I grew up in a medical family, primary care. I’ve worked in the medical field for 40 years, from the front office to the back, lab to radiology. I’ve been a registered nurse for 33 years and a family nurse practitioner for 30 years. I have …
Category: primary care
The truth about burnout in medicine: a journey of gladiators, night shifts, and humanity
Becoming a doctor is often seen as a noble quest—a path filled with sacrifice, resilience, and the ultimate reward of helping others. We all start the same way: pre-med studies, endless exams, and the grueling four years of medical school. It’s a…
What The Far Side taught me about belonging in science
Perpetually late to the game, I was watching The Crown on my laptop Friday night, the wonderful episode set in the summer of 1969, when astronauts landed on the moon. While the world gazed into the heavens, series creator Peter Morgan looked around her…
Rising health insurance costs challenge small medical practices [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Family physician Tony Gerk discusses the article, “Even medical practices aren’t immune from the high cost of employer-provided health insurance.” In thi…
The cost of caring: How medicine is shortening the lives of women physicians
A recent Time magazine article, “Women Live Longer Than Men—But Not in Medicine,” confirmed what many of us have long felt in our bones: Being a woman in medicine comes at a cost. A staggering one. Women physicians are dying younger than ma…
Navigating long-term parental leave for fathers in medicine [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Neurohospitalist and clinical neurophysiologist Franklyn Rocha Cabrero discusses the article, “Missing prescription: long-term parental leave for fathers in medicine…
How a simple habit changed my entire medical career
It became my go-to daily practice and changed everything. Mondays and me: a rocky start For years, I dreaded Mondays. They felt like a tidal wave of catch-up work after the weekend. During fellowship, the schedule was structured so that one fellow cove…
How poor doctor-patient communication leads to worse outcomes [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Family physician Pamela Buchanan discusses her article, “How poor communication is killing patients and burning out doctors,” exploring the devastating impact …
Why friendships fade: Understanding the seasons of life
Recently, a close friend of mine reached out, expressing his frustration over our mutual friend, who, for some time now, has ignored his calls and messages. We spoke at length, the conversation charged with emotion, and the underlying theme of our exch…
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…
