Videos

Dec. 5, 2021

Genetic testing's emotional impact

"Finding out I was gene-positive had hit me harder than I could ever have imagined. How was I to know that my decision to get tested would have such an impact on my life? All of the rehearsing I had done in the weeks leading up to my results appointment…

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Dec. 4, 2021

If you’re a nurse or an abuse survivor, you don’t have to be brave

"I’m not brave. I’m just me. Full of light and lifted by my light. You see, when you strip away the darkness and lies that others surround you with, you’re left only with your light. The genuine you. Moving forward in life in ways that are authentically you. Not because…

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Dec. 4, 2021

A satirical letter to radiologists from a jilted orthopedic surgeon

"We orthopedic surgeons are disappointed with the growing lack of enthusiasm in your reports. When I began in practice almost 15 years ago, it wasn’t unusual to see a report of a post-reduction or post-surgical X-ray that read, 'alignment is now anatomic' or, at a minimum, 'near anatomic.' What happened?…

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Dec. 4, 2021

"Take it or leave it" is not negotiation but coercion

"Physicians can exert their influence in a health care environment to put the patient-physician relationship at the center of the enterprise. Working with middle-market employers (between 200-2,000 employees), some companies pair bold doctors with innovative employers to bring exceptional value to employee health benefits. There are no pre-authorizations for medical…

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Nov. 27, 2021

Omicron: 2 infectious disease physicians on the new COVID variant

Welcome to this special episode of The Podcast by KevinMD, where I interview two infectious disease physicians on the COVID Omicron variant. They share their unique perspective on this threat answer the following questions: How do these early days of the Omicron variant contrast with past variants? What do they…

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Nov. 26, 2021

Will the COVID Omicron variant change the world again?

"The variant keeps me up at night a little bit because it has 32 mutations in the spike protein, in contrast to the Delta mutation. But it's not just the mutations. In terms of biological plausibility, it's plausible that it could be more evasive against immunity. Not just vaccines, but…

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Nov. 24, 2021

A physician's guide to the best way to invest in real estate

"Institutional real estate private equity funds have dramatically outperformed all other methods of investing in real estate such as syndicated real estate deals, crowdfunding, and REITs because larger real estate funds have the best deal sourcing capabilities that enable them to identify and execute opportunistic acquisitions with speed and at…

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Nov. 20, 2021

A medical student shares a story about language

"My mother screamed. It meant my father needed a doctor — now. But why? We just visited the hospital days before to refill his drugs. He would be better if he used the drugs. Magic drugs. That is what he called them. I stood up from the mat where I…

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Nov. 20, 2021

To achieve health equity, culturally relevant care must be the standard of care

"Practicing culturally relevant care means we can account for the social determinants of health, barriers to access, and the emotional disconnect that results from the status quo, one-size-fits-all approach many patients have come to expect. It helps us reach into underserved communities and lift them up, which is essential during…

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Nov. 20, 2021

Amid powerlessness, reclaim your personal power

"You have more power than you realize. It’s no secret that medical providers feel structurally powerless in our chaotic health care system. Control over the volume, pace, and elements of our work often rests squarely in the hands of others. But know this: Your own personal power over your work…

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Nov. 20, 2021

Instead of focusing on your time, focus on your energy

"I can attest to the tremendous power of simply noticing these rhythms and attending to them. It’s part of a larger attempt to live a more authentic life. So much of my time over the past 20 years has been vying to achieve someone else’s standards or to live the…

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Nov. 20, 2021

Stories of surgery, clarity, and grace

"My mother, bless her ninety-year-old heart, is slowing down. The things that made her happiest — getting to church, visiting friends, taking walks, and wandering the aisles in the grocery store —are increasingly difficult. She worries that her lack of energy will soon make every activity impossible. It is 2005…

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Nov. 20, 2021

Physician communication using the tools of a trial attorney

"For twenty years, I defended doctors when they were sued, and now I coach female leaders from all industries on how to advocate for themselves and their potential with the tools of a trial lawyer. I know that when doctors are exhausted, distracted and powerless they’re more likely to be…

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Nov. 20, 2021

Bonnie Koo, MD on taking control of your finances and pursuing financial independence

"While much of the conversation around financial independence is tied to the ability to retire early, the real prize is flexibility. I hear a lot of 'I love what I do and will work until I die' amongst physicians. Not so fast. Your goals and priorities will likely change as…

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Nov. 16, 2021

What you don’t know about pain will hurt you

"If you treat chronic pain, or are someone living with it, remember this: Changing the brain can change pain. Addressing emotional health directly impacts physical health, because brain and body are always connected. Pain psychologists can serve as pain coaches – it doesn’t mean you’re crazy, and it’s not 'all…

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Nov. 16, 2021

How the residency application process has changed forever

"The collective resiliency of the medical education community shone through the challenges of the past year. In medicine, physicians must adapt to all situations, and GME is no exception. Even in a pandemic, everyone adjusted as needed. Program coordinators and faculty were flexible and creative, while applicants remained passionate and…

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Nov. 16, 2021

An obstetrician recommends midwifery care

"By denigrating midwifery care, pathologizing the natural process of birth, and instilling fear of complications and pain, doctors persuaded women to give birth at the hospital under their care. By touting the benefits of anesthesia, forceps delivery, episiotomy and promoting in-hospital birth, doctors and hospitals were able to capitalize on…

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Nov. 16, 2021

Fear of vaccines grows with the need for medical ethics

"While individual doctors have obligations to both the individual and public health, their first concern is their patients. And these decisions have to acknowledge fears and respect the stance. Providers must balance reassurance with acknowledgment, care, data, and the intent to 'do no harm.' It is undeniable that the COVID…

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Nov. 16, 2021

Grieving our collective loss with compassion

"Cultivating compassion for ourselves and others is a practice in which we release judgment, anger and heal our emotional wounds. We can then move forward to a version of a better world where we have evolved to a new beginning. Change is always happening, and that is our constant. What…

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Nov. 16, 2021

To Aaron Rodgers, from a physician and Packers fan

"Mr. Rodgers, I’m glad you’re feeling well. This isn’t altogether unsurprising given your younger age and elite physical fitness (though cases in young unvaccinated people can and have become severe) and I hope you continue to feel well as you quarantine. The medical and scientific community works on data, lots…

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Nov. 10, 2021

Ignoring jaw pain comes at too high a price

"The COVID-19 pandemic challenged health care systems and patients’ personal economic capacity, leading to approximately six million adults losing their dental insurance. Additionally, the World Health Organization and the American Dental Association recommended dentists to limit their practices to emergency and urgent dental care. In the list of these diagnoses…

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Nov. 10, 2021

A doctor turned Hollywood actor on physicians who struggle with suicidal ideation

"Thanks for gathering today in this anonymous detached space. Since it’s unlikely that we’ll ever publicly convene in a circle on metal folding chairs, I’m reaching out through this letter. You can peruse this in private and perhaps see a piece of yourself here. As a non-practicing physician who speaks…

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Nov. 10, 2021

Should you stay or leave medicine?

"I left my primary care practice earlier this year to focus on life coaching. Why did I leave? Because I wanted to do more and make a bigger impact. I remember how eager I was to complete medical training as I approached the light at the end of the tunnel.…

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Nov. 10, 2021

Why economics is the best pre-med major

"Economics taught me that I didn’t have to culture cells in a dish to do interesting and life-changing work. I built a habit of being inquisitive and intellectually curious about the world around me because I learned in undergrad that our human, flawed world contains elegant experiments, puzzling oddities, and…

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