<span itemprop="author">Tracey O'Connell, MD

Author's posts

Sham peer review (SPR): strategies for saving your career and soul

For an introduction to SPR, click here. For a history of SPR, click here. To learn how to distinguish real vs. sham peer review, click here. We don’t hear about SPR as often as it occurs because those who have experienced it have likely signed no…

Legitimate vs. sham peer review (SPR): Is there a difference?

For an introduction to SPR, click here. For a history of SPR, click here.  When summoned for a peer review, how can you tell if it’s a sham? The biggest clue is whether the peer review process seems intended to help or harm you. If you feel since…

Sham peer review: Why is there no malpractice insurance for this?

It’s estimated that up to 10 percent of all peer reviews are “shams,” thus, it’s worth a few minutes of education so you’re not left grappling if you suspect you might be the target of one. As physicians, we purchase malpr…

The sham peer review: a hidden contributor to the doctor shortage

Imagine you’ve worked in a clinical environment for an extended period. You might be a resident or fellow getting ready to graduate, an attending who has been operating for years, or a full-fledged partner in private practice. As your morning ala…

Medical professional gaslighting: the lack of psychological safety in medicine

Toward the end of my third year of medical school, I was 25, newly married, and overwhelmed by responsibility. I hadn’t enjoyed the clinical rotations. The hours and the degree of human suffering were just too much. My husband and I fought about …