Some of the most brilliantly funny men have the saddest personal lives. John Belushi, Chris Farley, and Sam Kinison were all preceded by Jerome Lester Horwitz, otherwise known as Curly of the Three Stooges: n’yuk-n’yuk-n’yuk. Why, soi…
Category: Psychiatry
Mastering the art of physician work-life balance [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! Join Sarah Samaan, a retired cardiologist and a Master Certified Physician Development Coach. We’ll delve into the complex world of work-life balance for physicians, exploring the dif…
The complexity of resilience and the role of medical improv
High incidences of burnout, quiet quitting, suicide, workplace violence, excessive and relentless stress, and chronic staffing shortages reveal a huge need for resilience among health care workers. Resilience is a complex competency involving flexibili…
Let’s close the gap between physician writers and writers who are physicians
“Oh, I didn’t know you’re a writer,” my neighbor said as I handed her a complimentary copy of my recently published book. “Not really,” I replied. “I’m just a physician who likes to write.” The conv…
From mental illness to maximum sentence
An excerpt from Mars Hospital: A Doctor’s Novel. “Patient’s ready. This one will be interesting,” Sally said with a smirk. “Mom brought her nineteen-year-old son in, and she says he’s the devil.” I rolled my ey…
The fine line between childhood illnesses and Munchausen syndrome by proxy
“Fine lines” in medicine often refer to situations where decisions are not clear-cut and require careful judgment. Perhaps the most tenuous of lines is the one between “real” childhood illnesses and those caused by Munchausen sy…
Adolescent exposure to alcohol may predispose to addiction
Have you ever wondered why some people always seem to be in pain? Or why someone can receive a prescription for a minor procedure and immediately feel drawn to drug use? Scientists may have recently figured out one of the reasons for these behaviors, a…
Meditation: the ancient practice with science-backed benefits
Meditation is a hot topic with deep roots, but sometimes it feels like it’s being pushed as a modern-day version of snake oil for what ails the spirit. Often touted as an antidote to burnout, many of us know that a meditation app won’t solv…
The significance of Mental Health First Aid in communities: a comprehensive exploration
In recent years, there has been an exponential growth in global awareness surrounding the subject of mental health. As it becomes increasingly evident that mental well-being is just as crucial as physical health, community interventions such as Mental …
Confirmation bias can lead to wrong conclusions
I met Dr. David Zylneck through a mutual friend when he was in the final year of his pediatrics residency. Even as a trainee, he was heavily involved in international relief work and had made several trips to Southern Africa. Over time, Dr. Zylneck and…
