Category: Infectious disease

Can we separate Donald Trump, the patient, from Donald Trump, the politician?

When the president of the United States contracts a dangerous disease, the story is big news. When the same disease has taken the lives of 200,000 people and the same president has been under fire for grossly mishandling the response, the tale takes on…

Inadequate COVID testing leaves New York City schools vulnerable

New York City has the largest public school system in the country. More than a million students, and tens of thousands of teachers, administrators, and support staff.  If you read the papers, the biggest issue is how to organize teaching. The debate is…

New York City’s COVID-19 outbreak from the eyes of a pulmonary and critical care team’s biostatistician

December 15, 2018. My coworker is moving to California. She’s a statistician for a group of pulmonary and critical care physicians at our New York City hospital, and I’m a statistician who’s trying not to do too many things wrong, only three months int…

The actor will see you now: the evolving role of a physician in a pandemic

It wasn’t very long into medical school when I realized that the role of a physician feels just like that—a role. As a former high school thespian, I recall my Step 2 CS exam feeling a lot like a series of auditions—convincing twelve standardized patie…

I’ll reward businesses that are seriously implementing recommended COVID-19 precautionary guidelines

As stores, restaurants, airlines and offices try to lure clients back, this is what they need to do to earn my business: Make me feel safe — no, make me be as safe as possible. As I’ve begun to explore old haunts, some are doing a fabulous job. Others …

The science of compassion

As more and more human lives get sadly sucked into this viral rabbit hole, devoured by this haughty virus, in a physically and socially distanced world, the internet seems more than a soul connection, and one cannot ignore the human cacophony around. H…

The role of physician assitants during the pandemic

As the world battles COVID-19, summer has turned to autumn, and a new chill is in the air. With this change, even in a pandemic, comes the flu season. As a physician assistant (PA), one concern for my patients’ health is the possibility that many will …

President Trump received dexamethasone and had 2 episodes of low oxygen saturation levels

President Trump was administered dexamethasone therapy for COVID-19 treatment, and had two episodes of low oxygen saturation levels that required supplemental oxygen, said doctors at Walter Reed Medical Center at a press conference on Sunday. “In…

Clinical diagnosis in the age of COVID-19

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD. Making an accurate clinical diagnosis is one of the most important things physicians can do for their patients. But being able to do so is not an easy process to begin with.  I…

How coronavirus took my grandfather’s life [PODCAST]

“One of the calls you dread making as a doctor is telling a family member their loved one is dying. That was the call I received when my grandfather decompensated. We grow accustomed to making the call as clinicians, but we never expect to get it…