When I was a general surgery intern, I was doing my very early morning pre-rounds on a frail female patient in her late 70s with significant cardio- and peripheral vascular disease. She’d been in the hospital for weeks and wasted away to no more …
Category: Conditions
Improving type 1 diabetes screening awareness among women is critical. Here’s why.
As a board-certified pediatric endocrinologist, the field medical director for type 1 diabetes immunology (T1D) at Sanofi, and someone who was diagnosed with T1D as a child, it’s fair to say that much of my life has revolved around the disease. I…
Improving type 1 diabetes screening awareness among women is critical. Here’s why.
As a board-certified pediatric endocrinologist, the field medical director for type 1 diabetes immunology (T1D) at Sanofi, and someone who was diagnosed with T1D as a child, it’s fair to say that much of my life has revolved around the disease. I…
Pain management for IUD procedures is not a one size fits all: A patient-centered conversation about women’s pain doesn’t have to be painful
On August 8, 2024, the CDC updated its selected practice recommendations for contraception for the first time since 2016. This revision emphasized the importance of discussing pain management options with patients undergoing intrauterine device (IUD) p…
The silent cry: somatic symptom presentations of Chinese heritage patients
Returning home from medical school for the holidays, I had an all-too-familiar experience for medical trainees, but with a cultural twist. My Chinese American family bombarded me with medical questions. “I wake up at 4 a.m. every day, 不舒服 (bù shū…
4 hacks to improve patient experience in your practice
“The doctor was wonderful, but her staff …” “The receptionist was so rude. I won’t be back.” “They never sent the referral even though I called several times.” Ever seen reviews like these? No matter how …
Why superheroes never get sick: the mask connection
A daily dose of sarcasm to trigger some thought, and to ask some serious questions we all should be able to discuss peacefully. These are not necessarily my personal beliefs, lest I need to be attacked at some point by misinformation protector professi…
When assumptions in health care lead to devastating consequences
It is heartbreaking to recount the journey my husband and I have been through. My husband, an award-winning triathlete, and I had a rich and vibrant life together. We traveled extensively, taking nine trips in 2014 alone, including attending the World …
Critical care in critical moments: Anesthesiologists play a vital role in maternal health
Maternal mortality crisis in the U.S. The U.S. faces a significant maternal health crisis, with alarmingly high maternal mortality rates compared to other developed nations. As of 2022, the overall maternal mortality rate was 22.3 deaths per 100,000 li…
How a nurse’s journey through trauma inspires hope and kindness
A former ICU nurse and close friend told me tonight that she wanted to start the new year on a positive note. I nodded, trying to absorb her optimism, but deep down, it felt like an impossible belief to hold onto. Earlier in the evening, I finished wat…
