“I am a nurse who has worked at a rural hospital. My husband is a board-certified family medicine doctor. In the fall of 2020, I was raped by my massage therapist. I know that everyone has an opinion of what they would do in that situation, and I…
Category: OB/GYN
Institute policies to proactively support physicians who are breastfeeding
I’ve been speaking with women physicians about the top challenges they face today. I’ve learned there are many—which honestly didn’t surprise me, given that 48 percent of women physicians report burnout symptoms (compared with 37 percent of their male …
This physician is done with being silent about women’s rights
When I was a 13-year-old freshman in high school, I joined the basketball team. I had always stood out, which I tried to convince myself was a great trait that made me unique and an individual. However, when I played sports, I felt alive. I had a coach…
Hypertension is killing pregnant mothers. Blood pressure monitoring can help.
Hypertensive disorders with onset during pregnancies are among the leading causes of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity in the U.S. and can have far-reaching consequences for the long-term health of the mother and child. In Dr. Jerome Adams’ r…
My experience as a clinical research subject
I am sure I am not alone when I vaguely recall receiving a letter or a leaflet in the mail recruiting subjects for clinical research, giving it little or no thought, then walking directly from the mailbox to the recycling bin the way we all have during…
Infertility and the physician journey [PODCAST]
“I am a medical doctor—a hospitalist working in an environment with many talented professionals. We share our knowledge and our approach to medicine with one another in ways that profoundly affect our patients and other personnel in the hospital….
I paid less for my hospital birth than most of my patients with insurance
It seemed unthinkable, but I decided to think about it anyhow. Would it be possible to have a hospital birth without maternity coverage? I had time and I had options, so I decided to figure it out. I have to start by being transparent. As the title imp…
How I lost sight of my own health care while creating a women’s health care company
2020 is the year that brought many of us to our knees. The COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the entire world, leading to death, job loss, isolation, fear, and stress. Children were all of a sudden learning from home. Women were leaving the workplace. Stay at …
Pressure to breastfeed: from inside or out?
I had very difficult experiences breastfeeding both of my children. I had constant pain, recurrent plugged ducts, and a lot of latch problems. There were many times when I considered quitting, but I persevered because it meant a lot to me, and I woul…
How this physician escaped the system
“Wrong! The most important part of your job is to make money.” I will never forget those words from an attending in residency – though I did not know it at the time, it was a pivotal moment in my decision to pursue a nontraditional route in medicine. I…
