What does it mean to make medicine your home when you don't have one? In this video, I share the journey of navigating medical school as a low-income student. From working through undergrad and post-bacc education to living out of my car during clinical rotations, I discuss the tough choices…
A heartbreaking incident that brought everything to light was the tragic death of a 39-year-old woman. She came to the hospital for what should have been a routine childbirth. After giving birth, she experienced severe bleeding. A device called an embolism coil might have saved her life, but none were…
We sit down with W. Ben Utley, a certified financial planner specializing in helping physicians navigate the unique financial challenges of their careers. We explore how doctors can break free from the pressure of paying off debt while maintaining strong relationships with their families, define what "enough money" truly means,…
Medicine can look like anyone. It doesn't have to be about starched linens and perfect ties. Everyone can become a physician, no matter their background. We need to break down the barriers and let people with diverse stories into the field. Reducing tuition, increasing grants and scholarshipsthese steps make it…
Witnessing the devastating effects of a company putting profits over patient care is heartbreaking. I've seen firsthand how reducing overhead to benefit stakeholders can neglect the very people who need help the most. Patients, families, and staff all suffered as essential resources dwindled under steward's ownership. Repairs that should have…
We sit down with family physician Emma Hostetter, who shares her deeply personal journey navigating the challenges of parenting a neurodivergent child with ADHD. Emma opens up about the emotional toll, the gaps between her medical knowledge and real-life experience, and the transformative shift in her parenting approach. Through reframing…
Feeling like my parenting was turning into a series of superstitious rituals, I started reflecting on why that might be. It reminded me of how high-performance athletes, like major league baseball players, rely on routines and superstitions to enhance their performance. Interestingly, research shows that these rituals not only improve…
Ever wondered what it's like to be on the front lines of healthcare? In this video, I share a unique perspective on the corporatization of healthcare, specifically at Stewart Hospitals. We, the front line providers, deliver over 90% of the care here and have witnessed firsthand the horrific suffering and…
We sit down with Laura Suttin, a family physician, to explore the emotional complexities of setting boundaries, especially in times of personal and professional pressure. Laura shares her deeply personal experience of caring for her aging rescue dog and how it became a pivotal moment in learning to prioritize her…
Are you noticing that your voice as a physician is finally being heard in the health IT space? It's certainly more valued now than when I first started. Back then, it felt like there was a wall against asking clinicians what they truly needed from healthcare IT systems. While some…
Why is it so hard to get what we really need in healthcare? Despite our local administration and hospital CEO acknowledging the need and wanting to support it, corporate always says no. In our recent contract negotiations, we pushed for a third nurse on night shifts. We asked repeatedly, but…
Join us for a conversation with Michelle Tollefson, a physician specializing in lifestyle medicine, obstetrics, and gynecology. Michelle shares her transformative experiences visiting Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula, one of the world's Blue Zones where people live longer, healthier lives. We'll explore how these communities' habits align with the principles of…
Feeling trapped in an understaffed and under equipped healthcare system? In this video, I share how transitioning to self-employment allowed me to optimize my workflow and regain control. Additionally, I reveal how investing in real estate and having the hospital rent my medical office created a steady stream of passive…
Patients admitted to the hospital can end up waiting in the emergency department for hours, sometimes even days. This delay occurs because the units where they should be admitted and safely cared for are not staffed. Chronic understaffing has resulted in preventable harm and even death. The Boston Globe recently…
Imagine working a night shift with no essential supplies and malfunctioning equipment. That's the reality we face every day, dealing with credit holds that stop deliveries and gear that's barely operational. Our IV pumps and computers fail us with battery lives lasting just seconds. On several nights, we ran out…
In this episode, we celebrate Women in Medicine Month with guest Janet A. Jokela, an internal medicine and infectious disease physician. We dive into the experiences and challenges women have faced across generations in medicine, from pioneers like Elizabeth Blackwell to today’s leaders. Janet shares personal stories of confronting gender…
Imagine facing a life-threatening emergency and finding out that the hospital is understaffed. On July 5th, 2023, I had to rush my 18-year-old son to the ER at Nashoba. He was diagnosed with new onset type one diabetes and was in diabetic ketoacidosis. Despite the excellent care from the staff,…
We sit down with Ben Reinking, a board-certified pediatric cardiologist, medical educator, and certified physician development coach, to explore the challenges and rewards of medical training. We dive into themes of delayed gratification, maintaining work-life balance, and how medical students can navigate the tension between professional identity and personal fulfillment.…
They portrayed us as a failing hospital to justify closure, but the real story runs much deeper. Corporate executives systematically deprived our hospital of essential resources for years. We lacked consistent gastroenterology, general surgery, urologists, and anesthesiologists. As a result, Neshoba had to transfer patients for care we could no…
Experiencing constant shortages of vital supplies and poorly maintained equipment is more than frustratingit's a crisis. Our emergency department faces frequent credit holds, leaving us without essential items like IV pumps and computers that fail within seconds. Working night shifts has exposed me to the harsh reality of running out…
Imagine walking into an emergency department and witnessing a chaotic scene where patients' lives hang in the balance due to sheer understaffing. An 81-year-old man with pancreatic cancer died because there were only 11 nurses available for 95 patients. In another case, a 28-year-old man in a mental health crisis,…
We sit down with Kevin Ramotar, a clinical psychologist and health care executive, to explore the evolving landscape of mental health care. We dive into the challenges of measuring therapeutic outcomes, the role of technology in improving access and care, and the rise of measurement-informed care. Kevin shares his insights…
Working in small rural hospital emergency rooms is a unique experience that challenges you in unexpected ways. Without the bells and whistles of a major medical center, you rely heavily on your skills and resourcefulness. These hospitals are slowly disappearing, being absorbed by larger systems and down converted to what…
Ever wondered how pre-op rituals can impact team performance in the operating room? In this video, I discuss the essential pre-operation checklist that we rely on to confirm patient details and ensure everyone is on the same page. We go through patient names, surgery locations, and other critical information, which…