Category: Conditions

COVID-19 and the college experience

Everyone seems to be walking about in disbelief. College educators and administrators are shocked. Public health officials are incredulous. Politicians are confused, and news reporters are busily shaking their heads at the numbers. Physicians, my colle…

Infertility as a physician: the gift of perspective

As physicians, we know all too well how life can change in an instant.  How tomorrow is never promised.  This knowledge can sometimes feel overwhelming, but it is also a gift. Because we know how precious life is. I am a physician—but I am also a patie…

Unmasking inequality: the power of community organization during COVID-19

In medical school, I was charged with caring for Ms. R, a 47-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis. She had been flagged as a high priority patient through the student-run free clinic (SRFC) and assigned to me for …

The children of COVID

If you ignore the masks, the missing exam room toys, and the “astronaut doctor” PAPR on my head, you might think it was a regular day in my pediatric office. But it’s not. It’s a day where we are still all trying to push through the thickness in the ai…

Meniscus tear surgery and treatment: What you need to know to decrease your pain

Meniscus injuries of the knee are common. There are lots of treatment options, including meniscus tear surgery or injections. But which one is the best to address your meniscus tear pain? The data surprises almost everyone. History of meniscus tear tre…

Doctoring in the age of COVID and the possibility of dying in the near future

On January 19, the first case of the coronavirus in the United States was announced. Initially, COVID cases were detected in Washington. As time elapsed, other states did best to prepare for if and when COVID came to our area. As spring break arrived, …

COVID-19 in Italy: the good, the bad, and the ugly

The good Italians star at disorganization, disobedience, and discord. They sneak past no-entry signs, light up under no-smoking signs, barrel along at 80 in 35 mph zones, fasten their seat belts under their butts. Plus, they had the worst COVID-19 epid…

Racial disparities and maternal mental health during COVID

As the coronavirus pandemic has unfolded, the uncertainty of this crisis has stoked heightened awareness and precaution in each aspect of our lives. We have incorporated personal protective equipment into our human interactions, and we are compulsively…

Dopamine fasting, debunked by a psychiatrist

Taking a break from technology is a fine idea, but we don’t need a pseudoscientific new name for it: dopamine fasting.  Launched with viral Silicon Valley memes, online reports, and articles in the New York Times and elsewhere, dopamine fasting is now …

From a dermatologist: How to beat “maskne,” dry hands, and other safety-related skin problems

You are doing all the right things: washing your hands frequently, wearing a mask when out in public, getting the requisite sunlight needed to reduce stress and maintain your health. And the reward you’re getting for all your diligence? Dry skin,…