September was National Suicide Prevention Month. In a short while, we also approach the 41st birthday of the late Stephen “tWitch” Boss, a widely beloved dancer and executive producer of The Ellen DeGeneres Show whose death by suicide is st…
Category: Conditions
Addressing dual diagnosis needs in addiction treatment
An excerpt from Slow Dancing with the Devil: A Son’s Substance Use Disorder, A Mother’s Anguish. The only time my anxiety was gone, or at least on pause, was when Luke was in a treatment center or sobriety house. I knew he was safe and surr…
Communication, power dynamics, and organizational culture in health care
In a recent podcast conversation with Kevin Pho, MD, we talked about the importance of assertiveness in health care, including the ability to say “No” and the significance of culture in supporting it. One of the topics we touched on was the…
Everyday dangers unknowingly impacting our health
When we think of symptoms or ailments, they are often a signal to us that there’s something off with our health. Yet, many of us, as well as doctors, often don’t think so much outside the traditional box when it comes to what may be influen…
A shop teacher’s daughter on transforming patient safety
Just a few weeks ago, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) issued a report, “A Transformational Effort on Patient Safety.” This was both a “surprise” and “not a surprise” to me …
What happened to the chemical pathologist?
During my early years as a pediatric hospitalist in the U.K. during the ’80s, a figure that loomed large was the chemical pathologist (CP). The CP was the guardian of the laboratory, and every hospital had one. This fearsome beast was approached …
Second chances and simple beauty in thrift stores
I like to thrift shop. Aisle after aisle weaves a story of people and their lives. Pieces of trinkets I’ll never need. But I can feel the hidden simple beauty, and then I have to have it. My children can line my gravesite with the thousands of co…
Air quality alert: Reducing our carbon footprint in health care
A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD. Do no harm. We learn this throughout our medical education and training, and in practice it is a keystone for clinical decision making. This principle continues to inspi…
A teenager’s perspective: the pressing need for mental health days in schools
Mental health in children and teens is worsening, and there are not enough providers to support them. This is a cause for significant concern. As a teenager who has experienced firsthand the challenges of maintaining positive mental health amidst a dem…
The art of pediatrics: Connecting through observation
On my first day of inpatient rounds during intern year, I was taken aback when the attending stated, “Let’s stop outside the room and just spend a few moments watching the child and mom.” I started my residency on my community rotatio…
