I was afraid to attend football and basketball games, fearing people’s judgment. I had been conditioned to believe that I was short, fat, ugly, and stupid. I spent most of my time alone in my bedroom with the lights out, listening to music on rep…
Category: Conditions
U.S. maternal death rate keeps climbing: Understanding root causes can help reduce maternal mortality
As we recognize Mother’s Day on May 14, let’s take this time to reflect on how we can help ensure all moms celebrate with us, year after year. A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows the U.S. maternal …
The incredible journey of pregnancy: endurance, resilience, and unconditional love
“Pregnancy is the longest duration and highest energy expenditure that humans can experience. Mothers probably aren’t surprised by this.” -Herman Pontzer How fast you can run depends on why, for how long, and, more importantly, the dr…
Stopping the cycle of bullying: How empathy and inclusion can change lives
The most vivid memory of my childhood is of me, a six or seven-year-old boy, crying in the playground corner every day for months. It is so intense that I wonder if that is a product of imagination. However, the same scene, with the blue bench, in the …
An inspiring tribute to an exceptional radiologist who made a lasting impact
“He had an intuitive gift as a physician in diagnosing and managing breast cancer. His expertise helped countless patients, and he was deeply appreciated by those he cared for. He felt an enormous sense of gratitude to be able to help his patient…
Breaking the silence on pelvic congestion syndrome: Diagnosing and treating chronic pelvic pain with interventional radiology
One in six women in the U.S. suffers from chronic pelvic pain (CPP), yet many receive improper treatment for the condition, or no care at all. They’re frustrated – and rightfully so. Their health care providers are frustrated too because what the…
Awaken your brain for a happier, more connected life: the key to combating depression and isolation
With the coming end of the public health emergency, our three-year pandemic will be officially (if not completely) over, and we will be left to contemplate what’s next. As much as we’d all appreciate a return to normal, we may be better off…
It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure
Adapted from The Right to Pain Relief and Other Deep Roots of the Opioid Epidemic. Published by Oxford University Press in January 2023. The 0-to-10 pain intensity scale that has become a familiar feature of clinical care had its origin in experimental…
Evidence-based medicine and bias: the truth about common therapies and clinical trials
Evidence-based medicine is a term that attendings like to pepper into their teaching rounds, and medical students like to conspicuously incorporate into their assessment and plan. There is so much clinical trial data out there that it is impossible to …
The miracle cure: the world’s first successful bone marrow transplant for aplastic anemia
An excerpt from Living Medicine: Don Thomas, Marrow Transplantation, and the Cell Therapy Revolution. Late in the summer of 1960, Dr. Clem Finch invited Dr. Don Thomas to Seattle to give a talk about his early experience with transplantation. Clem, who…
