We lived in the woods. Five acres of trees. You could barely see the sky. We left the big city for this piece of heaven. And by chance, we met a couple that had a 5-year-old daughter. Our son was four years old. They became best friends. They’d s…
Category: Pediatrics
Pediatric mental health is a growing epidemic. Here’s how Illinois is leading the way to solve that.
One of my friends in middle school was known for her uncanny ability to brighten up any space she walked into. But when we hit high school, she had become more withdrawn and dejected, and her self-esteem plummeted. She was clearly struggling, but at th…
Where have all the pediatric beds gone? The consequence of strict admission criteria.
In the tale of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, the piper tunefully leads the children astray and to their doom. Well, the piper has returned. Actually, he has been back for several years, but few noticed. This time he is not making off with the children but…
Why physicians should go on a retreat [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! “The retreat offered me the opportunity to see that I want more time (don’t we all) to connect with quiet, peace, and loved ones. I want to embody love as well as the badass that I am…
The power of a sticker: reflections on my journey as a pediatric resident
In my third week of residency, I gave out my first sticker. My medical assistant opened the drawer and revealed the rolls of stickers, asking me to choose for my patient, who waited behind the door I just closed, their smile joining all the other littl…
Absent-Father Syndrome: Overcoming the trauma of a fatherless childhood [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! “My father’s struggle to exist as a father after getting married was evident. But at the same time, the birth of his children changed his world forever. His march towards success thro…
Clinicians serving under-resourced populations should seize opportunity for free lifestyle medicine education
As a pediatrician serving under-resourced families in Washington, D.C., I was glad to see health leaders converge for the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. Solutions to food insecurity and diet-related diseases are urgently neede…
Are pediatricians too nice?
One summer a few years ago, I went to pick my son up from camp. He was attending a week-long specialty day camp where the kids spent a week with an expert in some area of interest. The camp offered everything from basketball, soccer, and tennis to acti…
Is there a third pathway of resilience?
My social media feed has increasingly included stories of friends “quiet quitting.” A term popularized through TikTok, quiet quitting is a reaction to the exploitation of employee labor without providing additional compensation. Simultaneou…
Measles: a preventable disease that is making a comeback
I see there has been yet another measles outbreak; at the time of writing, the count is 59 in central Ohio. All are either unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated. No doubt local pediatricians are being flooded with worried parents proffering their offspr…
