The Podcast by KevinMD

"After much searching, I was fortunate to find a fellowship that though inexperienced in LGBTQ health recognized an opportunity. Faculty and mentors worked from a growth mindset rooted in finding what I needed to succeed rather than what they knew they had to offer at that moment. With their and others' support, despite the discouragement and fears of being "superficial," I now try to serve as an example to other students and trainees who wish to pursue a career that weaves their personal and professional interests in LGBTQ health. Carl Streed, Jr. is an internal medicine physician. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Professional gay: Charting a career in LGBTQ health." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/professional-gay-charting-a-career-in-lgbtq-health.html)

"We physicians must come to terms with the trauma caused by the financial insecurity built into our training and the ripple effect it has even after we finish training, both as a way to repair ourselves individually and as a way to assure that our profession survives. The cost of medical education is high, but the cost of the financial lessons learned in the course of obtaining that education is even higher. It may be a price too high for future doctors to bear." Elizabeth Hughes is a dermatologist. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "How medical training teaches doctors to be financially unhealthy." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/how-medical-training-teaches-doctors-to-be-financially-unhealthy.html)

"We have to heal ourselves first. That begins with caring for our own minds and bodies, and souls. It means not avoiding (as I did) caring for our own physical and especially our mental health. It means we must be a part of the lives of our families and loved ones as well. Once that is accomplished, then and only then can we move on effectively to heal and revitalize our beloved profession. And likewise, that is not a battle that can be shouldered alone. We must join with and support each other. We must arm ourselves with knowledge and motivation by taking advantage of mentors and coaches. And perhaps most importantly, we must be aware of when we need to be the mentor and when to be the protégé. Only then will we heal ourselves. Randy Cook is a surgeon and physician coach. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "How to heal and revitalize our beloved profession." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/09/how-to-heal-and-revitalize-our-beloved-profession.html)

"If you are encountering families with feeding concerns, I strongly encourage you to ask them if sitting down together for meals is part of their regular routine. The more prescriptive 'eat this, not that' or calorie counting model that has been traditionally used in medicine is clearly not working well. As we see continue to see increased obesity and disordered eating alongside decreased resilience in our children, a return to the daily 'ritual' of the family meal may be the most beneficial first step for some of our struggling families. Encourage them to start small if necessary. If they are currently not eating together set the goal of one meal per week. If they are already doing it, suggest that they do so with more verve and intention. Educate yourself on the overwhelming benefits of the family meal for children and parents alike. Practice it in your own home so that you too may know the magic of this simple act. Family meals are a small change that is accessible and manageable for just about anyone— and maybe just what the doctor ordered." Kristin Saxena is a pediatrician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "The surprising power of family meals." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/09/the-surprising-power-of-family-meals.html)

"Like some insidious conditions, feelings can fester. They can spread like cancer, and sap the spirit of nourishment until it starts to die, riddled with doubt and sensations of inadequacy. They can degrade the soul, as though it were suffering from a systemic inflammatory disease. But this progression, like many conditions of the flesh, is treatable. With early detection, the process can be arrested and cured. Talking about feelings, journaling, praying, or finding an outlet in wellness activities that channel joy is as essential to academically thriving as studying, practicing, and pushing to meet the demands of a health care provider." Stephanie Wottrich is a medical student. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Joy is our antibiotic. Let not your stings fester." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/joy-is-our-antibiotic-let-not-your-stings-fester.html)

"Bipolar runs in my family, so I knew the harsh realities of this untreated illness. A family member faked his own death after a counterfeiting spending spree. My grandfather told people that I would die in a car accident, and he would take my body up to the mountain and bring me back to life. When I was younger, surrounded by this family chaos, it was easy to tell myself, 'They are crazy!' I bought into many of the stigmas of mental illness — that those with mental illness are unpredictable, incompetent, and have trouble holding down a job. I thought I was different. I was married to a hospital CEO, attended charity events, lived in a beautiful home, and had three healthy children. Yet, life felt unbearable. The stigmas around mental illness kept me from getting the help I desperately needed, so I continued to suffer in silence." Sonja Wasden is a mental health advocate and co-author of An Impossible Life. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "I bought into the stigmas about the mentally ill, until I became one of them." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/06/i-bought-into-the-stigmas-about-the-mentally-ill-until-i-became-one-of-them.html)

"How do we create a world where all of us can express our unique selves the way we choose without derisiveness and shame? I am not here to criticize the wonderful parents and caregivers who are reading this – they only love their children. Common sense must prevail. I only ask with respect that parents and caregivers let their kids explore freely so we all can find a way to live together with our differences celebrated. What a wonderful day that will be." Craig Pomranz is a vocalist and actor. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Tomgirl and tomboy: Rethinking gender stereotypes." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/tomgirl-and-tomboy-rethinking-gender-stereotypes.html)

"We all know watching a module on resilience, sitting in a lecture about mindfulness, being told to practice more yoga and breathing techniques does not make you feel less burnout. It's having the support and buy-in from your workplace, to actually have the time to do the things that feed your soul and fill your cup. Adding more onto an already overflowing plate of life's stressors only makes it heavier and more overwhelming. I want support. I want authentic connection and compassion. I want someone invested in my well-being who prioritizes my self-care to prevent me from having to be perpetually resilient. I want someone who values my heartiness and helps to cultivate an environment that fosters continued growth for myself and others." Michelle Owens is a palliative care physician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "I do not want to be resilient." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/i-do-not-want-to-be-resilient.html)

"As the next wave of the pandemic unfolds, the rise in cases is once again straining health care systems. But that's not the only reason hospitals and health systems could experience an influx of emergency or critical care visits. Findings from the National Poll on Healthy Aging based at the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation revealed that nearly one in three Americans between the ages of 50 and 80 put off an in-person appointment for medical care in 2020 because they were worried about potential COVID-19 exposure, and with the emergence of new variants, that trend could continue. There is a growing concern that patients will either see a relapse in their illness or will experience new complications as a result of waiting too long to visit the doctor. Put simply, there could essentially be two health crises crowding the system: those who have tested positive for the coronavirus, and those who delayed routine preventative and ongoing care for ailments such as chronic disease or mental health." Matt Dickson is a health care executive. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Why now is the time to get patients back to in-person routine care." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/why-now-is-the-time-to-get-patients-back-to-in-person-routine-care.html)

"Frontline workers may have temporarily experienced a heightened sense of personal success and gratification, but I doubt many of us are still able to feel satisfied at this point, after all the repeated moral injuries and losing so many patients. COVID-19 assuredly changed me. The virus changed my residency experience. It changed the hospital, and it changed the entire world. As Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently stated, 'We simply cannot revert instantly … to life as it was before COVID.' We must try our best to carry on, cautiously, into the new unknown era of vaccines and virulence. For me, that means wearing a mask in public long after restrictions are gone." Elizabeth Sarah Haberl is a resident physician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Carry on, my weary one: Persevering in the aftermath." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/carry-on-my-weary-one-persevering-in-the-aftermath.html)

"As a mother, a physician, and an educator, I refuse to accept this as normal. It is not! What should we tell the parents of these young physicians? How do we explain to them that their dream of being a doctor became a nightmare with a tragic ending? What do we tell their children when they ask for daddy's good night kiss, or for mommy's caring hugs? Where are the leaders? How did nobody notice their sadness, lack of hope, and deep desperation? Sadly, this tragedy is not isolated. These types of events are happening around the country and in different institutions. The hopes of young physicians are transforming on fears, the excitement on stress, the smiles on tears. Where are the leaders? How did nobody know that something wrong was happening?" Miriam Zylberglait Lisigurski is an internal medicine physician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Physician suicide: Where are the leaders?" (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/physician-suicide-where-are-the-leaders.html)

"Provider organizations may look at their budgets and think the traditional model of fax machines and landlines is serving their entity in optimizing revenue streams. They may even look at their providers' full schedules and believe there isn't a patient population that still needs care. But this would be a miscalculation. Without appropriate methods to close the gap on referrals and communicate appointment information to patients, no-show and cancellation rates risk burdening providers and costing practices and health systems millions. With the right technology and procedures at the care coordinator level, patients in need of care can be seen quickly. Patients that otherwise would slip through the cracks in a health system's infrastructure are connected with the care they desperately need. Finally, with this increased connectivity and patient care, provider organizations can continue to expand their networks and connect with more providers and services to make sure they stay competitive and relevant across the health care ecosystem." Curtis Gattis is a health care executive. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Why clinicians can't keep ignoring care coordination." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/why-clinicians-cant-keep-ignoring-care-coordination.html)

"During COVID, the medical training system had to adapt because people couldn't meet in person and even those that could didn't have access to patients or facilities in the same capacity. However, the explosion of remote training tools that became available make this hybrid training method as good in many ways, and perhaps even preferable to one that consists mainly of in-person lectures. In fact, some medical schools have suggested that all preclinical classes should be available exclusively online by 2025. As a result, schools and other stakeholder organizations should examine alternative methods of medical training and can use this opportunity to embrace new technologies in order to effectively and efficiently educate trainees. It may be time to abandon the old ways and fully embrace the advantages virtual training environments, including video games, have to offer." Peter Lio is a dermatologist. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "The evolution of medical training in dermatology and the impact of technology." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/09/the-evolution-of-medical-training-in-dermatology-and-the-impact-of-technology.html)

"As you wait, you have a lot of time to think. You comb through the past in search of something you might have missed. If we had acted sooner on the signs of his illness—had the cancer been diagnosed earlier—would Lee have had a better chance? You think about your child as a toddler and as a kid and as a teen. Did you push him too hard or not enough? How did you handle his skinned knees and his successes? You remember the first time he got drunk. (Lee was 14 and had discovered the punchbowl at Heidi's Sweet Sixteen party.) You remember his first hockey goal." Alan Pesky is founder, Lee Pesky Learning Center and co-author of More to Life than More: A Memoir of Misunderstanding, Loss, and Learning. He shares his story and discusses the KevinMD article, "A memoir of misunderstanding, loss, and learning." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/09/a-memoir-of-misunderstanding-loss-and-learning.html)

"Last March, I was working in a small primary care practice on the west side of Denver. COVID-19 came to town. On Thursday, March 12, we were told the schools would be closing. On Friday, we were told that clinic staff had to wear masks — and the clinic had to start testing patients for COVID-19. The only problem? There were no medical-grade masks to be had. Not through the state health department, not on Google, not anywhere. Likewise, there were no COVID tests available. A patient came into the clinic late that afternoon, complaining of a high fever and a bad cough for three days. He wanted to know if he had COVID-19. So did I! But there was no way to test him." Janet Tamaren is a family physician and author of Yankee Doctor in the Bible Belt: A Memoir. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "I was thinking about retiring, and COVID-19 gave me a push." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/i-was-thinking-about-retiring-and-covid-19-gave-me-a-push.html)

"There has been a growing wave of entrepreneurial physicians finding joy and value in starting consulting and coaching businesses. Many use their expertise to work with physicians exclusively. Our company has been excited to play a part in better spotlighting these businesses. Today it is now even easier to find doctors who can give you guidance on everything from running your own practice more efficiently, build a better relationship with your spouse, to negotiating your next job contract. We are all aware of the tired refrain that 'physicians are bad at business.' It is time to retire that phrase. Business has not been our primary focus, and perhaps the state of medicine may result from that. So if given a choice, consider supporting more physician-owned businesses. If you have a problem that needs solving, there may be a colleague out there who has already figured it out and can help." Michael Woo-Ming is a physician entrepreneur. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Why physician-owned businesses need our attention and support." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/06/why-physician-owned-businesses-need-our-attention-and-support.html)

"Transections, eviscerations, exsanguinations, amputations, decapitations, disembowelments, penetrations, disarticulations, emasculations, enucleations, incinerations—these things he has seen. But of late he chooses to see only the glimmering vials. His vision fades and darkens as he draws closer to the OR where the ultimate reality lies prepped, draped, framed, and illuminated, waiting for the surgeon to fix it all, to make sense of it all. Exposure in surgery is everything." Michael J. Collins is an orthopedic surgeon and author of All Bleeding Stops. He can be reached on Twitter @mjcollinsmd. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Exposure in surgery is everything." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/09/exposure-in-surgery-is-everything.html)

"Her face is decorated in colors of the earth. With events on Earth Day and throughout the week, New York City celebrates sustainability and ways to live in harmony with the planet. Scheduled festivities include a march down Broadway with a mix of virtual talks and celebrations and in-person walks and volunteer opportunities across the boroughs. Earth Day began in 1970 as a way to raise awareness about environmental issues and became a global event in 1990; the event has been celebrated in parks across the city since 2000." Glenn Mark Losack is a psychiatrist and author of The Bonds We Share: Images of Humanity, 40 Years Around the Globe. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "A physician shares images of humanity." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/07/a-physician-shares-images-of-humanity.html) This episode is sponsored by Tradeoffs, available on your favorite podcast platform.

"A child is born with a food allergy. They do not choose to have their immune system compromised. Parents do not get the choice to opt-in or out of having their child's body recognize ordinary food as a threat. Food allergies are a unique disease in that we need the help of those around us to keep our children safe. Let us remember that children, especially when they are young, often cannot protect themselves. A young child also may not truly understand the potential danger of sharing food with a friend. This is why food allergy education is critical for both teaching staff and students. But such education is often lacking." Lianne Mandelbaum is founder, the No Nut Traveler, and can be reached on Twitter @nonuttraveler. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "When celebrities attack children with food allergies." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/05/when-celebrities-attack-children-with-food-allergies.html) This episode is sponsored by Tradeoffs, available on your favorite podcast platform.

"I believe there is an art to medicine, a psychological connection to your patients through a hands-on patient encounter. There are nuances AI may take decades to compete with. For now, in my lifetime, I hope that people examine patients and when there are questions about the quality of care, institutions perform a deeper dive into the real problem. (Was it the overall experience, a poor relationship with the doctor, financial stress that would be assumed by paying the medical bill, or actual malpractice?) Without support from our employers, physicians will continue to feel the accumulation of burnout and insecurity that leads to emotional duress, leaving medical practice or the worst outcome: physician suicide. We are not machines. The burden cost is evident, but when will the medical community, investors, and hospital administrators begin to truly support physicians and prevent these terrible outcomes?" Gina Ambrose is an emergency physician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "The psychological repercussions of patient complaints." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/07/the-psychological-repercussions-of-patient-complaints.html) This episode is sponsored by Tradeoffs, available on your favorite podcast platform.

"We can't expect those with a business school mindset to solve physician burnout. What is needed is leadership throughout health care organizations by those with expertise in the core business, deep commitment to health care workers and patients, extensive tacit knowledge, and credibility. Physician CEOs have better outcomes in all critical metrics, including engagement among staff. And physician leaders have an ethical and fiduciary responsibility to serve patients. Those with a business school mindset do not." Patty Fahy is an internal medicine physician and founder, Fahy Consulting. She can be reached on Twitter @pattyfahyMD. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "The business school mindset doesn't mind physician burnout." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/the-business-school-mindset-doesnt-mind-physician-burnout.html) This episode is sponsored by Tradeoffs, available on your favorite podcast platform.

"I can imagine the horror of watching a colleague being attacked. I worry about the coworker who Lynne protected that day, since being a survivor can be so bittersweet. I can feel the shock of how quickly the violence escalated, tasting the bitterness from the desperation of being so alone in the immediate first seconds of the downwardly spiraling situation." June Garen is a nurse and author of Hey! I Could Use a Little Help Here! My Story of Healthcare Workplace Violence. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "In memory of a nurse who died from injuries sustained during a patient assault." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/in-memory-of-a-nurse-who-died-from-injuries-sustained-during-a-patient-assault.html) This episode is sponsored by Tradeoffs, available on your favorite podcast platform.

"The first amendment protects your right to free speech. But it does not make you more right, more ethical, or more kind. And nor does it give one license to rewrite history as has been occurring since July 27th, adding insult to our experience. Let me break this down. On one hand, three pediatric medical professionals and one student spoke eloquently and rationally about facts, guidelines, and personal experiences. On the other hand, grown adults belonging to ironically named groups claiming to "protect kids," tried to intimidate, bully, and silence a child for exercising her first amendment right to free speech. We now have a vaccine against COVID-19. And even though we (individually and as a medical profession) anticipate continued harassment by these groups, bringing their hateful rhetoric and actions to light is the only inoculation we have against bullying." Anusha Viswanathan is a pediatric infectious disease physician. Jennifer Bish is a pediatric nurse practitioner. They share their stories and discuss the KevinMD article, "A pandemic of the bullies over others." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/a-pandemic-of-the-bullies-over-others.html) This episode is sponsored by Tradeoffs, available on your favorite podcast platform.

"Is your health care organization reeling from a bad EHR implementation? There have been rumblings from hospital leadership and congressional committees about the Veterans Administration (VA) Hospitals' implementation of the Cerner Corporation electronic health record (EHR) replacing the VistA EHR. The $10 million EHR overhaul has been controversial since the staggered rollout started in Spokane, Washington. One report noted that months after the go-live, fewer users knew how to operate the system well. From the perspective of an outside informaticist, such frustration can be multifactorial. The typical issues are made worse by the COVID-19 hospital restrictions on normal hospital operations. However, many of these issues could have been mitigated by offering expanded in-person expert support to hospital staff supported by virtual technical assistance." Afua Aning is a physician informaticist. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "How to recover from a bad electronic health records implementation." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/how-to-recover-from-a-bad-electronic-health-records-implementation.html) This episode is sponsored by Tradeoffs, available on your favorite podcast platform.

"Scarcity has, in many ways, defined the COVID-19 experience in the U.S., from shortages in personal protective equipment to ICU ventilators and hospital capacity, to COVID test kits, to drugs like Remdesivir in hard-hit states. These shortages have added impetus and new dimensions to existing conversations around health care supply chains, some of which had originally stemmed from a climate-conscious, sustainability lens. As suggestions are put forth to re-evaluate hospital supply chain design, from procurement to waste disposal, this momentum can be harnessed to achieve the dual aims of bolstering pandemic preparedness and improving sustainability in the health care sector. COVID-19 illustrates the need for greater resiliency within health care's supply chain. Dependence on expansive global networks for raw materials, manufacture, and distribution of critical health care supplies created a pathway prone to breakdown during a worldwide pandemic. Of note, this pathway is similarly vulnerable to the climate crisis, as worsening natural disasters can disrupt critical junctures of the U.S. supply chain." Genevieve Silva is a medical student. Cassandra Thiel is an assistant professor, NYU Langone Health's Departments of Population Health and Ophthalmology. They share their stories and discuss their KevinMD article, "Is COVID a turning point for sustainability in hospital supply chains?" (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/10/is-covid-a-turning-point-for-sustainability-in-hospital-supply-chains.html) This episode is sponsored by Tradeoffs, available on your favorite podcast platform.

"Technology continues to evolve every day. In the near-term future, portable and easily deployable robots will allow surgeons all over the world to perform minimally invasive surgery in an increasing number of procedure types and become even more effective surgeons. To achieve our goal of having a future surgeon workforce that meets the demands of an aging population and delivers good patient outcomes, we need training and knowledge-sharing at scale. Surgical robotics is poised to be an important part of the solution." Barry Greene is a general and bariatric surgeon. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Robotic surgery's impact on training the next generation of surgeons." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/robotic-surgerys-impact-on-training-the-next-generation-of-surgeons.html) This episode is sponsored by Tradeoffs, available on your favorite podcast platform.

"Dear resident physicians: Soon you'll finish residency, and you may be wondering what's next. Some of you will start fellowships, but most of you will practice your specialty. You may be looking for opportunities that are a good match with your needs and wants. Virtually all of you are looking forward to greater income. I hope that this ending is also a beginning – a renewal of your commitment to the life-long learning that is medicine. One of the current concerns of our society is the possibility of a physician shortage. Some of that shortfall is attributed to a mass exodus of physicians experiencing "burnout." Pervasive pessimism is the rule. It's time to break the rule. You can thrive, not just survive." Faith A. Coleman is a family physician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Physicians and the importance of servant leadership." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/physicians-and-the-importance-of-servant-leadership.html) This episode is sponsored by Tradeoffs, available on your favorite podcast platform.

"The problem with feeling like an imposter is thinking there's something wrong with it. I know this is different from any way you have thought about it, but humor me. What happens when we are offered an opportunity but we feel like an imposter? We hide. We overwork to compensate. We look around at our colleagues and resent them. Because why do they get to feel so secure? Why aren't they feeling insecure? They don't even spend time worrying about it, and that leads to more resentment! They are not working as hard as you, and now they are not stressing about the opportunity like you are. What is the result of those actions? We spend lots of time in indecision, overwhelm, fear, resentment, and overwork. We might take the opportunity, do well even, but hate the whole process and add it to the bad feelings we already feel about ourselves. What is behind feeling like an imposter? It's the thoughts that we tell ourselves. It helps to understand the motivation behind these thoughts. We were wired to survive." Amy Vertrees is a general surgeon and co-founder, The Common Thread Women Surgeon Coaching. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Stop resisting the imposter." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/stop-resisting-the-imposter.html) This episode is sponsored by Tradeoffs, available on your favorite podcast platform.

"Sufferers of diseases, particularly terrible ones like Alzheimer's disease, and their loved ones need and deserve something better than science can deliver today. However, the scientific rigor of the clinical trials process where approval is only granted to drugs with a clear benefit in excess of risk needs to return. Imagine the position this puts neurologists in today. Having a conversation with an Alzheimer's disease patient and family about why prescribing Aduhelm does not make sense. The only thing they would likely hear is they are being robbed of hope, false though it may be. And yet, if the American Academy of Neurology were to actively advise against using Aduhelm and every neurologist in the U.S. treating Alzheimer's disease sufferers were to refuse to prescribe it, the message to the pharmaceutical industry and the FDA would be crystal clear." Wes Campbell is a health care economist. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Aduhelm and how money and politics supersede science." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/07/aduhelm-and-how-money-and-politics-supersede-science.html) This episode is sponsored by Tradeoffs, available on your favorite podcast platform.

"'Hi, my name is Kristin Yates, and I am the OB/GYN doctor.' This is how I greet most patients for the first time. It has never really felt natural to introduce myself as 'Dr. Yates,' even now that I have been an attending physician for more than five years. To be fair, for the first several years of my career, it felt uncomfortable to refer to myself as 'Dr. Yates' because part of me felt like a total fraud. But as I began to make strides to overcome my self-doubt and realized that imposter syndrome was just a normal part of being human, I realized that my aversion to being called 'Dr. Yates' was about way more than just awkwardness." Kristin Yates is an obstetrics-gynecology physician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Don't call me 'doctor.'" (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/06/dont-call-me-doctor.html) This episode is sponsored by Tradeoffs, available on your favorite podcast platform.

"Although people think of medicine as a science—the facts reveal the diagnosis, the diagnosis dictates the treatment—most physicians acknowledge that medicine is as much an art as a science. It's not like a simple math equation with one undeniably right answer. Even when the diagnosis is clear, there may still be multiple appropriate treatment paths that deliver similar outcomes. And there are many cases where the diagnosis is not definitive, especially in the case of complex diseases and many types of cancer. That's why a second opinion is an important tool for people who have received a cancer diagnosis. Not only can it help lower the risk of misdiagnosis or an inappropriate plan of treatment, but it's also essential for decision making. A second opinion from a specialist who has extensive experience treating people with the type of cancer you've been diagnosed with can change or confirm your diagnosis." Miles J. Varn is chief executive officer, PinnacleCare, and can be reached on LinkedIn. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Why people diagnosed with cancer should get a second opinion." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/06/why-people-diagnosed-with-cancer-should-get-a-second-opinion.html) This episode is sponsored by Tradeoffs, available on your favorite podcast platform.

"I was a bit nervous about how she would perceive my advice. She could find it inappropriate and report me for making personal remarks. But I believe she sensed the sincerity in my words and appeared invigorated, uplifted, and excited. She was smiling now and exclaimed, 'Doctor, you will see now how I get my game on!' She asked me when her next scans would be, and I told her, 'First, you make an appointment at the hair salon, and I will schedule your next scans after that.' We struck a deal, and her body language changed. She jumped out of her chair and walked out of the room like a woman on a mission. A mission to look good. A mission to not feel ugly. I don't know how much longer she has to live. She may have another two months or another two years. I will be ready to treat any symptom she gets from cancer, but I will also make sure that we do everything for her to feel beautiful. Just like she actually is." Farhan S. Imran is a hematology-oncology physician who blogs at Did I Ask? He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "After all the years of medical training, I learned how to treat ugly on my own." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/04/after-all-the-years-of-medical-training-i-learned-how-to-treat-ugly-on-my-own.html) This episode is sponsored by Tradeoffs, available on your favorite podcast platform.

"Always remember your humanity. You are not super-human. Make connections to your heart, to your mind, to others. Look closely at the situation that lies before you, listen carefully to all that is around you, and calm the pounding heart. Dig deep within your psyche, ask the big questions, and most importantly, listen to the answers. Rediscover the reasons that have been your motivation, your driving force. Uncover those layers you have put in place for your protection to cushion against the harshness. Open your eyes. Open your heart. Your lifeline is within your grasp. This lifeline is tethered to your core, to those you care for, to those who care for you. Once lost, you are now found. You are at equilibrium. You have found your way back." Michele Luckenbaugh is a patient advocate. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "A message from a patient to health care workers: Always remember your humanity." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/a-message-from-a-patient-to-health-care-workers-always-remember-your-humanity.html) This episode is sponsored by Tradeoffs, available on your favorite podcast platform.

"In fully-humanized health care, I envision patients as clients, with doctors as part of the health care team in a role more akin to expert consultants and skilled proceduralists. The consumer is empowered in the network to drive his or her own health — taking the central role rather than the physician. By continuously humanizing health care and creating therapeutic alliances, we gain one more benefit. We enlist the efforts of the client's natural support network, a free army of caregivers to reduce the load on our overburdened health care system. But to be effective, the support network will need engaging and actionable information. Together with providers, they will help individuals integrate multiple modalities in their journey toward healthfulness. Therapeutic alliances not only would reduce costs by sharing information with people in a way that encourages them to take more responsibility for their own health, but they would also reduce the dehumanization rampant in health care today." Summer Knight is a family physician and physician executive. She is the author of Humanizing Healthcare: Hardwire Humanity into the Future of Health. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Humane health care outcomes by creating therapeutic alliances." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/04/humane-health-care-outcomes-by-creating-therapeutic-alliances.html)

"While opposition to the vaccine may be hardening, pediatricians and family physicians enjoy an advantage the CDC and Dr. Fauci may not: namely, they are liked and trusted by patients. In general, parents look to personal physicians for guidance and usually follow their advice on health care for their children. Doctors can use that trust to convince skeptical parents of the benefits of getting their children vaccinated. Even the medical office setting can be an advantage. Unlike a bustling pharmacy or a crowded mass vaccination site, a doctor's office offers a low-key, familiar environment, one in which a parent might be more open to counseling." Rich Parker is an internal medicine physician. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "How to get young patients vaccinated against COVID-19." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/how-to-get-young-patients-vaccinated-against-covid-19.html)

"The idea was to try working in Rome for a year and see how it went. This sensible American plan collapsed under the weight of Italian bureaucracy. Luckily I didn't investigate every angle before starting off; if I had known the true lay of the land I might not have kept going after that Italian medical license like a donkey after his carrot. I'd have taken a job in some clinic in the Bronx, where I'd be seeing four patients an hour to this day. Instead, I made those steps you can't retrace: gave up my three-bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side with views of the Empire State Building and the Tri- borough Bridge, and sold my Dodge Challenger convertible to a pinky-ringed Turkish importer-exporter who planned to strip it down to the skeleton of an Oriental low-rider. Months beforehand I started focusing my Manhattanite efficiency on getting registered in Italy, my Italian husband leading me by the hand through the wilderness of Old World red tape. The first step was "getting my documents together," an Italian ritual repeated before every encounter with officialdom. Sticking to a list kindly provided by the Italian Consulate, I collected my birth certificate, passport, high school diploma, college diploma, college transcript, medical school diploma, medical school transcript, certificates of internship and residency, National Board Examination certificates, American Board of Internal Medicine test results, and specialization diploma. Then I got them transfigured into Italian by the one person in New York authorized by the Italian Consulate to crown his translation with an imprimatur. We judiciously gave him a set of our own translations as crib notes, tailored by my husband to match the Rome medical school curriculum." Susan Levenstein is an internal medicine physician and author of Dottoressa: An American Doctor in Rome. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "An American doctor in Rome." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2019/09/an-american-doctor-in-rome.html)

"I have no doubt, given my extensive experience in health care and being a Black woman in America, that we as health care professionals have made the same mistakes as Chris Harrison with our patients. Instead of listening to and validating our patients' concerns, we make excuses for ourselves or the people who have caused the injustice that our patients are experiencing. Effectively we delegitimize or invalidate their concerns, and we exacerbate their pain due to the experience. In some ways, our role as clinicians, combined with the reason for them seeking health care, magnifies and even eclipses the pain from the original experience causing an even more damaging effect. Whether or not we believe their experience is real or perceived is irrelevant. We are no authority to know the difference, and when a patient is in our care, it is our responsibility to place their needs first. As health care professionals, we should strive to validate our patients' feelings and offer comfort whether or not we agree about the etiology. Resist the urge to justify or defend the perceived abusers. I believe that this could potentially improve our relationship with our patients and improve their care and, as a bonus, make us more empathetic to the other people in our lives." Monique Rainford is an obstetrician-gynecologist. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "When it comes to bias, doctors need to do their homework." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/07/when-it-comes-to-bias-doctors-need-to-do-their-homework.html)

"We have a chance to take a meaningful step in fighting burnout and mental health issues in the health care profession. We have lost too many valued and vibrant health care professionals due to an illness that is treatable but stigmatized – including the devastating loss of Dr. Lorna Breen. The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act will leave a lasting legacy for bettering our health care community, taking the first step in addressing this horrible crisis. Endorsement of the Lorna Breen Act is not limited to medical students, other health care workers, students, and hospitals have a stake." Corey Feist is co-founder, Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation. He shares his story and discusses the KevinMD article, "A step forward: a way to advance the mental health of health care professionals." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/05/a-step-forward-a-way-to-advance-the-mental-health-of-health-care-professionals.html)

"Five years into my practice as an academic allergist/immunologist, my perceptions continue to evolve. Though once primarily informed by my mentors' wisdom, I continue incorporating my experiences as both physician and autoimmune patient to guide my practice. Though we all know medicine isn't like it used to be, nostalgia is bittersweet. In its wake, the real question remains: how are we going to respond to ongoing changes and fight for the health of our patients and our colleagues? From the loss of autonomy with the advent of managed care and corporate takeovers, we find ourselves practicing under increased pressure from all sides. Less time and resources to help sicker patients. Answering not only to our patients' needs but those of insurance companies and other interested parties whose motives are less than altruistic." Kara Wada is an allergist-immunologist. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Burnout and bias? Or medical gaslighting?" (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/07/burnout-and-bias-or-medical-gaslighting.html)

"It is no wonder that in 2020, a Doximity physician compensation report revealed there were no specialties in medicine in which women earned the same or more than men. We can all agree that many things could account for this, including structural barriers and lack of diversity or mentorship. It may also include factors such as women not maximizing billing knowledge, not knowing how to negotiate, not asking for the same or more of what is offered and just not thinking about what they really want. Instead as women, we think of others first, or what others expect of us. Yes, we know we want the job or the position. But is that position truly, truly, taking you towards your true purpose? Becoming chief of department, manager or CEO, are remarkable goals and should be pursued. But are the pursuits authentic to what you consciously found your purpose is? It is not about what your family thought you should achieve, but about doing something that truly takes you and continues to propel you on your true-life purpose. If you have not thought about it, then I challenge you to find introspection. Find consciousness and think about your true purpose. Continue to follow its path to experience joy so it will not leave you with regret when you look back. Find your purpose. Ask yourself, 'What do I really want in life?' And do it today." Diana Londoño is a urologist and can be reached at her self-titled site, Dr. Diana Londono, and on Twitter @DianaLondonoMD. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "What do you really want in life?" (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/what-do-you-really-want-in-life.html)

"The problem with health care isn't 'fixing' the system. The problem is continuing to ensure that profits can be made and millions can be employed while better health care outcomes and experiences are achieved. We won't find the solution to that problem by embracing the solutions offered by either the right or the left. We need to leave the past behind and start again, building a new health care system that better meets our needs. We have to build from the ground up, starting with a new foundation. I can't wish away the political realities that stand in the way of such fundamental reform. But given all that's at stake, I'm unwilling to accept anything less than this goal. Hopefully, you agree." Jeb Dunkelberger is a health care executive and author of Rich & Dying: An Insider Calls Bullsh*t on America's Healthcare Economy. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Our health care system may be failing, but it isn't broken." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/06/our-health-care-system-may-be-failing-but-it-isnt-broken.html)

"Fifteen minutes for a checkup or urgent problem, thirty minutes for a physical. In the tiny gasps of time in between: Refilling scripts, checking labs, and signing medical supply orders and insurance authorization requests. Maybe lunch. Maybe a chance to get to the restroom if I am lucky. Clicking, always clicking away on my EMR, hoping to finish my notes. Maybe typing notes while holding on a phone call (why do patients call with a question about a medicine, but they leave the vial upstairs and have to retrieve it while you wait?), while trying to cram a few bites of lunch, while wondering if I will get out of there in time to get the blasted Valentine's napkins before picking up the kids from their after-school program. I take a deep breath." Melissa Schiffman is an internal medicine physician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Primary care: I love the variety and the intimacy of the problems that are placed before me." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/primary-care-i-love-the-variety-and-the-intimacy-of-the-problems-that-are-placed-before-me.html)

"When we hear skepticism, our first instinct may be to end the conversation. After all, why spend our time trying to convince someone who has made up their mind? Our second instinct may be to counter the person's position without pausing to hear more about their perspective. Unfortunately, trying to force someone into getting the vaccine often results in defensiveness and anger." Alicia DiGiammarino is a health educator. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Try this new technique when talking to vaccine skeptics." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/try-this-new-technique-when-talking-to-vaccine-skeptics.html)

"The pandemic has demonstrated the value of online platforms, especially in health care – but equitable access has not matched this growth. Sadly, many Americans cannot reap the benefits of connectivity. State and federal funding sources are required to enable digital health equity. Moreover, there should be a focus on measuring/creating standards of care in digital health equity. Public financing and public infrastructure (broadband) will be essential to coordinate organizations and defragmenting care. Now is our moment to create a new and better health care system that emerges from the dark days of COVID-19." Joshua W. Elder is an emergency physician. He shares his story and discusses the KevinMD article, "Digital health equity is an emerging gap in health." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/06/digital-health-equity-is-an-emerging-gap-in-health.html)

"As we enter a year and a half into a worldwide pandemic, many of us working in health care are fatigued, over-worked, and burned out on compassion. Burnout has been so widespread that the CDC published guidelines on how to cope with the stresses of the job as COVID-19 cases persist. As the Delta variant continues to spread and individuals remain unvaccinated despite the data, health care workers find themselves attempting to care for their patients and simultaneously try and care for themselves. This episode outlines some myths about the "softer side" of health care and focuses on compassion and rapport building— exploring the ways in which providing patient-centered care for those who seek our help not only improves clinical outcomes but can also help improve ourselves." Katherine Buaron is a community nurse consultant, Rush University. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "5 myths about compassion and patient rapport building in health care." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/09/5-myths-about-compassion-and-patient-rapport-building-in-health-care.html) This episode is sponsored by the Rush University Series at The Podcast by KevinMD. (https://www.rushu.rush.edu/)

"As a practicing surgeon for 30 years in the super-specialized field of otology, neurotology and skull base surgery, I have been privy to some of the most disturbing realities of surgical care. Often, these realities are bleaker than most people expect. One thing physicians, and the general population, need to be more aware of is the very real racial disparity in surgical care. Are the outcomes for Black and Hispanic patients truly different than white patients when it comes to surgery? The answer is an astounding yes. Are the differences related to other factors such as socioeconomic class, insurance status, gender, income, extent of disease at presentation or other comorbidities? Even when controlling for many of these factors, racial disparities in the delivery of surgical care persist." Sanjay Prasad is a surgeon and founder, SurgiQuality. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "The bleak reality of racial disparity in surgical care." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/the-bleak-reality-of-racial-disparity-in-surgical-care.html)

"The same question could be asked about the joy and meaning in medicine. Where does it dwell? And the answer may be the same. It dwells wherever we choose to let joy and meaning in medicine into our physician-healer lives. As I look back upon my career, it saddens me to know that those doors to my dwelling were closed shut so often. For so often, I had not a clue as to where lay the key to unlock them. For so many years, this encounter would have been chalked up to another annoying, unfathomable "little old lady dizziness syndrome." But, on that day, in that encounter, I was graced to have those doors opened by an 86-year-old, dizzy, square dancing roller skater. I hope the doors of that dwelling never close again." Scott Abramson is a neurologist who blogs at Doctor Wisdom. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Where does the joy and meaning in medicine dwell?" (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/07/where-does-the-the-joy-and-meaning-in-medicine-dwell.html)

"I am a proud science-trained medical doctor and concerned mother. I am not going to remain silent when the biggest tragedies are yet to hit earth yet. Like seriously, I do not want to become like the dinosaurs. History wasn't too kind to them. Just saying. Scientists say the worst is yet to come if America doesn't listen. What do scientists know anyway? You might disagree with my words, but If you want to get angry, write many insults, and be in denial, go ahead. I am a mother bear, and I do bite, as it's called self-defense. To all my fellow scientists and torchbearers of the truth, I salute you. Let us not stop speaking the truth until real change happens." Tomi Mitchell is a family physician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Who needs scientists? It's not like we listen to them anyway." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/who-needs-scientists-its-not-like-we-listen-to-them-anyway.html)

"This is where we are: Hospitalizations rising, new variants that are more infectious, and many people believing that this is all a hoax, or that millions of people have conspired together to make injections that harm people rather than helping them. Patients leaving AMA and dying because there's no trust anymore. This is where we should be: People recognizing that we don't like wearing masks or getting shots but maybe we should in order to get things under control, people trusting that health care workers are really working toward the best interest of everyone, health care workers optimistic because they see progress. How do we get from here to there?" Steve Burgess is a hospitalist and creator, Hospital Medicine Seminars, where he teaches CME focused on updates for those who practice hospital medicine. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Dying after leaving AMA." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/dying-after-leaving-ama.html)

"What can we control? Our behavior and our responses to circumstances. Focusing on what is in our power to control and putting all our energy and efforts in the right places and for the right reasons seems to be a step in the right direction to make positive changes and avoid burnout. Now, imagine not only surviving medicine but also enjoying it, using it as an opportunity for personal growth and development, as a catalyst that transforms challenges into amazing outcomes. Close your eyes and remember why you decided to be a doctor. How did you feel the first time using your white coat, hearing the ticking of a heart, saving a life? It's time to recover the power. It's time to reassume the responsibility, the privilege and the joy of being a physician. Be healthy, be happy — and keep helping people and saving lives!" Miriam Zylberglait Lisigurski is an internal medicine physician. Yudith Furman is a psychotherapist. They share their stories and discuss their KevinMD article, "Take back the power and joy of being a doctor." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/08/take-back-the-power-and-joy-of-being-a-doctor.html)