“Don’t confuse your Google search with my medical degree.” We’ve all seen the mug and likely had a little chuckle. Maybe it has even recalled to mind a particular patient or encounter. Other than thinking of it as a snarky joke …
Category: primary care
The power of self-appreciation: Why physicians need to start acknowledging their own contributions
As Physicians Week and Doctors’ Day approach, I’m getting ready for the flurry of posts and memes that get shared on social media about the appreciation being extended to us. Whether it is from our patients, colleagues, or administration, t…
The endless waves of chronic illness
Life keeps buffeting the patient diagnosed with several chronic conditions, like continuous incoming and outgoing mammoth ocean waves flooding over one’s body, raising you high up into the air and then sucking you downward, a struggle to keep you…
The teacher who changed my life through reading
It is near summer now as I write this brief narrative. This time of year, when I turn on my car radio, I sometimes hear various individuals talking about summer reading, past or present. These programs got me thinking about Percy Holmes, or the late Pe…
Beyond the disease: the power of empathy in health care
They are not just sick people in need of care. They are people with lives, hopes, plans, and dreams. A day before they showed up, they may have dropped a son at school, taken a daughter to soccer practice, made dinner, had lunch with friends, done thei…
Rescuing primary care: the role of health administrators [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! We welcome Sara Pastoor, a family physician, and delve into the pressing issue of the primary care crisis in the U.S. health care system. With projections showing growth in the market for h…
Redefining success: a journey of self-discovery and fulfillment [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! We are joined by Ketan Kulkarni, a physician entrepreneur. We dive into the often-used but loosely defined word “success.” With the constant bombardment of images of success thr…
Breaking the stigma: Addressing the struggles of physicians
The state of health care in the U.S. is widely considered to be inadequate. I recently learned in an online class that family doctors in Canada only have 10 minutes per patient. I am unsure who sets or enforces this rule and it is unclear why anyone wo…
Life as a physician is sometimes like a runaway trailer
It was a hot day in Northern California, and my clothes were covered with the red dust of summer. At age 9, I couldn’t take a step on our property without grasshoppers launching themselves from the dry wheat grass. Colorful ladybugs were also out…
Navigating life’s zero-sum game: the struggles of health care professionals
Life is often viewed as a competition where resources and opportunities are limited. This is especially true for health care professionals, who must navigate the delicate balance between their professional responsibilities and their personal lives. The…
