Category: KevinMD

Thank you for letting us be a part of your child’s life. You truly are the heroes of medicine.

The following is something I wrote for our annual memorial service for children who have died at our Children’s Hospital. But these same thoughts are with me every day. It’s an honor to be here with you to celebrate the lives of our patients. Thank you…

Thank you for letting us be a part of your child’s life. You truly are the heroes of medicine.

The following is something I wrote for our annual memorial service for children who have died at our Children’s Hospital. But these same thoughts are with me every day. It’s an honor to be here with you to celebrate the lives of our patients. Thank you…

5 things this doctor wished he could tell his patients

1. I am not omnipotent.  As health care providers our ability to treat is sometimes affected by factors beyond our control— limitations in technology, variations in our work environment, and human nature.  While we always commit to performing our…

Questions about Public Service Loan Forgiveness that you were afraid to ask

As a graduating medical student with around $200,000 in student loans, I’m planning to enroll in Public Service Loan Forgiveness. When I shared this proclamation with my classmates they had mixed reactions and several questions. Just in case you’re won…

The effect of mobile devices on our collective psyche

During a recent walk at Crystal Cove, a splendid California State Park with miles of pristine coastline, I encountered two young women sitting on a bench with a magnificent view of the ocean.  Yet their only view of interest was their cell phone screen…

How I share my creativity with others in medicine

The creative platform Lyrical Mezzanine (@LyricalMezz) aims to nurture resilience or resiliency in clinicians, caregivers, patients, chaplains, family members, friends, scientists, teachers, and others — and to combat burnout simultaneously. I created …

How to spot a narcissistic doctor

How is it possible that endemic bullying persists in medicine despite myriad initiatives to improve awareness, mutual respect and medical culture? In some cases, we can blame health systems issues, such as medical workforce shortages, lack of funding a…

A patient’s frustrating prior authorization journey

My experience trying to obtain the drug prescribed by my rheumatologist is a cautionary tale. This is not about whether the doctor ordered it, or how the specialty pharmacy (CVS) must wait for approval from the insurer before filling the prescription, …

Stop the anti-doctor media bias

The April 18, 2019 CNN headline was a prime example of clickbait: “Feds charge doctors in 8 states in opioid bust, including ‘Rock Doc’ accused of trading pills for sex.” The only problem with this headline? Of the 60 individuals charged, h…

We need a Hippocratic Oath for administrators

The biggest change in medical practice that has occurred during my 25 years as a physician is the open acceptance of physician employment. Compared to this change, the ACA, EMRs, “Gorillacillins,” and the latest sepsis protocol, combined, a…