Category: KevinMD

Redefining failure in neurosurgery: a student’s perspective on growth and learning

Failure is a word that carries a heavy burden, particularly in the field of neurosurgery, where precision is paramount and the stakes are often life and death. As a 4th-year medical student preparing to enter this demanding specialty, I have come to re…

What you need to know about near-death experiences

Imagine a medical syndrome so common that as many as one in five patients who nearly die in a medical setting experience it. Also, imagine that this syndrome has a profound, lifelong effect on both the patient and their family. Finally, imagine that if…

Performing in the clutch: lessons from a pediatric airway surgeon

I have a confession to make: I have blood on my hands. My actions have led to the death of children. Now, that sounds extreme, and in reality, it is. Not in the course of everyday life, of course. But as a pediatric otolaryngologist (ENT) and airway su…

Performing in the clutch: lessons from a pediatric airway surgeon

I have a confession to make: I have blood on my hands. My actions have led to the death of children. Now, that sounds extreme, and in reality, it is. Not in the course of everyday life, of course. But as a pediatric otolaryngologist (ENT) and airway su…

Why postpartum care is failing new mothers [PODCAST]

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! We sit down with Phindile Chowa, an emergency medicine physician, to discuss her personal and professional journey through postpartum care. Phindile shares her harrowing e…

Failure is not the end: Creating space for grace in the medical field

A medical school classmate recently said to me, “You won’t be remembered for your failures.” Her words were exactly what I needed to hear after failing my medical school licensing exam. She was right—I am more than my failures. I have…

Celebrating silver: 3 best practices for meeting people where they are with diabetes adherence

During the Olympics and Paralympics, all eyes turn to the best of the best: incredible athletes who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of greatness in hopes of earning one of the most sought-after titles in the world. “Gold medalist”…

How one food truck saved a chaotic hospital shift

“Thank God for the food truck,” said the charge nurse to no one in particular. It hadn’t been a great morning at the no-name hospital in Upstate New York. They were short-staffed to begin with, and a nurse had called in sick. Her staf…

Postpartum crisis: a physician’s call for comprehensive maternal support

The moment my daughter was placed on my chest, I knew something was wrong. Her skin had a blue-purple tinge, and she barely cried. I instinctively began rubbing her tiny body, trying to stimulate her, but she remained quiet and minimally responsive. Wh…

Teaming in health care: Why the future of patient care depends on collaboration [PODCAST]

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! We explore the evolving dynamics of health care teams with guests Matthew Sherrer, an anesthesiologist, and Brooke Vining, a nurse anesthetist. We discuss the shift from t…