During my last inpatient admission one month before medical school graduation, an attending told me, “You talk about yourself like it’s one of your patients.” That’s exactly how it often felt (and still feels) to my brain. ̶…
Category: Psychiatry
Unlocking the hidden link between trauma and chronic pain [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Join us as we delve into the often-overlooked connection between trauma and chronic pain. Our guest, Cindy Perlin, a social worker, sheds light on how unresolved trauma co…
How the time-honored tradition of a baseball catch became a “test” for a brain injury
I find myself becoming more passionate with age, swept into a sea of emotions during certain movie scenes, and even crying during my favorite rock songs as the lyrics and melody crescendo and become one. The brain’s ability to adapt and change ov…
The doctor’s struggle: How prescription opioids can lead to addiction
In the heart of America, the opioid epidemic continues to surge, claiming lives and livelihoods with an unrelenting grip. While many believe that addiction stems from illicit drug use, a significant portion of opioid addictions actually begin with a pr…
A physician’s reflection: Is it time to pass the torch?
I was at a meeting discussing issues concerning upcoming audits by various regulatory agencies and noticed a change that made me aware of the fact that many years have come and gone since I started this journey in administrative and public psychiatry. …
Naloxone: a life-saving tool that needs an upgrade [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Join us on this episode as we delve into the complexities of the opioid crisis with David I. Deyhimy, an addiction medicine specialist and founder of MYMATCLINIC. Together…
Appreciate the people in your life: How simple words can make a big difference
One of my all-time favorite quotes from the original Star Trek episodes (“Balance of Terror”) is spoken by Dr. McCoy to Captain Kirk: “In this galaxy, there’s a mathematical probability of three million Earth-type planets. And i…
The troubling trend of violating resident physician rights
Resident physicians are vital to the health care system, delivering essential medical services while training to become fully licensed doctors. However, a troubling trend has emerged nationwide, with residency programs and hospitals frequently violatin…
Ensure your physicians always have crisis support: 5-step awareness program
Physician leaders: Are you committed to doing everything you possibly can to prevent physician suicide? This CHAP is how you answer that question. This document contains two steps that will ensure you do everything possible to be there for your people …
How one patient’s death transformed my approach to mental health care
Prior to working as a nurse practitioner, I worked as a psychiatric registered nurse in an inpatient behavioral health setting, caring for individuals with severe mental illness (SMI). Individuals with SMI die ten to twenty years earlier than the gener…
