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The quiet death of confidence
Have you ever walked into a hospital before shift change in the early morning hours? The lights are dimmer, there is scarce staff walking to their floors, and people are counting the minutes until the new staff comes. Most staff exist in this survival mode to get to the arrival of the new nurses. Sometimes […] More
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Advice to aspiring medical students on work-life balance
I recently met a student and aspiring surgeon who asked me if I was happy with anesthesiology and a career in medicine in general. I told him that aspiring to medicine is wonderful and that while I am indeed happy with my career choice, it does come with daily challenges, both professional and personal. This […] More
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How to find joy in prison
This question resonates in my mind each day I pass through the prison gatehouse. The gatehouse is a physical barrier and a mental one, separating the outside from the inside, seceding the lives of people who guard and care for inmates from the lives of those within. Each morning, the gatehouse is abuzz with activity […] More
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A physician takes maternity leave during the pandemic
I smiled as I waddled to the recovery room for the sixth time that day. Before maternity leave, my final case was completed; I left with my patients in trustworthy hands, and the loose ends tied up. As I walked to my car, I never imagined the circumstances I would return to 12 weeks later […] More
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Reforming the peer review process
In the middle of a busy week of balancing clinical, research, educational, administrative, and parental responsibilities, I receive an email request from a prominent journal to review a manuscript. If I agree, I will spend a couple of hours reading the manuscript, offering comments, and registering my opinion. Several weeks later, I’ll probably be asked […] More
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In the burnout epidemic, is mindfulness the new opioid?
At a recent annual exam for one of us (Walter), the medical assistant had checked heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and oxygen saturation. Inquiring cheerfully about the Fifth Vital Sign, she flashed the 10-point pain scale of emojis ranging from beaming to grimacing. The only mention-worthy pain was an occasionally aching meniscus from a forgettable […] More
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in Physician, Psychiatry
Film and television continue to depict psychiatrists as heartless swindlers
Garrett Rossi, MD | Physician | October 30, 2020 Have you ever watched a movie, television show, or read a book where the villain is a medical doctor? If you are a psychiatrist, you will be alarmed by how many times the villain in these stories turns out to be a psychiatrist. In all fairness, […] More
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Filling the cavity between dentistry and medicine
Given that October is National Dental Hygiene Month, today we’re going to take a look back at the history of dentistry, its separation from medicine, and the importance of bringing them together. A 2006 article in Nature magazine describes the discovery of nine people in a 7,500 to 9,000-year-old graveyard in Pakistan with eleven drilled […] More
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Do police officers get jaded over time, just like a lot of physicians do?
For many years and in disturbing frequency over the past few years, police brutality has been a big-ticket issue. The excessive use of force has led to innumerable acts of civil rights violation and, most tragically, the disproportionate death and destruction of innocent Black lives. There have been many debates on what to do to […] More
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A Black man’s self-worth in medicine
Do you remember what you dreamed of becoming as an adult? I do, and I recall my father telling me I could be anything I wanted to be. My dreams were shattered as soon as I stepped into a prison and I am still trying to pick up the pieces of my self-worth. “Wait, you’re […] More
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Why we’ll never eradicate malignancy in medical training
For a bunch of folks striving to stomp out malignant processes in our patients, we sure tolerate a fair amount of destructive behavior among training programs. I’ll be the first to say I’m not the most delicate flower in the garden. Before pursuing medicine, I was a college athlete. I’m no stranger to long hours, […] More
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The issue of tie-downs in the emergency department
During a typically busy Saturday evening shift in the emergency department (ED), I am summoned to the trauma room for a “tie-down,” an agitated patient needing restraints. I find the entrance choked with police officers and push my way through to see the patient. Once there, I see a large, young appearing Black man lying […] More