graduating…
Read MoreHow to bring joy and be valued while avoiding burnout [PODCAST]
“When I was regularly working 80+ hours a week, and was on call almost every day, I had to admit that something needed to change. I stepped back and did significant research to find a strategy to help coach myself out of constant exhaustion and put myself first. Today, I’m a peak performance speaker who…
Read MoreReflecting on the advice of a revered physician counsellor
I turned into the hospital parking lot, placed my car into park, and looked up at the time. 5:44 a.m. I’d spent the previous night researching COVID-19 symptoms and treatment options, preparing to field questions from my patients, family, and friends. Attempting to understand this disease process, which seemed to present a new wrinkle every…
Read MoreThe truth about Baron Von Munchausen, Munchausen’s Syndrome, and Munchausen’s by proxy
An excerpt from Medical Myths: A Sceptic’s Journey. The German Baron Karl Friedrich Von Munchausen (1720-1797) was famous for his tall tales. Returning from the war, he described himself riding on a cannonball and even reaching the moon. Stories were compiled about the Baron and his adventures in fantasy land. Books and more than…
Read MoreCOVID-19 stands on the shoulders of giants
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is difficult to assimilate the global transformation that has taken place in just a few short months. As we each struggle to make sense of this life-altering event, it might help to reflect on pandemics’ history in general. In his book, Epidemics and Society, published last year,…
Read MoreHow to give yourself — and others — a break
Be kind to yourself. Give others the benefit of the doubt. Few would disagree that this advice would lead to a life filled with less fighting and more empathy. So, why don’t we always practice compassion? American culture can promote and celebrate competitiveness, where it’s easy to never be satisfied and think that we should…
Read MoreLive like you are dying
“Hey, did you hear the news?” Tanya, my long-time friend, texts, referring to a social media post. It is peculiar (even perplexing) we get our news this way. “In a relationship,” engagements, weddings, buns-in-ovens. Baby pictures, white beaches, sunsets. Those are happy news. Then there are the break-ups, the “not-in-a-relationship,” the I-hate-my-job rants. These posts…
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