Every single day of my life, I witness the same struggle among us physicians, particularly those in residency. It's a pervasive challenge that seems to persist unabated. When I inquire about it, I'm often met with a resigned acceptance, as if it's simply the way things are meant to be.…
Join Michael Poku, a physician executive, as we delve into the challenges and solutions for transforming the U.S. health care system. Explore how the fee-for-service model perpetuates health inequities, the importance of value-based care, and the impact on patient outcomes. Discover how prioritizing patients and making strategic investments can lead…
When it comes to anorexia, achieving proper nourishment and medical stability marks just the initial phase in the journey toward recovery. It's a process of unraveling the underlying layers contributing to the eating disorder, which can be daunting. Frequently, caregivers express frustration, wondering why their loved one can't simply eat.…
Join L. Joseph Parker, a research physician, as we explore a recent comparative effectiveness study that investigates the impact of discontinuing long-term benzodiazepine therapy on patients' mortality and adverse events, especially when considering their baseline opioid exposure. Discover the key findings, implications, and the potential risks and benefits associated with…
Join guests Kim Downey, a physical therapist, and Bryce Bowers, a family physician, as they discuss the challenges and triumphs of the medical profession. Delve into the world of health care, burnout, mental health, and creative outlets for physicians. Get inspired to share your own story and connect with fellow…
In the field of ophthalmology, particularly when dealing with glaucoma, there's a remarkable contrast in the initial impact compared to cataract surgery. Cataract surgery can offer almost immediate transformation – taking someone from blindness to restored vision in a matter of minutes, providing that instant gratification. However, as a glaucoma…
Join Jillian Rigert, an oral medicine specialist and radiation oncology research fellow. In this episode, we delve into the world of eating disorders, drawing from Jillian's unique perspective as both a patient and a health care professional. We explore topics such as maintaining hope during recovery, the impact of diagnostic…
Join Patrick Dotts, a health care executive. We'll delve into the pressing challenges faced by the health care workforce, including high turnover rates and low employee satisfaction. Patrick will share insights on how health care organizations can leverage staffing partners to overcome these hurdles. Discover how staffing partners customize their…
Join Emily Schehlein, a glaucoma and cataract surgeon. In this episode, we delve into the emotional and ethical complexities of delivering life-altering medical diagnoses. Emily shares her insights and experiences in the world of ophthalmology and how she navigates the challenging task of delivering bad news to patients. Emily Schehlein…
Institutions have often adhered to the approach of letting individuals fend for themselves while offering a token reward, like a pizza party, in the hopes of alleviating their stress. However, when we recognize the inherent difficulty of the work at hand, institutions bear a responsibility, if not a moral obligation,…
Join Parastoo Jangouk, a gastroenterologist and internal medicine physician. We dive into the challenges faced by business owners and health care professionals in December. It's a month filled with long hours, patient appointments, and marketing efforts. But amidst the hustle, we uncover the importance of slowing down and confronting the…
Join Alan Lindemann, an obstetrics-gynecology physician, who shares his insights and real-life experiences, shedding light on the issues surrounding patient care, medical decision-making, and the role of institutions and personal connections in shaping health care outcomes. Discover how the pursuit of quality care can sometimes be obstructed by self-interest and…
Join Tami Burdick, a patient advocate and the author of Diagnosis Detective: Curing Granulomatous Mastitis. We delve into the world of travel, uncovering hidden health and safety risks often overlooked by travelers. From airport concerns to international journeys, Tami shares her insights and offers valuable tips to help you stay…
It's quite surprising that the general public remains relatively uninformed about this condition, despite its relatively subdued nature and the immense suffering it causes. Essentially, patients afflicted with it experience the development of painful nodules or abscesses, sometimes colloquially referred to as boils, which progressively worsen over a period of…
Join Maria Iliakova, a bariatric and general surgeon. We'll dive deep into the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and its remarkable applications across various industries, including health care. Maria will shed light on what AI is, how it's transforming medicine, and practical ways health care professionals like herself can leverage…
Join Dustin Grinnell, the author of The Healing Book. Dustin takes us on a journey through this thought-provoking collection of short stories, where characters embark on paths of self-discovery, healing, and personal growth. We delve into the inspiration behind the book, explore the diverse stories within it, and discuss the…
Join Ketan Kulkarni, a physician entrepreneur. We'll delve into the pressing issues of burnout and discontent among health care professionals, particularly physicians, and explore strategies for achieving holistic success and happiness in both personal and professional life. Ketan Kulkarni is a physician entrepreneur. He discusses the KevinMD article, "Breaking free:…
During the pandemic, healthcare workers were frequently hailed as heroes, and this framing, while well-intentioned, did not prove helpful in my experience as a clinician, nor did it seem to benefit others in the field. This label, I believe, stemmed from a place of genuine gratitude from managers and hospitals,…
Join Vickie Leff, a palliative social worker. We'll dive into a thought-provoking conversation about shifting the health care paradigm, where we explore the emotional toll on health care professionals, the need for sustainability, and how institutions can take more responsibility in supporting their staff. Vickie Leff is a palliative social…
Join Shan Liu, an emergency physician and co-author of Masked Hero: How Wu-Lien Teh Invented the Mask and Ended an Epidemic. Discover the journey of Wu Lien-teh, Shan's great-grandfather, who played a pivotal role in ending a devastating plague in China in 1911. We'll explore the challenges he faced as…
As a bariatric surgeon, it's important to consider how both the public and healthcare providers perceive and approach surgery in the context of obesity. While I touched on this briefly earlier, let's delve into a more detailed approach and explore how we should ideally frame bariatric surgery. Obesity is a…
Join Beth Boynton, a nurse consultant, as we delve into the pressing issue of health care worker resilience. Discover the importance of empowering health care professionals, developing essential interpersonal skills, and the role of emotional intelligence in promoting safe nurse staffing and improved health care outcomes. Explore practical strategies and…
Join Scott Ellner, a general surgeon. We delve into a compelling story from a decade ago, where a medical error had profound consequences for both a patient and the surgeon involved. Discover the emotional toll on health care professionals, the importance of creating a just culture in health care institutions,…
Maintaining a strict hierarchy, concealing any errors even if inadvertently made, and avoiding any display of vulnerability are essential. I don't believe that the gaslighting that occurs in such situations is necessarily intentional. Some have argued that what I describe may not fit the traditional definition of gaslighting due to…