Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Physician executive Timothy McDonald discusses his article, “How innovative partnerships are transforming patient safety in health care,” highlighting the role…
Category: KevinMD
The deadly impact of the U.S. anti-abortion funding policy
As first-year medical students, we are taught to always prioritize patients over politics. However, our research in maternal health has shown us that the two are dangerously intertwined, with political decisions directly impacting the provision of heal…
The harsh reality of becoming a doctor: a dream turned nightmare
I have wanted to be a doctor since I was 12 years old. I revered my pediatrician, Dr. Helen Nash, who was a giant in our community. Growing up poor in St. Louis, it was rare to see a Black doctor. Seeing Dr. Nash—owning her own practice, helping people…
The untold toll of COVID-19: a doctor’s battle to save lives and family
Hello! Your friendly next-door ID physician here checking in! I haven’t submitted anything here in several years. I’ve been too caught up with my work and family to delve into my creative side. But the very recent news that we will have a n…
The uncertain future of general physicians: Is it time to pivot?
As a board-certified internal medicine physician and hospitalist with over 12 years of experience, I find myself grappling with an unsettling thought: I cannot, in good conscience, encourage medical students with clinical ambitions to pursue any genera…
Emergency departments as primary care safety nets [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Family physician Pamela Buchanan discusses her article, “The ER doctor who became the new PCP.” In this compelling conversation, Pamela explains her transition…
Spreading hope one card at a time: How small acts of kindness can make a big difference for doctors
As Doctors’ Day on March 30 approaches, we are reminded of the incredible impact physicians have on our lives. But there is something often overlooked—the emotional toll the profession takes. Physicians give so much of themselves, yet their emoti…
Chainsaw politics may cut deeply into the fabric of health care
Federal downsizing, while touted as a means to streamline operations and eliminate bureaucratic waste, has significant and often detrimental consequences for the U.S. health care system. Two documents shed light on this issue from complementary perspec…
Residency programs value diversity and inclusivity
Residency interview season is wrapping up; applicants and programs are weighing each other’s relative flaws and merits. In about a month, rank lists are due, and then the applicants’ fates are up to the Match. Where they will spend the next…
What if a doctor didn’t wash their hands between patients?
I’ve been an emergency room doctor for 35 years. I have probably washed my hands over 150,000 times. What the heck? How much is enough? What would happen if I just didn’t wash my hands? Well, first, the hand-washing police (yes, there is su…
