Pediatrician and holistic wellness expert Noemi Adame discusses her article, " Having a female doctor is better for your health, but not for hers ." She highlights research indicating patients often experience better outcomes—including lower mortality, readmission, and post-surgical complication rates—when treated by female physicians, potentially linked to factors like longer visits and stronger adherence to guidelines. However, Noemi contrasts this with the significant personal toll on female ...
May 15, 2025•18 min
Hematology-oncology physician Yousuf Zafar discusses his article, " The personalization of cancer care in 2025 ." He traces the evolution of cancer treatment over the past two decades, moving through waves of cytotoxic chemotherapy, biologic therapies, immunotherapies including groundbreaking CAR-T therapy, and now precision oncology, which targets treatments to the specific molecular profile of a patient's cancer. While these advancements have significantly improved survival and quality of life...
May 14, 2025•16 min
Health care executive Blake Walker discusses his article, " From caregivers to collectors: Navigating the new landscape of patient payments ." He describes a perfect storm impacting provider groups: the significant rise in patient financial responsibility due to high-deductible health plans, the growth of health care consumerism where patients demand better experiences (with up to 50 percent willing to switch providers over billing issues), and the overwhelming administrative burden placed on st...
May 13, 2025•22 min
Orthopedic surgeon Adil S. Ahmed discusses his article, " Academic medical centers under threat: the impact of funding cuts ." He outlines the essential, multifaceted roles of academic institutions in educating future doctors, conducting vital biomedical research, and providing complex care, often for underserved populations—functions distinct from private equity-driven health care models. The conversation highlights the critical dependence of these centers on funding, grants, and donations, par...
May 12, 2025•19 min
Cardiologist Stanley Liu discusses his article, " 5 steps to ride out a non-compete without uprooting your family ." He shares his personal experience of being bound by an 18-month, 20-mile non-compete clause after leaving an academic cardiology position and outlines the strategic steps he took to navigate this period without relocating his family. Key points include the critical importance of building a substantial worst-case scenario fund for financial security during negotiations or unemploym...
May 11, 2025•20 min
Pediatrician and certified coach Jessie Mahoney discusses her article, " Why physicians find negotiating challenging—and what they can do to negotiate better ." She explores why negotiation often feels stressful for physicians, linking it to medical training that emphasizes service, self-sacrifice, and conflict avoidance over self-advocacy, particularly impacting women. Drawing from her own experiences and coaching work, Jessie shares eleven actionable strategies designed to help physicians nego...
May 10, 2025•22 min
Anesthesiologist and psychotherapist Maire Daugharty discusses her article, " Why real therapy isn’t just about crisis ." She challenges the common misconception that therapy is only necessary or effective during acute crises ("crisis-hopping"), explaining that this view can lead to premature termination—a "flight to health"—when underlying work remains. Maire emphasizes that periods of calm in therapy are essential for integrating positive changes, processing accomplishments, and solidifying sh...
May 09, 2025•21 min
Physical therapist and food allergy advocate Lianne Mandelbaum discusses her article, " Flying with food allergies: Combating misconceptions and advocating for safety ." Sharing harrowing personal experiences with dismissive airline staff that ignited her advocacy work with No Nut Traveler, she highlights the pervasive fear and inadequate safety measures faced by food-allergic passengers globally. Lianne discusses concerning findings, such as a study showing 31 percent of passengers sometimes do...
May 08, 2025•24 min
Internal medicine physician Kara Pepper discusses her article, " From burnout to balance: 5 stages of career transformation ." Drawing from her own journey away from burnout and her experience coaching hundreds of physicians, she outlines five predictable stages doctors often traverse when seeking more autonomy, purpose, and sustainability in their work. Kara describes the progression from Stage 1: Stuck, where burnout feels inescapable, through Stage 2: Noticing, acknowledging the need for chan...
May 07, 2025•17 min
Family physician Atharva Joshi discusses his article, " How the system hunts physicians who refuse to kneel ." He argues that the health care system often targets minority physicians not through overt actions but via subtle, bureaucratic processes—a form of systemic discrimination based on culture or perceived difference, which he terms a "hunt." Drawing from personal experience and observations, Atharva contends this marginalization is a widespread issue affecting many physicians deemed "Other....
May 06, 2025•17 min
Management consultant and author Roger A. Gerard discusses his article, " 10 ways health care leaders sabotage their own success—and how to stop ." He identifies common, often unintentional, ways health care leaders undermine their credibility and effectiveness, frequently due to a lack of formal leadership training. Roger outlines ten key pitfalls, including failing to clarify priorities, attempting to motivate rather than listen to already dedicated staff, treating professionals as liabilities...
May 05, 2025•23 min
Pediatric neurologist Paige Kalika discusses her article, " Why ADHD kids struggle and how we can truly help ," sharing insights from her perspective as a pediatric neurologist and parent of a child with ADHD. She outlines compassionate ways to talk to children about ADHD, starting by validating their efforts ("Are you trying harder?") and explaining that ADHD affects focus, not intelligence or worth. Paige emphasizes the importance of diagnosis as a tool to counteract negative self-labels ("laz...
May 04, 2025•24 min
Research scientist Nichole Cubbage discusses her article, " The silent grief of vanishing twin syndrome: Why words matter in health care ." She explains that Vanishing Twin Syndrome (VTS), the loss of one fetus in a multiple pregnancy, often leads to unique and isolating grief, frequently unacknowledged by health care providers. Nichole shares findings from her research indicating significant dissatisfaction among patients regarding provider communication and the information received about VTS, ...
May 03, 2025•17 min
Historian and ethicist Nigel Cameron discusses his article, " C. Everett Koop's fearless fight against the tobacco industry ," drawn from his biography of the former U.S. surgeon general. He recounts how C. Everett Koop, initially facing ridicule and expected to be ineffective, strategically used the 1982 Surgeon General's report on smoking to dramatically reshape his public image and intensify the fight against Big Tobacco. Nigel details the pivotal press conference where Koop forcefully presen...
May 02, 2025•20 min
Physician executive Grace E. Terrell discusses her article, " Physicians must innovate and focus on medicine's core, not chores ." She introduces the concept of "core vs. chore," urging health care workers to distinguish essential patient care duties from the administrative tasks that often dominate their time, exemplified by an incident where staff prioritized EHR procedures over immediate patient needs. Grace highlights how poorly designed technology like EHRs, regulatory demands, and ineffici...
May 01, 2025•19 min
Nurse anesthetist Christine King discusses her article, " The heartbreaking pandemic story I will never forget ." Reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic five years later, she shares the profound impact of collective trauma through personal and professional lenses. Christine recounts a moving encounter with a musician patient who endured extreme isolation and depression during the pandemic, revealing that only his responsibility towards his cats kept him from suicide. She discusses the emotional tol...
Apr 30, 2025•16 min
Family physician Jay K. Joshi discusses his article, " Why patients and doctors are ditching insurance for personalized care ." He explains that as traditional insurance becomes less accessible and covers fewer proactive and preventive services, both patients and physicians are seeking alternatives. Jay outlines a direct-pay model, often focused on functional medicine approaches like metabolic optimization, hormone therapy, and advanced diagnostics, which strategically integrates financial plann...
Apr 29, 2025•19 min
Communications consultant and attorney Heather Hansen discusses her article, " Why every doctor needs a translator ." Drawing on her background as a medical malpractice defense attorney, she explains the "curse of knowledge," where physicians, once expert, find it difficult to imagine not knowing complex medical information, leading to communication barriers with patients. Heather argues that doctors must become effective "translators" of medical jargon into plain language, noting that research ...
Apr 28, 2025•17 min
Palliative care physician and author Alen Voskanian discusses his article, " Discover the secrets to regaining joy in medicine ," based on an excerpt from his book. Drawing from his personal experience with burnout where he felt isolated and like a failure within the demanding medical industry, Alen strongly emphasizes that burnout is a common result of a broken health care system, not an individual failing. He offers key advice points for physicians and health care workers: recognize burnout is...
Apr 27, 2025•19 min
Internal medicine physician Edward Hoffer discusses his article, " Can rural health care be saved? " He outlines the significant health care disparities facing rural communities, including higher death rates from major diseases, increased opioid overdoses, ongoing hospital closures, and an aging physician workforce without adequate replacement. Edward questions the effectiveness of programs like the Critical Access Hospital designation, suggesting they may sometimes support lower-quality care, a...
Apr 26, 2025•17 min
Health care attorney Dennis Hursh discusses his article, " What every physician should know before buying into a medical practice ." He emphasizes that while receiving an offer to buy into a practice is typically a significant honor and opportunity, physicians must perform thorough due diligence to avoid potential pitfalls. Dennis advises physicians and their legal counsel to meticulously review corporate governance documents, watching for unequal voting rights or tiered partnership structures t...
Apr 25, 2025•20 min
Child psychiatrist and entrepreneur Marissa Caudill discusses her article, " How a customer relationship management tool (CRM) can help physicians regain control and beat burnout ." She argues that a significant driver of physician burnout is the lack of control within systems that prioritize metrics and administrative tasks over meaningful patient connections, leaving doctors feeling overwhelmed and disconnected. Marissa proposes that physicians can regain control and find more joy by implement...
Apr 24, 2025•18 min
Physician assistant David Olson discusses his article, " Taking a break from medicine: a journey to rediscover joy and purpose ." He describes feeling trapped in an unhealthy, borderline abusive relationship with medicine, citing normalized disrespect, intense pressure from employers focused on metrics over provider wellbeing, and the demoralizing impact of system failures, particularly during and after COVID-19. David shares his experiences with dwindling job satisfaction as a hospitalist facin...
Apr 23, 2025•15 min
Physician advocate and physical therapist Kim Downey, physician coach Erin Hurley, and patient advocate Dawn Veselka discuss their article, " Spreading hope one card at a time: How small acts of kindness can make a big difference for doctors ." They highlight the emotional toll of medicine, noting a concerning shift in how physicians describe their work—from fulfilling to exhausting and demoralizing—contributing to burnout rates near 50 percent and high suicide rates. Kim, Erin, and Dawn champio...
Apr 22, 2025•20 min
Interventional physiatrist Francisco M. Torres discusses his article " The key to longevity: fitness, mindset, and nutrition ." He challenges societal assumptions about inevitable decline after age sixty, arguing that joy, vitality, and strength can thrive with the right approach. Francisco emphasizes a combination of factors: tailored fitness routines incorporating strength, cardiovascular, and flexibility exercises; listening to the body and finding personal joy in movement; and prioritizing n...
Apr 21, 2025•17 min
Practicing internist and psychiatrist Muhamad Aly Rifai discusses his article " Criminalizing care: How the system turned on physicians ." He argues that physicians, historically pillars of trust, are increasingly being targeted and criminalized under regulations like the Controlled Substances Act and health care fraud statutes. Muhamad details several cases, including those of Drs. Sachy, Kousa, and Anand, as well as his own acquittal on federal fraud charges, to illustrate how medical judgment...
Apr 20, 2025•15 min
General surgeon Arthur Williams discusses his article " A surgeon's battle with ketamine-induced hallucinations ." He shares an account from his novel of an experience needing a pacemaker for a "janky heart" prone to atrial fibrillation and bradycardia (sick sinus node), complicated by a low ejection fraction. Arthur vividly describes the anxiety and vulnerability of being a surgeon on the patient side of the gown, his candid and sometimes critical inner thoughts during interactions with the nur...
Apr 19, 2025•15 min
Internal medicine and infectious disease physician and author Joshua D. Hartzell discusses his article " Leading with care: How health care leadership can transform patient and provider well-being ." He addresses the crisis of burnout and attrition in health care, arguing that leaders often fail to extend the same level of care to their teams as they do to patients. Joshua introduces "caring-inspired leadership," an evidence-based approach where every leadership action centers on caring for the ...
Apr 18, 2025•20 min
Surgeon and author Jeffrey A. Singer discusses his article " The FDA's outdated prescription rules are failing women and opioid users ." He argues that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's requirement for prescriptions for certain safe medications, specifically hormonal contraceptives and the opioid antidote naloxone, creates significant barriers to access and reflects outdated paternalism. Jeffrey highlights that obtaining prescriptions for birth control pills adds cost and inconvenience, di...
Apr 17, 2025•23 min
Health care executive Gavin Magaha discusses his article " Advancing drug discount programs starts with collaboration and clarity ." He outlines how the 340B drug discount program, established over 30 years ago, has not evolved with modern health care delivery, leading to complexity, poorly defined standards, compliance issues, and misaligned incentives that hinder its original intent to serve vulnerable patients. Gavin highlights challenges like the outdated package-based discount model, the us...
Apr 16, 2025•19 min
