Silence is a prison that locks away the truth, hiding it in the shadows of life. Words yearn to be spoken, but are instead swallowed whole. It’s a safer alternative than facing an empty void. Your gaze is directed elsewhere, avoiding the person w…
Category: Conditions
The heartbreaking pandemic story I will never forget
The COVID-19 pandemic hit the world five years ago, and the world seems to be contemplating that history lately. Numerous articles reflect on that time now that we are passing that first major milestone. In many ways, we are still struggling with the f…
Pope Francis dies at 88. What his care reveals about America’s failing hospitals.
Pope Francis passed away this morning at the age of 88. Just weeks ago, he had spent 38 days hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for what was described as “double pneumonia,” before returning to his Vatican apartment to recover. H…
When modesty kills: the CPR gender gap you didn’t know existed
A chilling incident from a past summer camp at Achimota School still resonates: A young woman collapsed with her life hanging in the balance. The male Red Cross prefect, attempting to administer potentially life-saving CPR, was quickly stopped by conce…
Fatty liver disease is no longer reserved for older adults
Increasingly, it’s showing up in people in their 20s and 30s—individuals who don’t drink excessively, don’t appear outwardly unhealthy, and often have no idea their liver is under stress. The condition, now referred to as metabolic dy…
What money can’t fix: the scars left by a friend
I stood at the check-in counter of my physician’s office, waiting for my yearly physical. Beside me, another patient was checking in. I recognized her instantly. It was Denise—my childhood best friend. And yet, I couldn’t bring myself to sa…
Why vaccine access still fails America’s most vulnerable groups
The health, judicial, and socioeconomic disparities among ethnic minorities are pervasive, and vaccination rates are key among them. The inequities among marginalized groups are largely driven by social determinants of health, education, and access to …
ADHD isn’t one-size-fits-all: Why nuance in diagnosis matters
I read with great interest the recently published article in The New York Times by Paul Tough, who has reported on child development and education over the last twenty years. He outlines statistics, specifically the rise in diagnosis of children and ad…
How the CDC’s opioid rules created a crisis for chronic pain patients
Adapted from Greed to Do Good: The Untold Story of CDC’s Disastrous War on Opioids. The 2016 CDC opioid guideline seemed to make obvious sense: Americans were consuming far too many prescribed opioids. Many users of illicit opioids reported that …
When leadership turns defensive: the impact of workplace paranoia on professionalism
Leadership in any industry, especially in health care, demands a delicate balance of trust, ethical judgment, and professionalism. However, when leaders view collaboration through a lens of suspicion, assuming that employees are conspiring against them…
