Category: KevinMD

There is a global anesthesia crisis

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. There is a global anesthesia crisis: too few people trained to give anesthetics for surgery and obstetrics worldwide. The Lancet launched a commission to look at the…

Give your psychiatric patients a reason to trust

I had been diagnosed three days prior, given lithium to stabilize and a benzodiazepine to sleep. I went home. Things did not get better. I had been admitted just that morning after a long, confusing night in the ED. I did not yet understand the severit…

Physicians should never underestimate the power of their words

It’s no secret that America (and indeed a lot of the western world) faces an unhealthy lifestyle crisis. Shocking statistics suggest that over 70 percent of the United States population is overweight or obese (defined as a BMI over 25). The consequenti…

The continuing battle between the emergency department and radiology

I overheard a disappointing phone call while supervising a radiology resident recently. I could tell that the resident was struggling in a conversation with an emergency department physician, so I asked him to switch over to speakerphone. Eventually, I…

How setting healthy boundaries can help you regain control in a demanding world

Advancements in technology have blurred the lines between work and home life. This is because modern technology, such as the smartphone has made it easier for others to reach us. Time and location no longer serve as barriers. It is not uncommon for wor…

How setting healthy boundaries can help you regain control in a demanding world

Advancements in technology have blurred the lines between work and home life. This is because modern technology, such as the smartphone has made it easier for others to reach us. Time and location no longer serve as barriers. It is not uncommon for wor…

MKSAP: 59-year-old man is evaluated during a routine examination

Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians. A 59-year-old man is evaluated during a routine examination. He feels well and has no symptoms. Medical history is significant for hypertensi…

The excitement of clinical rotations: Not just learning medicine but doing medicine

The first time a woman went into the final stage of labor, I watched from a corner of the room. As a third-year medical student, I was on my six-week clinical rotation in obstetrics and gynecology, and it was day one of the two-week portion on the labo…

A physician who has her name butchered on a daily basis

“S as in Sam, I, E, C as in Charlie, Z as in zebra, K, O, W, S as in Sam, K, I.” “A, O, W?” “No. K, as in kite. K, O, W.” “Is that your married name?” “Nope. This is my maiden name. I kept it.” “What is that? Polish?” “Yes. Yes, it […]
Find jobs …

For students with test stress, medical schools leave a void  

I’m writing this for my tribe of worriers and self-doubters, people for whom ever-present test stress is inextricable to the med school experience.  Sure, every medical student becomes preoccupied fretting over exams to some degree.  That’s part of wha…