On a rare Sunday morning, I woke and had the time to make breakfast for my kids and their cousin, who’d stayed the night. My nephew said, “Thanks, Aunt Erin, I feel like I never see you.” To which my oldest (10) stated very matter-of-…
Category: KevinMD
What to do next if your physician dream job isn’t available
Human nature is to hold on tightly to the ideals of perfect. Once we find something that ticks all the boxes, we want it now and with firm conviction. The same holds when seeking that dream job. Competition, scarcity, and desire for coveted positions r…
How do you know if you have hypertension and need medication?
High blood pressure is the silent killer. It puts people at risk for heart attacks, strokes, vascular disease, kidney failure. It is basically really bad to have longstanding, undertreated high blood pressure. But it is also harmful to be told you have…
Navy SEALs are more than warfare providers
Navy SEALs are America’s elite fighting force. They are America’s most qualified soldiers who elect to undertake the most difficult selection process and training in existence. They are preselected by a number of traits, including intellige…
How to help your patients understand antibiotic stewardship
Antibiotics are ubiquitous in today’s society. Prescriptions for these bacterial killers have become so prevalent that a wonder drug cure phenomenon for any illness has become the cultural norm. The evidence is overwhelming that antibiotics are far too…
How can women surgeons change the dominant culture and not alienate the majority?
Recently, I read this great article from Dr. Chethan Sathya, a male surgeon who commented on how women surgeons in this day and age are still treated as second class surgeons. There has been much good commentary and discussion on the topic, particularl…
Can money solve physician burnout?
I previously published a post discussing the most recent Medscape burnout survey results for physicians. An interesting point of discussion was that many physicians felt that if they made more money, they would likely be happier. Today, we will discu…
How doctors can get fit while they sit
If you work a desk job, you’re familiar with the aching back pain, stiff shoulders, and all-around discomfort that hits after you’ve been sitting for an extended period of time. Not only is it painful, but research shows that sitting for hours at a tim…
You need a boss, and a physician coach is the best kind
I have no idea who my boss is. Is it the chief of surgery at my hospital who tells me I need to use more of my block time, or it’ll be reassigned? Or the office manager who tracks my CME money and vacation days? Or the medical group administrator wh…
The impact of panels early in medical school on informing patient-centered care
As first-year medical students, we learn that the hallmark of a holistic medical education is an emphasis on the human, personal side of this profession. One way we develop our patient-centered competency is through attending patient panels as part of …
