The Podcast by KevinMD

"Dr. Good's willing intervention and active interest in my development kept me in medical school and led me to become an academic anesthesiologist. When his career took a turn toward administration, his mentor, Dr. J. S. Gravenstein, took over. He convinced me to stay at the University of Florida, and a couple of years later, when I mentioned a need for a good introductory anesthesia textbook geared to medical students, he suggested we co-write one. So we did. Writing Essential Anesthesia: From Science to Practice together was an incredible journey. Not just through selecting topics and writing and choosing diagrams and writing and working with publishers and proofs and reviews, but through his innumerable stories about the evolution of anesthesia during his career and the story of his remarkable life. But that's a topic for another article, or a full-length book, or series, on its own. Sadly, Dr. J. S. Gravenstein did not live to see the publication of the 2nd Edition of our book. Instead, two of his sons wrote it with me. But Dr. Gravenstein made me into the educator I became." Tammy Euliano is an anesthesiologist and author of Fatal Intent. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "The inestimable value of a mentor." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/02/the-inestimable-value-of-a-mentor.html)

"I realized that training in psychiatry would give me the opportunity to understand suicide far better, and hopefully allow me to make a difference at an earlier stage. My exposure to psychiatry in medical school was clearly not enough. I was ill-equipped to fully grasp when individuals begin to have thoughts of suicide and when those thoughts progress into planning or researching methods – and then acting on them. As I thought back to the numbers of dead-on-arrival patients that I attended to in Detroit – dead by overdoses, self-inflicted gunshot wounds or stabbings, electrocution, asphyxia, drowning or jumping from tall buildings – I knew that I wanted to do more than pronounce people and fill out death certificates. Becoming a psychiatrist could help me save some of these despairing souls." Michael F. Myers is a psychiatrist and author of Becoming a Doctors' Doctor: A Memoir. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Training in psychiatry would give me the opportunity to understand suicide far better." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/01/training-in-psychiatry-would-give-me-the-opportunity-to-understand-suicide-far-better.html)

"Medical professionals face uniquely challenging pressures. Our work itself is extremely demanding, and always has high stakes for those we care for. External circumstances that impact our work carry uncertainties that add more stress. Constantly feeling targeted as the financial solutions to greater health system issues compounds our burden. While some choose to talk about their struggles openly, many stay silent and suffer in solitude. There is reluctance to share for fear of being judged negatively in some way. This culture of silence is harmful, and it works against medical professionals' wellness. It is time that we address our difficulties head-on." Nina Ahuja is an ophthalmologist and author of Stress in Medicine: Lessons Learned Through My Years as a Surgeon, from Med School to Residency, and Beyond. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "The culture of silence works against medical professionals' wellness." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/02/the-culture-of-silence-works-against-medical-professionals-wellness.html)

"I hope being a parent will now equip me to be a better pediatrician. I hope I can teach them whatever I know about safe sleeping, breastfeeding, and newborn care, but I also hope to acknowledge the reality and struggles of parenting. I hope my statements and recommendations do not sound generic and rehearsed. I hope I can tell them every child is different and will not follow the book. I hope I can be more understanding and empathetic towards the angry and worried parents and applaud them all for what an amazing job they are doing. I hope they can remember me as a friendly face who understands their struggles and not just their doctor who tells them what to do." Saba Fatima is a pediatric hospitalist. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Being a pediatrician did not prepare me for parenting." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/01/being-a-pediatrician-did-not-prepare-me-for-parenting.html)

"As I approached retirement from medical practice, I had an epiphany to take up writing and attended the Harvard CME course on Writing, Publishing, and Social Media for Healthcare Professionals. I met some extraordinary people working in the health care universe who wanted to share their insights. Through my writing as an advocate for patients and physicians on popular social media platforms, I landed a new job. I was recruited by the CEO of a health care startup to become the director of digital health communications. Sharing my experiences as a physician and helping tell the stories of the many professionals with whom I collaborate, I feel a new sense of pride in the work that I do. I am no longer personally delivering medical care, but I know what physicians go through. I intend to make their insights known to a broader audience than might be heard in grand rounds at a hospital. That is my new mission, communicating the connection between patients and physicians, a relationship that requires trust above all else. It's never too late." Paul Pender is an ophthalmologist and can be reached at his self-titled site, Dr. Paul Pender. He is the author of Rebuilding Trust in Healthcare: A Doctor's Prescription for a Post-Pandemic America. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "It's never too late for physicians to change directions and land new jobs." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/02/its-never-too-late-for-physicians-to-change-directions-and-land-new-jobs.html)

"As if COVID-19 weren't bad enough during the pandemic, another public health crisis – substance use disorder (SUD) – has gone from bad to worse, while access to behavioral health services is shrinking. As of September, more than half (52%) of community behavioral health organizations have seen an increase in demand for services, and half of those that offer SUD services saw their demand jump in the previous three months. At the same time, due to lack of revenue or pandemic-related restrictions, 65% have had to cancel programs, reschedule, or turn patients away. Nearly 40% of these organizations reported they may not last six months, given the revenue shortfalls." Nishi Rawat is a critical care and emergency physician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "The COVID-19 vaccine won't solve major substance use disorder treatment gaps." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/12/the-covid-19-vaccine-wont-solve-major-substance-use-disorder-treatment-gaps.html)

"With my natural affinity for numbers, I analyzed the reviews' precise impact after a few years, and the results were astounding. The system generated over $225,000 during a 3-year period. My practice acquired 162 new 5-star reviews on Google, and my partner and I generated over 200 5-star reviews on Yelp. I calculated that each 5-star review was 'worth' over $900 to my practice in the form of new referrals, and the overall return on investment was 1,900 percent. Needless to say, it was a huge success." Orrin Franko is an orthopedic surgeon and hand specialist. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "How 5-star reviews generated over $225,000 in revenue for my practice." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/01/how-5-star-reviews-generated-over-225000-in-revenue-for-my-practice.html)

"You're a clinician. You had a patient die under your care, and now your hospital is being sued. You are not named in the lawsuit, but you are being asked to give a deposition. How much of your time is this going to take? If some lawyer sends you thousands of pages to review before scheduling multiple phone calls and prep sessions and, finally, a deposition under oath … what do you say? What is your obligation to testify in court as a scientific expert?" Judy Melinek is a forensic pathologist and CEO, PathologyExpert Inc. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "What to do when physicians get subpoenaed as witnesses." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2019/07/what-to-do-when-physicians-get-subpoenaed-as-witnesses.html)

"If you are happy with where you are in the current system – that is wonderful, continue what you are doing. However, if you are feeling trapped, frustrated, or like the work you are doing is no longer meaningful, then there are plenty of opportunities for you to get out of the system. Start looking at your options – start learning about them and looking for opportunities now. Whether you end up deciding on an alternative clinical career, a nonclinical career within medicine, or a career outside of medicine altogether – you have the skills you need to succeed as long as you are persistent. There are options if you want to stay employed and opportunities to start your own business. The critical thinking skills, listening skills, and drive to succeed that you need to survive training to become a physician can help you create a career that will support you and your family and allow you to live a fulfilling life. The first step is to start." Nithya Natrajan is a family physician and can be reached at Blossoming Mamas. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "How this physician escaped the system." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/02/how-this-physician-escaped-the-system.html)

"When faced with an existential crisis, any organization, as large as a nation or as small as a marriage, will go one of two ways. Either it will bond together, coalesced in a common purpose, or it will collapse in a spasm of blame and shame. While our health care institutions displayed the inestimable value of coalescence, our political leaders demonstrated the catastrophic impact of divisiveness. And our national statistics confirm the result. More than a half million deaths to date from a preventable pandemic. Is there any hope for our nation? Can we learn an important lesson from the health care industry? Can we find the will to coalesce as health professionals have done? I believe we can. We have done so many times in our history, and the current administration is already displaying a penchant for facing the truth, learning from science, and promoting the collaboration needed to overcome our common foe. Coalescence. Let's support our leaders in this welcome change." Nate Link is chief medical officer, Bellevue Hospital, New York City, NY, and author of The Ailing Nation: Lessons from the Bedside for America's Leaders. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Responding to the COVID pandemic: a lesson in coalescence." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/02/responding-to-the-covid-pandemic-a-lesson-in-coalescence.html)