If I were to bet that the majority of physicians are familiar with that pit in their stomach—that sinking feeling of dread that comes with recognizing things aren’t going well—I’d probably win that bet. Contrary to collective wisdom, Wu (20…
Category: Psychiatry
How social media is shaping teen mental health and what we can do about it
As social media’s influence has surged, so too has the debate over its effects on psychological well-being. Once envisioned as a means to connect communities and amplify self-expression, these platforms are now under scrutiny for their potential …
How couples counseling helps break the cycle of conflict
Language is the architecture of our perception. It impacts the way we experience ourselves in relation to others, the moments that make up our daily lives, and why we emphasize one input while ignoring others. I first learned this in a linguistics cour…
Why abuse in health care is forcing doctors to leave the profession [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Psychiatrist Devina Maya Wadhwa discusses her article, “How abuse in health care is driving doctors out of medicine.” In this episode, Devina shares her experi…
How to get physician wellness programs funded: a proven path forward
For nearly two decades, I sat in meetings, listened to leadership discussions, and navigated the institutional maze of advocating for funding for physician wellness programs. I saw the hesitation. The skepticism. The “we don’t have the budg…
When health care professionals lose everything
Mid-step on the sky bridge, boarding my flight—the message lands. Raw. Desperate. A life breaking apart in real time: “I’ve been in health care my entire life. Surgical services. Because I spoke up against wrongdoing, stood up for myself, I…
From heroes to burnout: How we failed our frontline health workers
An excerpt from Health Care Nation. Of all the lessons learned from fighting a pandemic, none was more frightening or important than discovering how dependent the system is on how we treat our doctors, nurses, and frontline caregivers. They were alread…
How a customer relationship management tool (CRM) can help physicians regain control and beat burnout
As physicians, we dedicate our lives to helping others. We spend years training to diagnose, treat, and care for patients with a dream of feeling valued and helpful. Then, one day we find ourselves feeling increasingly overwhelmed by administrative wor…
Why I refuse to hide my emotions in a world afraid of love
I’m only sharing this story today to illustrate something about myself and my perspective on love: being expressive with it. I am not discussing only romantic love here. I’m talking about the affection we have for so many individuals around…
Why brutal honesty often backfires and what to do instead
A few years ago, I visited my brother and his family while I was still in school. I had run out of cash and needed to top up before starting our end-of-semester exams. My sister-in-law, a virtuous woman well-loved in our family, invited me to join her …
