The Podcast by KevinMD

"We must continue to work to create gender equity as here is where we stand today: A significant gender pay gap still exists in medicine where women doctors earn up to 33% less than their male counterparts. Even though women make up 36% of practicing doctors in the country, only 15% of women doctors are department chairs. Among women doctors who are also mothers, 78% felt discrimination. All of this is leading to 48% of women doctors reporting burnout, and 22% of female physicians admitted thoughts of suicide this year right before the pandemic hit our shores. As a nation, we cannot afford to lose doctors to professional burnout and suicide, especially in the midst of a global pandemic worsening and hitting record numbers throughout our country in recent weeks." Archana Reddy Shrestha is a physician life coach, author, and co-founder, Women in White Coats. She can be reached on Instagram @womeninwhitecoatsblog. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "What Kamala Harris means for women doctors." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/11/what-kamala-harris-means-for-women-doctors.html)

"I recently represented a physician in a noteworthy peer review case at an academic medical center. The medical staff president initiated a complaint against a surgeon, who would later become my client. The complaint was that the surgeon inappropriately collected cash payment from an uninsured patient at the hospital's point of service instead of having his office invoice and collect payment from the patient. The medical staff felt this was unorthodox and highly inappropriate and contra to the medical center's values. It is important to note that neither the medical staff bylaws nor any hospital rules addressed the collection of payment at the hospital's point of service. The medical staff president quickly appointed a three-member ad hoc investigation committee, which included one of the surgeon's competitors, an obvious conflict of interest. The ad hoc investigation committee recommended that the surgeon be disciplined, i.e., lose his medical staff privileges." Barney Cohen is a health care law attorney. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "How this surgeon beat a medical staff disciplinary action." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/12/how-this-surgeon-beat-a-medical-staff-disciplinary-action.html)

"The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated factors that cause violence in the workplace. At no time in recent history will you find clinical health care workers under this degree of stress. Physicians and nurses are operating under high alert in hospitals and clinics while facing COVID deniers and abusive treatment (name-calling such as "disease spreaders") in their day-to-day life. Due to social distancing measures, shutdowns, and resultant economic fallout, patients are experiencing significant psychological and financial burdens. The politicization of the pandemic has elevated the level of difficulty for all parties. This combination of clinical and societal strain increases the likelihood of overly (and overtly) aggressive or unpredictable reactions to day to day encounters." Mercy Udoji is an anesthesiologist. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "When an epidemic of violence against health care workers meets a pandemic." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/when-an-epidemic-of-violence-against-health-care-workers-meets-a-pandemic.html)

"As soon as I realized we had so few Black residents, I began to ask around to find out if there were reasons why. One person brought up the fact that we happen to be the smaller institution between 3 other larger universities within an hour away and even bigger world-class institutions just 6 hours away. So, there is always a chance that Black residents may be choosing to go to more urban and populous cities for more job opportunities and networking. Another attending explained that the county we are in is in the top ten most populous counties in all of the United States, but Black or African Americans make up only 1.7% of the demographics. There are some odds that black applicants may not have family close enough for support and choose to go elsewhere. But despite these potential reasons, even though our county's demographic makeup is admittedly small, it's still better than our institution's hiring rate." Karen Tran-Harding is a radiologist who blogs at How the Other Side Thinks. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "When your institution has a less than 1% hiring rate for Black residents." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/12/when-your-institution-has-a-less-than-1-hiring-rate-for-black-residents.html)

"Researchers should make clinical trials more accessible by providing patients with simple explanations of studies at a variety of locations, including community clinics and medical centers. Increased flexibility regarding transportation and visit timing is essential. Researchers should also allow the participation of people who do not speak English and those living with chronic conditions whenever it is safe to do so. If the treatment will be approved to use on these populations, it is unethical to exclude them. These are considerations that researchers must think about not only when designing COVID-19 studies, but all clinical trials, as this is essential to reducing health care disparities overall. Moving forward, we must put fairness and our patients' safety above increased cost or administrative burden; perhaps this is how we begin to make amends for the atrocities of the past." Amelia Trant is a medical student. Andrea Silber is an oncologist. They share their stories and discuss their KevinMD article, "Medicine must create inclusive clinical trials." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/medicine-must-create-inclusive-clinical-trials.html)

"I am thankful to you SARS-CoV-2 virus as you allowed me to be human again, to make mistakes, and learn from them. You taught me to slow down so that I could reset and redefine my goals. You allowed me to have time for myself, to dream again, and plan my future. You pushed me out of my comfort zone and re-explore what I thought was possible or impossible. You helped me re-embrace my imperfections and love myself just the way I am! You showed me that this pandemic is a circumstance beyond my control and that there will many more circumstances, such as this one in life. However, what will always remain within my control or reach is my own thoughts about, and reaction to, such times. It is up to me now how I want to re-shape them to get to the results I want to see. Thank you, COVID-19, for being a great teacher. I respect you. I am not afraid of you but will always be cautious of you." Annie Nawab is a pulmonary and critical care physician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Beyond the medical lessons learned from COVID." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/beyond-the-medical-lessons-learned-from-covid.html)

"To care for dependents, the carer must be cared for, both for the sake of her charge and for her own sake. Without such basic infrastructure, we have anxiety, confusion, and chaos. Contagion knows no independent individuals. Its boundaries are not the boundaries of our skin. It relies on the inevitable sociality of human beings. But our vulnerability is also our defense: bonds of care minimize, and can even defeat, the power and reach of COVID-19. Care must move out of the private domain, out of the recesses of hospital rooms and nurseries, nursing homes, and day-care centers. We seem to recognize now that a leader of a nation is entrusted with its care. Care is no longer personal. It never was. Care is political." Eva Kittay is a philosopher and author of Love's Labor: Essays on Women, Equality, and Dependency (Routledge) and Learning from My Daughter. (https://amzn.to/38rxEb5) She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Care is no longer personal. Care is political." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/care-is-no-longer-personal-care-is-political.html)

"The first 100 days of COVID made me confront and reflect on a lot of aspects of myself and life, as philosophical as that sounds. Often times, I'm exhausted talking about COVID every single day and frustrated because we should be in a much better place right now as a nation. The wound is still fresh, and it deeply hurts to see more people suffering due to a lack of proper health care infrastructure and guidance as an underlying cause rather than the virus itself. I remind myself to be mindful, be kind to myself, allow myself to feel whatever I want without holding back emotions, and stay present. Emotional ups and downs are a part of life, but how you process them matters. It has also given me a glaring reminder that life is not guaranteed. It has reminded me that medical school is only a facet of my life, and the rest of my life is happening now. So why do we say, I'll do that after I've reached 'X' stage in my life? Within reason, just do it, and you won't regret it. Writing this has given me a lot of peace and clarity, and I hope whoever is reading this can reflect on their experience to gain some level of calm." Priyanka Shindgikar is a medical student. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "A medical student's 100 days of COVID." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/08/a-medical-students-100-days-of-covid.html)

"The flu vaccine can strengthen your immune system, prevent the disease spread among those closest to you, protect your children, and reduce the health care system's burden. Protecting ourselves and others as we traverse a pandemic is paramount in saving lives and keeping our communities safe and healthy. Along with our ongoing initiatives through Covid Rapid Response Team Chicago to maintain an adequate supply of PPE, host blood drives, and perform screenings in homeless shelters, increasing the rate of flu vaccinations is essential to protect the community. Our country has suffered more than enough during this COVID-19 pandemic – do your part and protect yourself, your loved ones, and our health care heroes this fall by getting your flu shot." Marina Lentskevich is a medical student. She shares her story and discusses the KevinMD article that she co-wrote, "Why flu vaccines are more important than ever in this pandemic." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/10/why-flu-vaccines-are-more-important-than-ever-in-this-pandemic.html)

"We have to start understanding these as the real costs of climate change. We are paying these costs now. In my state of Oregon, people are going to start getting sick and dying in the next few days of the wildfire smoke choking the air. When they show up to the hospital with a severe heart attack, or stroke, or respiratory exacerbation, maybe it will be attributed to the wildfires, but probably everyone will just be focusing on getting through their shift, and the context of this one death, this one illness, will be missed. But make no mistake, the coming wave of hospitalizations, ER visits, and deaths is not random; it is due to climate change." Erika Maria Moseson is a practicing, board-certified pulmonary and critical care physician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Apocalypse now: climate change, cardiac arrest, and the price of inaction." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/apocalypse-now-climate-change-cardiac-arrest-and-the-price-of-inaction.html)

"As we get excited about vaccine news and results, we need to evaluate our messaging and how we can get to high enough COVID-19 vaccination rates to achieve herd immunity. This requires broad and frequent education on the safety and efficacy of the vaccines. It also requires active listening to address concerns so people can make informed decisions. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey are relevant to the task ahead of us to combat COVID-19." Toyin M. Falusi is an infectious disease physician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "COVID-19 vaccines: Channeling the 7 habits to get from vaccines to vaccinations." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/12/covid-19-vaccines-channeling-the-7-habits-to-get-from-vaccines-to-vaccinations.html)

"Growing up in Puerto Rico, 'babas' (bottles: biberón/botellas) and 'bobos' (pacifiers: chupetes/chupón) were very common among the families and children of the island. I still remember our Abuelita giving us milk in our "babas," so my younger sister and I were sure to fall asleep better. From the time of our births, to when my sister was three years old, the "bobo" was also consistently being used in our home. Now, as a pediatrician, one of the conversations I have most frequently with my Latino families is regarding the proper use of both 'babas' and 'bobos' for their children. Were you aware that children should begin using training cups (commonly referred to as 'sippy cups') as early as nine months of age? It is also very important that your child gradually ween off the use of bottles between the ages of 12 to 15 months. Continued use of bottles after one year of age has been repeatedly documented to increase the risk of tooth decay in children." Johanna Vidal Phelan is a pediatrician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Bottles and pacifiers: advice from a Latinx pediatrician." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/07/bottles-and-pacifiers-advice-from-a-latinx-pediatrician.html)

"These encounters made my evening shift much more emotional than usual. I am still not sure what it was exactly that evoked such strong feelings of sadness. Was it having a patient who was a health care worker? Was it the rapidity in which all three patients' conditions deteriorated? Was it realizing that without timely, expert care, all three would die very quickly? Or, was it hearing people wanting to relax the measures and not wear masks, without insight into how quickly things can go wrong and end up deadly? Or, was it the cost of empathy, and just feeling the pains of my patients way too deeply? Or, was it talking to the family members of patients and trying to answer their many questions: How will it be in the ICU? Will it be lonely? Can you please let us visit? Just one time? What can we expect? When will they recover? Or, was it my inability to answer some of these questions? My lack of a crystal ball? Or, was it being already emotionally exhausted from managing everyday challenges of keeping life as normal as possible, with remote learning, running a household, and helping elderly in-laws with lots of medical, emotional, and personal needs?" Jasminka Vukanovic-Criley is a hospitalist and can be reached on Twitter @criley_md. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "The emotional side of being a doctor during the COVID-19 pandemic." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/07/the-emotional-side-of-being-a-doctor-during-the-covid-19-pandemic.html)

"Iodine-based contrast agents are widely used for CT and other X-ray studies. They light up blood vessels and enhance perfusing tissue. These agents are essential for diagnosing everything from clots, to tumor, to bleeding. Unfortunately, many patients do not get contrast studies they may benefit from, due to unnecessary confusion about allergies. The most important step to avoiding confusion is to start calling contrast agents by their names, as you would do for any other drug, and to remove 'iodine' from your allergy vocabulary. Like antibiotics, there is more than one kind of contrast agent. Radiologists routinely dictate the name of the agent used in their study reports, so if a reaction occurs, the information is readily available. The problem comes when we do not distinguish one agent from another. Most patients with a prior reaction were never told the name of the drug they received, and they incorrectly assume that an allergy to one means allergy to all. Not so, just like with other classes of medications." Cullen Ruff is a radiologist and author of Looking Within: Understanding Ourselves through Human Imaging. (https://amzn.to/3qEL23Z) He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Think you have an iodine allergy? You may want to reconsider." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2018/08/think-you-have-an-iodine-allergy-you-may-want-to-reconsider.html)

"In the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic, getting a flu shot has never been more important. Many people are staying indoors, wearing a mask, and washing their hands frequently. In this environment, patients ask me, "With all this social distancing, do I really need a flu shot this year?" The answer is unequivocally, "Yes!" Even the safest practices do not guarantee that a person won't catch the flu or the coronavirus. For people who are at high risk of becoming seriously ill from either the flu or from COVID-19, it is critical that they get their flu shots before the start of the flu season in the fall. A bad flu season could combine with the coronavirus pandemic in the fall and winter. And because both illnesses present with the same symptoms, it is possible that physicians will have to test sick patients for both." Grace Lozinski is an internal medicine physician and chief quality officer, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, Newport Beach, CA. She shares her story and discusses the KevinMD article, "The flu shot is more important this year than ever." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/the-flu-shot-is-more-important-this-year-than-ever.html)

"If we do not raise objections to this kind of comedy, we are teaching those around us that food allergies can be funny. It is no that surprise that data indicates kids and adults are anxious, embarrassed, and bullied due to food allergies. When we make light of anaphylaxis, we perpetuate the misleading stigma regarding food allergies. It has been my steadfast belief that in educating the greater public on the potential severity of food allergies, we will reach a point where it will be taboo to make these kinds of 'jokes' publicly. I hope for a day that it is simply unacceptable to joke about food allergies. Clearly, we are not there yet." Lianne Mandelbaum is founder, the No Nut Traveler, and can be reached on Twitter @nonuttraveler. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Food allergies are not funny." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/07/food-allergies-are-not-funny.html)

"Early in the pandemic, in thinking of and discussing possible solutions to help protect health care workers, two of my former colleagues and I recalled a device called the Surgical Smoke Evacuator (SSE), which we used extensively since the 1990s when we worked together at the University of Pittsburgh to collect and safely dispose of the papillomavirus-containing smoke and aerosol cloud generated during the laser or electrocautery removal of laryngeal, cutaneous, and genital warts (papillomas). These FDA-approved air suction devices are still in routine use today in operating rooms around the world. They have been vigorously advocated by organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES). SSEs utilize a very powerful suction pump and the most effective small-particle filter, the ultra-low particulate air (ULPA filter) used in clinical medicine. ULPA filters are much more effective at trapping particles the size of coronavirus (which are only approximately 0.1-0.12 microns in diameter) than are the better-known and more commonly-used and better-known HEPA filters." Rene' M. Gonzalez is an anesthesiologist. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Surgical smoke evacuators and inertia in the time of COVID." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/11/surgical-smoke-evacuators-and-inertia-in-the-time-of-covid.html)

"The medical profession now understands that social determinants of health are probably the most important driver of a patient's overall health, and these determinants are largely the result of political decisions. Clearly, we have a professional responsibility to teach our patients the science underlying their health issues. Don't we also have a professional obligation to ensure that our patients understand the health ramifications of their political choices? If that is the case, do we not have a professional obligation to initiate a conversation about the political issues which impact our patients' health? If we fail to breach the taboo of 'talking politics' in the exam room, are we not shirking our professional responsibilities to our patients and society?" Hayward Zwerling is an endocrinologist who blogs at I Have an Idea. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Talking politics in the exam room." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/talking-politics-in-the-exam-room.html)

"Doctors help patients, and they love us for it. We fix bones, replace joints, cure killer infections, and control diabetes with insulin. We use painless scans for diagnosis. Liver, kidney, and heart transplants are now routine. Some patients get cured of lymphomas, leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, and testicular cancer. Lives are prolonged for myeloma and amyloidosis. Vaccines have saved millions worldwide. We have complex technologies such as the heart bypass machine and dialysis. We replace diseased heart valves with artificial ones that work. Cardiologists permanently correct irregular rhythms using techniques that would seem natural on Star Trek. Other specialists gift infertile couples with children. For a lot of the rest, supporting evidence that it works is lacking." Robert Yoho is a cosmetic surgeon and author of Butchered by "Healthcare": What to Do About Doctors, Big Pharma, and Corrupt Government Ruining Your Health and Medical Care. (https://amzn.to/36U4sdj) He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "How I was wrong about health care." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/how-i-was-wrong-about-health-care.html)

"When it comes to social media, embrace a micromedia mindset. That means sharing entertaining, informative content that provides value. Think of yourself as the editor of your newspaper. Newspapers include various content: current events, interviews, information and research, op-eds, and more. Some of these are news-driven — like current events and information and research. Some are relationship-driven — like interviews. And some are self-driven — like op-eds. Jump into social media by sharing content in thirds. Aim for 1/3 news, 1/3 relationships, and 1/3 you. Don't start building your personal brand with too much focus on you. If you fill your feeds with op-eds, that will be hard for you to sustain, and it will ultimately turn audiences away. An important outcome of creating a personal brand is that it's yours. It will go wherever you go. If you're building a new practice, applying for a new job, jumping into the industry from medical school, or establishing your legacy, your personal brand is the path to take." Paige Velasquez Budde is CEO, Zilker Media and can be reached on Twitter @PaigeVelasquez. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "How to develop a mission-driven personal brand." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/how-to-develop-a-mission-driven-personal-brand.html)

"I write this as a caregiver, patient educator, and clinical researcher. The coronavirus pandemic has shone a spotlight on intensive care units (ICUs). Due to the rapid and continued increase in critical illness from COVID-19 infection, discussions about capacity and specialized equipment have become commonplace. Terms such as ventilators, ECMO, PPE, emergency use authorization, and proning have entered into the lingua franca. Critical care happens in the ambulance, the emergency department, and across the hospital. Ultimately the sickest and most severely injured patients end up in the ICU, or their medical providers are assisted virtually by trained clinicians (e-ICU). Before the pandemic, there were nearly 100,000 ICU beds across the U.S. COVID-19 has necessitated the creation of de facto ICUs, in repurposed operating rooms, in tents, and on ships. Non-critical care medical personnel have been deployed to meet the demand to render care for acutely ill patients." Sara L. Merwin is the co-author of The Informed Patient: A Complete Guide to a Hospital Stay. (https://amzn.to/2K8nzqY) She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Understanding critical care in the ICU: then and now." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/10/understanding-critical-care-in-the-icu-then-and-now.html)

"If I had $100 for every time I walked into a patient's room, introduced myself as the doctor, and was immediately asked, 'Hey, how old are you?' I might be able to retire right now — at the age of 28. Of course, I am exaggerating, and yet this question echoes for my baby-faced colleagues and me constantly. Whether it's simple curiosity or blatant reverse-ageism, I find this question erodes trust before it is built. I haven't yet found an agreeable way to bypass it. I usually just state my age before quickly moving on. Rarely, some congratulate me on my accomplishments given 'such a young age.' But these felicitations are like writing in the sand, which quickly wash away in the waves of emotions I begin to feel the moment they ask me that question." Sneha Shah is an internal medicine chief resident who blogs at Insights on Residency Training, a part of NEJM Journal Watch. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Does your doctor's age matter?" (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/does-your-doctors-age-matter.html)

"With the rapid growth of modern medicine and awareness in lifestyle and environmental influences, individuals can live longer and healthier lives. Approximately 15.2 percent of the U.S. population consists of individuals 65 years and older. To make the added years of life expectancy fulfilling, older adults need to stay socially connected and involved. One key method is through the development of meaningful relationships. Through the intergenerational paradigm, researchers have recognized a mutually beneficial relationship for both older and younger generations. The focus on relationships between the young and the old has been centered around the historical and cultural bond. Traditionally, family dynamics were structured to allow elders to share their wisdom and experiences with the younger generations while also establishing the family's norms and values. However, the social and economic changes have led to family structures to be transformed from single units to more complex and involved relationships. With the different family dynamics of single-working parents and two-working parents, there has been an increase in job opportunities. For this reason, many families move to newer cities and areas where there is higher job availability to support the family's financial needs. These changes have separated the two generations and have left them both missing key relationships of life that can improve their overall well-being." Satya Moolani is a premedical student. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "The value of intergenerational relationships." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/11/the-value-of-intergenerational-relationships.html)

"Studies have repeatedly demonstrated a vast majority of pain physicians don't feel like they have adequate training in meeting the unique needs of this patient population, though most agree that such efforts are very necessary. This disconnect between demand and supply is a problem, a big one. With the current pandemic stretching many people thin financially, the last thing that needs to happen is people avoiding the hospital out of fear, not of the virus, but of the health care field itself, much like what my patient seemed ready to do. In some instances, this could be the difference between life and death. There needs to be a much larger emphasis placed on training students and even residents on how to become more aware of micro-aggressions, biases, and the struggles of the LGBTQ community. I'm not saying the changes will be evident overnight, but they won't ever happen if we aren't willing to even try." Indraneel Prabhu is a medical student. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Issues faced by LGBTQ individuals in the operative setting." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/08/issues-faced-by-lgbtq-individuals-in-the-operative-setting.html)

"The behavior of managers and supervisors in organizations affects the mental health of their employees. This is especially true during times of uncertainty, such as a global pandemic. Does a leader's health and well-being change how they lead? Early evidence shows that when leaders are experiencing challenging conditions, they are more likely to become resource depleted and exhibit negative behaviors, such as passive leadership or abusive supervision. You know the kind of boss who doesn't give you any credit, puts you down in front of others, or is simply never around? When leaders are resource depleted and are experiencing poor health (e.g., lack of, or poor quality sleep; excessive use of alcohol), they are more likely to act abusively. The good news is that leaders are often well-equipped to deal with stressors that affect us all, like the impacts of COVID-19, and can take steps to prevent passing their difficulties on to their employees. Three styles of leadership can help support employee well-being during difficult times." Kara Arnold is a professor of organizational behavior, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada. Jennifer Dimoff is an assistant professor of organizational behavior and human resources, Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa. They share their stories and discuss their KevinMD article, "How to be a transformational, supportive leader during COVID-19." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/08/how-to-be-a-transformational-supportive-leader-during-covid-19.html)

"What has kept me comprised during this entire time has been the realization that this whole situation is not normal. It's not normal for me; it's not normal for millions of other people. This is not how pregnancy is supposed to go. This is a pandemic and an uncertain time for everyone. Many of us have caved under pressure, either it is financial, or the risk of exposure to a high-risk individual at home, or the fear of losing your friends and family. Each of us has reasons to be afraid. Being pregnant is just one of them and should be considered that way. It is important to acknowledge the unfamiliarity of this all and be thankful for what we have. I am thankful for supportive family, friends, and colleagues who have supported me (virtually) and practically in so many ways. I am thankful for the many work from home days, where I have felt so exhausted to get out of bed. I am thankful for health and food on my table, and my heart goes out to those who haven't been fortunate enough. And with that, I am also hopeful for better days, and a healthy child." Saba Fatima is a pediatric hospitalist. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "What it's like to be pregnant in a pandemic." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/07/what-its-like-to-be-pregnant-in-a-pandemic.html)

"We can clearly see that exponential technologies are disrupting cars and phones. So why wouldn't these technologies find their way into health care and gastroenterology? What do stool tests have to do with self-driving cars? We'll soon find out. But let's first go back to the discussion we had earlier on the shift to digital. Screening for cancer through colonoscopy, while a gold standard, reminds me of a field that's at the crossroads of disruption—much like music or photography was before iTunes or smartphones. If you consider the argument for a moment, a colonoscopy is largely limited to one doctor and one patient at a time. When a doctor performs a colonoscopy, he or she can't scale beyond the procedure. With each procedure, the learning happens within the capacity of that one doctor. To put that into context, only a very small percentage of doctors become endoscopists. And an even smaller percentage achieve mastery in endoscopy. Statistically speaking, we are talking of a very few highly qualified individuals who can reliably screen for cancer using sophisticated methods. Ask yourself what could make the field of cancer screening go digital? Something that can accelerate cancer screening and give control to the nonexperts. I'm sure you might have arrived at DNA testing or artificial intelligence." Praveen Suthrum is president and co-founder, NextServices and blogs at redo | healthcare. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "What does colon cancer screening have to do with self-driving cars?" (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/08/what-has-colon-cancer-screening-got-to-do-with-self-driving-cars.html)

"Hiring locum tenens clinicians often proves to be more efficient, and when a position goes unfilled, health care organizations are potentially leaving millions of dollars on the table in unrealized revenues. Once in place, locum tenens clinicians can help organizations expand their service lines, provide access to specialists, relieve existing staff workload, keep the operating room running, manage throughput in the emergency department, and cover call. They are also part of a growing natural progression in health care — telemedicine. Locum tenens clinicians are being used in telehealth settings, allowing the flexibility to simply video chat with a patient for a consult or provide a second opinion to another physician. Utilizing locum tenens clinicians ultimately benefits patient care while positively impacting the bottom line. Among the available strategies to deal with the current challenges in clinician recruitment, the locum tenens model can undoubtedly evolve into a viable and attractive long-term strategy for the provision of everyday health care access." Sridhar Rajamani is a pulmonary physician and member of the advisory board, LocumTenens.com. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "How can we redefine locum tenens?" (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/03/how-can-we-redefine-locum-tenens.html)

"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 partnering with physicians on wellness, leading with mindfulness first could cause an adverse reaction. A colleague and I held a workshop on physician wellness and began the session with mindfulness. Several left the room, and a few others spoke up, indicating that what they needed was not mindfulness, but solutions for inefficient processes and increased demands from their medical coding departments. We did not make that mistake again! These professionals are overwhelmed; they are just trying to get through the day and meet their goals. Oh, and take care of their patients. Mindfulness can be seen as "another thing to do" in an already packed schedule or can make physicians feel angry or "guilty" for not already trying something that seems so simple and cause them to close down to exploring other solutions." Cory Colton is an executive coach. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "When coaching physicians with wellness, don't lead with mindfulness." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/when-coaching-physicians-with-wellness-dont-lead-with-mindfulness.html) This episode is sponsored by Elsevier Health (https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/). Looking to update your personal or professional medical library? Shop Elsevier Health's Holiday Sale and save up to 35% on your purchase of medical books! Plus, you can take an extra 5% off your order with code KEVINMD at checkout. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year from Elsevier, the world-leading provider of medical books and reference materials. Shop us.elsevierhealth.com now through December 31.

"A few months ago, I signed up for a virtual conference for women in medicine. It's a group of women, over 10,000 of us, who have watched me and supported me through the past two years of my career. Two years of struggle. Two years of personal and professional pain. Two years of opportunity for growth, and two years of numerous setbacks that were only overcome with all of their assistance. At the close of each interview with women leaders in various industries, the organizer asks them what 2020 has taught them. A friend of mine from the group reached out to a few of us and asked us what 2020 had taught us. In my response, I referenced so much of what we have touched on in this class and things that have been brought to the surface by the turmoil of this year. The only way to save medicine, save our country, and to save ourselves is to pivot." Nicole M. King is an anesthesiologist. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "The only way to save medicine, save our country, and to save ourselves is to pivot." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/the-only-way-to-save-medicine-save-our-country-and-to-save-ourselves-is-to-pivot.html) This episode is sponsored by Elsevier Health (https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/). Looking to update your personal or professional medical library? Shop Elsevier Health's Holiday Sale and save up to 35% on your purchase of medical books! Plus, you can take an extra 5% off your order with code KEVINMD at checkout. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year from Elsevier, the world-leading provider of medical books and reference materials. Shop us.elsevierhealth.com now through December 31.

"Most Americans have remained dangerously unaware of this revolution in health care. Being treated by a non-physician is not on the radar of the average patient, most of whom assume that anyone in a white coat is a physician. If patients do wonder about being treated by a non-physician, they are reassured that their nurse practitioner or physician assistant is "just as good" as a doctor, an idea reinforced by multi-million-dollar direct-to-patient advertising campaigns. But is care by nurse practitioners and physician assistants really as good as that of physicians?" Rebekah Bernard is a family physician. She is the co-author of Patients at Risk: The Rise of the Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant in Healthcare. (https://amzn.to/2UIhL9H) She shares her story and discusses the article that she co-authored, "Proponents of independent non-physician practice make a dangerous assumption." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/11/proponents-of-independent-non-physician-practice-make-a-dangerous-assumption.html) This episode is sponsored by Elsevier Health (https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/). Looking to update your personal or professional medical library? Shop Elsevier Health's Holiday Sale and save up to 35% on your purchase of medical books! Plus, you can take an extra 5% off your order with code KEVINMD at checkout. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year from Elsevier, the world-leading provider of medical books and reference materials. Shop us.elsevierhealth.com now through December 31.

"Humans are complex. Humans are multifaceted. Humans are capable of grit and determination. This means that humans are also worthy of hope. If I learned anything from watching this moment in history, I realize that it's not about being a 'Democrat' or a 'Republican' it's about being human. What we do now will echo through future generations. My hope is that we choose to be better tomorrow than we are today." Anjani Amladi is a psychiatrist and can be reached at her self-titled site, Anjani Amladi, MD. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Can there be hope amid politics?" (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/08/can-there-be-hope-amid-politics.html) This episode is sponsored by Elsevier Health (https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/). Looking to update your personal or professional medical library? Shop Elsevier Health's Holiday Sale and save up to 35% on your purchase of medical books! Plus, you can take an extra 5% off your order with code KEVINMD at checkout. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year from Elsevier, the world-leading provider of medical books and reference materials. Shop us.elsevierhealth.com now through December 31.

"Frontline medical professionals must collectively share what they experienced as a whole. We must piece together these narratives and unearth commonalities to truly know what happened. Just as we must continue rigorous quantitative research on the virus itself, we must also conduct a qualitative examination. In the peri-COVID era, it will be critical to cultivate lasting empathy for the frontline and process the collective trauma that has likewise claimed lives as the virus itself. Only by establishing widespread, lasting awareness will empathy-driven solutions arise and will continued behavior change (e.g., social distancing, wearing face coverings) persist. The act of storytelling comes with the added bolstering of mental health; it is a means of coming to terms with a challenging and rapidly changing work environment being directly in harm's way with inadequate protective — both physical and psychological — equipment." Vibhu Krishna is a medical student. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "The mental health benefits of sharing stories." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/05/the-mental-health-benefits-of-sharing-stories.html) This episode is sponsored by Elsevier Health (https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/). Looking to update your personal or professional medical library? Shop Elsevier Health's Holiday Sale and save up to 35% on your purchase of medical books! Plus, you can take an extra 5% off your order with code KEVINMD at checkout. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year from Elsevier, the world-leading provider of medical books and reference materials. Shop us.elsevierhealth.com now through December 31.

"Have you ever wondered how much time we spend worrying about call, versus the amount of time that we actually spend being on call? What about the Monday after a long weekend, returning from vacation, or an overnight shift? Is it as bad as we think it's going to be, even a fraction of the time? Is it worth all of that anticipation?" Katie Townes is a physician and founder, Physician Lounge Online. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "4 ways to decrease your dread of being on-call." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/08/4-ways-to-decrease-your-dread-of-being-on-call.html) This episode is sponsored by Elsevier Health (https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/). Looking to update your personal or professional medical library? Shop Elsevier Health's Holiday Sale and save up to 35% on your purchase of medical books! Plus, you can take an extra 5% off your order with code KEVINMD at checkout. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year from Elsevier, the world-leading provider of medical books and reference materials. Shop us.elsevierhealth.com now through December 31.

"I was admitted to the hospital for psychiatric evaluation and stabilization just after my third year of medical school. Leading up to my episode, I thought I was fine – stressed, sure, overworked, definitely, but I thought that was normal for someone just finishing a year of clinical rotations. I deteriorated rapidly, and by the time I was admitted, I felt dazed, disoriented, and completely exhausted. I didn't know what day it was or where I was, but I knew one thing with crystalizing certainty – I wanted to be dead. It was an incredibly isolating experience, one that left me feeling alone and terribly frightened. But since then, I've come to realize the harsh reality: I am not alone. Mattie Renn and Thomas Pak are medical students. They share their stories and discuss their KevinMD article, "The mental health jeopardy of our youngest healers." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/the-mental-health-jeopardy-of-our-youngest-healers.html) This episode is sponsored by Elsevier Health (https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/). Looking to update your personal or professional medical library? Shop Elsevier Health's Holiday Sale and save up to 35% on your purchase of medical books! Plus, you can take an extra 5% off your order with code KEVINMD at checkout. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year from Elsevier, the world-leading provider of medical books and reference materials. Shop us.elsevierhealth.com now through December 31.

"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 helps other ambitious and overworked health care professionals to find their voice, feel more confident as influential leaders, and fall back in love with their career. I believe with the right system, ambitious professionals can be both: powerhouses in health care and passionate people in life. You just have to say no to almost everything, so you can say 'heck yes' to the only things that matter! Let me share with you the three-step process that has helped me to fall back in love with my career." Sabrina Runbeck is a cardiothoracic surgery physician assistant. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "How to bring joy and be valued while avoiding burnout." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/how-to-bring-joy-and-be-valued-while-avoiding-burnout.html) This episode is sponsored by Elsevier Health (https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/). Looking to update your personal or professional medical library? Shop Elsevier Health's Holiday Sale and save up to 35% on your purchase of medical books! Plus, you can take an extra 5% off your order with code KEVINMD at checkout. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year from Elsevier, the world-leading provider of medical books and reference materials. Shop us.elsevierhealth.com now through December 31.

"I write in my book, 'I know from experience that nothing positive comes from directing blame at yourself.' When it comes to chronic illness (which includes chronic pain), it's crucial to remember that you are not the enemy. Anyone can get sick, physically or mentally, and anybody can develop chronic pain. I just got an email from a women who turned 20 last month and has been in chronic pain for most of her young life. Chronic pain and illness come with the human condition. It's not your fault when they come calling. Don't make things worse by adding self-blame to the mix. Instead, add self-compassion to help alleviate your emotional suffering." Toni Bernhard is a patient advocate and the author of How to Be Sick: Your Pocket Companion. (https://amzn.to/3pCHcb9) She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "10 challenges faced by those with chronic pain and illness." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/10-challenges-faced-by-those-with-chronic-pain-and-illness.html) This episode is sponsored by Elsevier Health (https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/). Looking to update your personal or professional medical library? Shop Elsevier Health's Holiday Sale and save up to 35% on your purchase of medical books! Plus, you can take an extra 5% off your order with code KEVINMD at checkout. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year from Elsevier, the world-leading provider of medical books and reference materials. Shop us.elsevierhealth.com now through December 31.

"Ultimately, our job is a difficult one. It's hard to take usual comfort in heartwarming statistics or hollow promises of prosperity when you find yourself loving and grieving your patients. I have found there is comfort and an impenetrable hope that comes from this; this is the life-hack for training: Seek the welfare of the program, the institution, the city where you have found yourself. For in its welfare, there you will also find your welfare. As you start, finish, or continue your training, let the foundation of your vocation be marked by the virtue of hope rooted in doing the little things with great love. This rhythm will help you not only in the transition to or from training, but will also allow you thrive in the wake of this pandemic." Sumner Abraham is an internal medicine physician. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "A letter to medical interns, in the midst of a pandemic." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/04/a-letter-to-medical-interns-in-the-midst-of-a-pandemic.html) This episode is sponsored by Elsevier Health (https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/). Looking to update your personal or professional medical library? Shop Elsevier Health's Holiday Sale and save up to 35% on your purchase of medical books! Plus, you can take an extra 5% off your order with code KEVINMD at checkout. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year from Elsevier, the world-leading provider of medical books and reference materials. Shop us.elsevierhealth.com now through December 31.

"If we are serious about supporting the optimal health and well being of our nations' patients and physicians, we need to start believing and implementing the science across the public and private sectors. We need to recognize that at its core, the practice of medicine is a human science. We need to allocate and deploy resources to the people and programs in health care doing the work of healing our nation. We need to provide a 'self-care as health care' optimal health system, which is educative, accessible, preventative, and patient-centered. This is what a successful health care system looks like." Lillie Rosenthal is a physiatrist. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "This is what a successful health care system looks like." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/this-is-what-a-successful-health-care-system-looks-like.html) This episode is sponsored by Elsevier Health (https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/). Looking to update your personal or professional medical library? Shop Elsevier Health's Holiday Sale and save up to 35% on your purchase of medical books! Plus, you can take an extra 5% off your order with code KEVINMD at checkout. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year from Elsevier, the world-leading provider of medical books and reference materials. Shop us.elsevierhealth.com now through December 31.

"Recently, a fellow physician mom ended her life. While outwardly, a very vibrant, lively, and happy woman, she fought her own internal demons for some time. From what we know, she struggled with depression but was still committed to being a good mom, physician, and wife. Sadly, a few days before her birthday, she could no longer bear her sadness and decided to end her agony. I know many physicians' lives follow these patterns. What shook me this time, though, was a discussion I had with a very close group of friends. These are all very highly educated professionals whom I love, respect, and admire. But, none are physicians." Fariha Shafi is an internal medicine physician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Who are the doctors who end their own lives?" (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/01/who-are-the-doctors-who-end-their-own-lives.html) This episode is sponsored by Elsevier Health (https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/). Looking to update your personal or professional medical library? Shop Elsevier Health's Holiday Sale and save up to 35% on your purchase of medical books! Plus, you can take an extra 5% off your order with code KEVINMD at checkout. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year from Elsevier, the world-leading provider of medical books and reference materials. Shop us.elsevierhealth.com now through December 31.

"In medicine, the guise of 'professionalism' is an example of how an oppressive system has led us to believe that we ought not to advocate for our rights. It would be 'unprofessional' to organize for a better health care system for both patients and workers. To work towards personal liberation, Boal calls for a transformational process to bypass the censorship of habit and find 'antibodies' to oppression. With this situation so clearly revealed, the COVID-19 crisis has become an unprecedented moment for physician organizing. Where does this leave the mental health profession and their role in managing this current crisis? We are very much equipped to address individual concerns. But addressing systemic issues does not come naturally to the mental health profession, which was founded in large part on individually-based approaches. But any approach to mental health today must recognize that if the system we work in is making us sick, then it is not enough to change ourselves." Eden Almasude is a psychiatry resident. She shares her story and discusses the KevinMD article that she co-wrote, "COVID-19 is the symptom. Chronic oppressive job conditions are the disease." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/07/covid-19-is-the-symptom-chronic-oppressive-job-conditions-are-the-disease.html) This episode is sponsored by Elsevier Health (https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/). Looking to update your personal or professional medical library? Shop Elsevier Health's Holiday Sale and save up to 35% on your purchase of medical books! Plus, you can take an extra 5% off your order with code KEVINMD at checkout. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year from Elsevier, the world-leading provider of medical books and reference materials. Shop us.elsevierhealth.com now through December 31.

This episode is brought to you by Doc2Doc Lending (https://www.doc2doclending.com/), a novel lending platform created for doctors, by doctors, with the aim of facilitating fast access to personal loans at rates that make sense. "For the vast majority of us doctors, a career in medicine will also mean spending a significant portion of our adult lives carrying multiple forms of debt. Understanding student loans (the average medical school graduate in 2019 had $201,490 in student loans while the average dental school graduate had $292,159), credit card debt, home mortgages, car loans, and practice loans, becomes a worthy exercise given the potential impact – both positive and negative – these products can have on our personal and professional lives as we consume them. We'd like to propose a methodology to understand and assess loan options, using a doctor-specific perspective, to better appreciate when the pros outweigh the cons or vice versa. This methodology is based on our experience in speaking with applicants through the Doc2Doc Lending platform (the platform facilitates personal loans exclusively to physicians and dentists, and as part of the application process offers each applicant a call with a doctor-member of our Doc2Doc team to speak through the product, application process, and the applicant's goals) and it is by no means meant to be financial advice. Through these conversations, we have observed many similar themes that arise from applicant to applicant which has formed the basis for this construct. In our experience, there are three common areas that will generally be the determining factors as to whether a loan may make sense: the immediate and future impact on cash flow the total cost of the money borrowed over the entire term of the loan the degree of flexibility built into the terms of the product As doctors, debt is a real and important part of our personal and professional lives. We hope this framework may serve as a starting point for better understanding when a loan is the right decision for you." Kenton Allen and Zwade Marshall are anesthesiologists. They are cofounders, Doc2Doc Lending (https://www.doc2doclending.com/), a novel lending platform created for doctors, by doctors, with the aim of facilitating fast access to personal loans at rates that make sense. Doc2Doc Lending was founded on the belief that doctors are a unique group that are more responsible in repaying debt obligations than the general population. Doc2Doc Lending employs a proprietary underwriting algorithm that considers doctor-specific metrics to enable interest rates that are often more favorable than those found at traditional banks. Drs. Allen and Marshall are neither licensed financial nor investment advisors; they are not accountants or attorneys. Any opinions expressed above are solely their own. Learn more at www.doc2doclending.com.

"I'm now CMO at a private biotech company focused on developing therapies for patients with rare endocrine diseases. We are conducting a trial in the U.S., Europe, and Israel. I mention this to raise the possibility of travel in pharma/biotech roles. In most companies, roles are both 'functional' (i.e., clinical development, medical affairs, marketing) and geographic (i.e., global, regional). I've had both global roles, being responsible for the entire world strategy for a therapy, and U.S. specific roles where I've focused on the U.S. only. Some roles, like medical science liaison, are smaller areas of focus (state or several states). I enjoy travel and have been able to do so extensively; however, there are roles where travel is limited. One of the great things about physician roles – there is a broad range of careers that can be had, and it's likely there is one to fit your life needs! There is a need for physicians in pharma/biotech, and physicians need to more exposure to this career path. I encourage doctors to network; connect with people to learn and make your name known. My final piece of advice is to understand how all of your past experiences, whether leadership, management, or research translate into supporting your resume for a role in pharma/biotech; do not undersell your experience!" Nerissa Kreher is a pediatric endocrinologist and founder, The IndustryMDCoach. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "How physicians can find jobs in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/08/how-physicians-can-find-jobs-in-the-pharmaceutical-and-biotechnology-industries.html) This episode is sponsored by Elsevier Health (https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/). Looking to update your personal or professional medical library? Shop Elsevier Health's Holiday Sale and save up to 35% on your purchase of medical books! Plus, you can take an extra 5% off your order with code KEVINMD at checkout. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year from Elsevier, the world-leading provider of medical books and reference materials. Shop us.elsevierhealth.com now through December 31.

"My sister called me. I answered. And, then, I lost it: 'He died. He died,' I repeated. 'Our patient died. I literally did CPR on this guy. We tried to save his life, and he died,' I repeated over and over. The tears streaming down my cheeks were cathartic. More than signifying a loss, the tears signified that I was still human, that I haven't lost touch with reality. Residency hasn't changed me. Death still affects me. I'm not numb. I'm human. My tears were confirmation that I haven't changed in that way. I was not calloused. He died. And I still felt it. I had a heart." Maseray S. Kamara is a general surgery resident and can be reached on Instagram @drkamara. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Death still affects me. I'm not numb. I'm human." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/death-still-affects-me-im-not-numb-im-human.html) This episode is sponsored by Elsevier Health (https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/). Looking to update your personal or professional medical library? Shop Elsevier Health's Holiday Sale and save up to 35% on your purchase of medical books! Plus, you can take an extra 5% off your order with code KEVINMD at checkout. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year from Elsevier, the world-leading provider of medical books and reference materials. Shop us.elsevierhealth.com now through December 31.

"The dictionary definition of learning is 'the acquisition of knowledge or skills through experience, study, or by being taught.' For leaders, the most crucial and common way of learning happens through experience, and as we often say, leadership is flying the plane while building it. Moreover, the onus of making the process of learning an active one is on the leader, and self-reflection is the key to it. So, what's self-reflection? Simply put, reflection is a conscious consideration and analysis of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors for the sole purpose of learning. Experiences can be messy, but reflection gives us an opportunity to unravel and sort through our feelings and thoughts, and the ability to gauze new perspectives. Self-reflection helps us see the bigger picture, see ourselves in a richer multidimensional way, and create meaning." Priti Golechha is a pediatrician and a physician executive. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Lifelong learning through skillful self-reflection." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/08/lifelong-learning-through-skillful-self-reflection.html) This episode is sponsored by Elsevier Health (https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/). Looking to update your personal or professional medical library? Shop Elsevier Health's Holiday Sale and save up to 35% on your purchase of medical books! Plus, you can take an extra 5% off your order with code KEVINMD at checkout. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year from Elsevier, the world-leading provider of medical books and reference materials. Shop us.elsevierhealth.com now through December 31.

"Being an entrepreneur can be a lonely road. Everyone dreams of life after a successful round of funds being raised, staff being hired, and plunging headfirst into the making and shipping of widgets. But there are many days which no one talks about, where a budding entrepreneur must find a way to get ideas from their brain to a whiteboard to a minimum viable product. In those times, progress can seem elusive, and sometimes even when the resources are at hand, we may not know if we are moving forward." Amelia L. Bueche is an osteopathic physician and founder, This Osteopathic Life. Akash Sharma is a nuclear radiologist and can be reached at Jeevun. They share their stories and discuss their KevinMD article, "Accountability partnership: a secret ingredient for entrepreneurial success." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/08/accountability-partnership-a-secret-ingredient-for-entrepreneurial-success.html) This episode is sponsored by Elsevier Health (https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/). Looking to update your personal or professional medical library? Shop Elsevier Health's Holiday Sale and save up to 35% on your purchase of medical books! Plus, you can take an extra 5% off your order with code KEVINMD at checkout. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year from Elsevier, the world-leading provider of medical books and reference materials. Shop us.elsevierhealth.com now through December 31.

"I'm exhausted. As the pandemic rages on, the mental toll of dealing with COVID-19 has started to wear on me. As a practicing hospitalist in the Midwest impacted by one of the many hotspots caused by the meatpacking industry, I have spent a fair bit of time with this virus on the frontline. Some aspects of practicing medicine in a pandemic have actually improved, such as the increase in possible treatments and data to support those treatments. But one of the most stressful aspects of practicing medicine right now is the unexpected second front—the propagation of information from an increasingly vocal group of people who think the dangers of COVID-19 are imagined or manufactured." Clarissa Barnes is an internal medicine physician and can be reached at Dr. Clarissa Explains Healthcare. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD articles, "COVID-19 is a war on two fronts" (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/05/covid-19-is-a-war-on-two-fronts.html) and "To my health care colleagues in South Dakota." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/10/to-my-health-care-colleagues-in-south-dakota.html) This episode is sponsored by Elsevier Health (https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/). Looking to update your personal or professional medical library? Shop Elsevier Health's Holiday Sale and save up to 35% on your purchase of medical books! Plus, you can take an extra 5% off your order with code KEVINMD at checkout. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year from Elsevier, the world-leading provider of medical books and reference materials. Shop us.elsevierhealth.com now through December 31.

"Now, in her afterlife, she occasionally accompanied Maggie on excursions into my head, usually at night. Make that a double vodka. I thought I had finally learned in sobriety how to put them in the past, encased in a box, and keep them there. Still, sometimes they found a way out to visit me. The program taught me how to at least limit their appearances. I worked hard over the months, showing up for shifts with an energy I had not seen in myself for decades, a newfound enthusiasm I had not felt since my residency days back in Baltimore." "J. D. Remy" is an emergency physician and author of Ballad of a Sober Man: An ER Doctor's Journey of Recovery. (https://amzn.to/3lZlBHu) He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "A sober emergency physician returns to work, just in time to face the COVID-19 pandemic." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/08/a-sober-emergency-physician-returns-to-work-just-in-time-to-face-the-covid-19-pandemic.html) This episode is sponsored by Elsevier Health (https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/). Looking to update your personal or professional medical library? Shop Elsevier Health's Holiday Sale and save up to 35% on your purchase of medical books! Plus, you can take an extra 5% off your order with code KEVINMD at checkout. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year from Elsevier, the world-leading provider of medical books and reference materials. Shop us.elsevierhealth.com now through December 31.

"You have made difficult choices about your family's health and safety already. Pediatricians help parents make these kinds of decisions all the time. The shared- decision model for practicing medicine encourages doctors like me to help provide information and counseling to empower you to make decisions. You've already made decisions essential to your family's health, whether about vaccination, safe sleep, or car seats. Other more everyday decisions parents make also carry real risk — driving while tired or distracted or selecting other activities like skiing or soccer. You can make difficult decisions and, in the process of coping with the pandemic, maybe you'll learn more about what's important to your family." Kelly Fradin is a pediatrician and author of Parenting in a Pandemic: How to help your family through COVID-19. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Parenting in a pandemic: Making the best decisions for your family." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/08/parenting-in-a-pandemic-making-the-best-decisions-for-your-family.html) This episode is sponsored by Elsevier Health (https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/). Looking to update your personal or professional medical library? Shop Elsevier Health's Holiday Sale and save up to 35% on your purchase of medical books! Plus, you can take an extra 5% off your order with code KEVINMD at checkout. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year from Elsevier, the world-leading provider of medical books and reference materials. Shop us.elsevierhealth.com now through December 31.

"These strategies on how the rich get richer do not only apply to the wealthy. These same opportunities and strategies are open to us as well. If we want to accumulate wealth, or simply keep more of the money we currently have without paying a large portion in taxes, then we should consider following the strategies above. Think about what you are good at or what you like doing and consider a business you could start, product you could create/sell, or service you can render then file it as an LLC (or other business entity). Before you know it, you've "started your own business" and can now take advantage of tax rules that allow you to write off many of the expenses you already paid for. If you feel you pay too much in taxes, then meet with a tax advisor or talk to an experienced professional about ways you can lower your taxes. If you'd like to have your net worth increase in value so you can start living the life you've always envisioned, then talk to a financial planner and start investing. If you don't have a financial planner or don't think you can afford one, then start by putting money aside in your job's 401(k) plan and investing the money in that account into a low-cost index mutual fund. (If you're an advanced investor, then start learning about real estate and other active/passive investments.)" Altelisha Taylor is a family medicine resident and can be reached at Career Money Moves. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "3 ways the wealthy increase their net worth." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/08/3-ways-the-wealthy-increase-their-net-worth.html) This episode is sponsored by Elsevier Health (https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/). Looking to update your personal or professional medical library? Shop Elsevier Health's Holiday Sale and save up to 35% on your purchase of medical books! Plus, you can take an extra 5% off your order with code KEVINMD at checkout. Take advantage of the biggest sale of the year from Elsevier, the world-leading provider of medical books and reference materials. Shop us.elsevierhealth.com now through December 31.