The Podcast by KevinMD

"Touted by some as a 'great equalizer,' the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the forefront long-standing disparities in access to health for Black, Latinx, immigrant, and low-income communities. While we are all in this fight together, some are bearing the burden more than others. Studies have shown that Blacks in the United States are especially affected, with them being represented twice as often among COVID-19 deaths as they are in the population (13 percent of the population vs. 27 percent of COVID-19 deaths). In New York City (NYC), primarily Black and Latinx neighborhoods are being ravaged, while whiter and wealthier areas are seeing fewer cases and deaths. Furthermore, there has been a mass exodus from whiter and wealthier neighborhoods, while New York's Blacks, Latinxs, immigrants, and those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds have been unable to escape financial, mental, and literal suffocation by the virus." Aishwarya Raja is a medical student. Inginia Genao is an internal medicine physician. They share their stories and discuss their KevinMD article, "Unmasking inequality: the power of community organization during COVID-19." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/10/unmasking-inequality-the-power-of-community-organization-during-covid-19.html)

"Today and for the foreseeable future, COVID-19 is a serious threat, virulent and contagious, not only leading to an impressive display of human vulnerability and arrogance, but also demonstrating how innovative and creative humans can be during a time of crisis. On a daily basis, I am inspired by the outpouring of courage, empathy, and compassion, as well as the injection of original and mutated ideas that will govern the blueprint of our destiny. The truth is that the coronavirus has gone viral and, in so doing, opened the door to other remarkable evolutionary adaptations. Adaptations that will both thwart its virility and enhance our society's immunity, resilience, and long-term survivability.' Pringl Miller is a general surgeon. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "The new meaning of the phrase, 'going viral'." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/04/the-new-meaning-of-the-phrase-going-viral.html)

"I do want you all to know that shame is a very familiar brain track (like an 8-track tape, if you know what that is), but not one I am stuck in. The above experience of failing a class turned out to be amazing. I am now appreciative of how far I have come — of what I have learned, through much transformational therapy, mindfulness and coaching work. I am lucky enough to have a choice in my thoughts and to not disengage. I don't have to be stuck there. I can put it on speaker-phone with trusted individuals in my life. I can dedicate the work I do now to the memory of my patient and her family. I continue to heal and offer healing. Life is really an amazing tapestry with short fibers, longer fibers, many colors and most of all — each thread woven to make a perfect whole. It is when we feel stuck that guilt and shame can get the better of us, impacting all areas of our life. I am sharing this very personal story to make a difference with those stuck in the negative talk and the feeling that the core of who we are is not worthy. Enduring shame is associated with depression, anxiety, PTSD and addiction. Shedding light into the dark areas of thoughts we keep secret make a huge difference." Robyn Alley-Hay is an obstetrician-gynecologist and can be reached at her self-titled site, Dr. Robyn Alley-Hay. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "How shame almost ruined a physician's life." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2019/02/she-was-dead-how-shame-almost-ruined-a-physicians-life.html)

"Environmental cleaning rightfully plays a more prominent role within health care facilities to control the spread of other diseases, but even hospitals have overreacted when it comes to contact precautions for SARS-CoV-2. I recently went to get a flu shot from one of the hospitals I cover, and I couldn't help but think that several steps in this process seemed wasteful. Even though everyone was already masking and maintaining appropriate distance, recipients were each assigned one large desk and one pen to fill out the obligatory paperwork. Once complete, the pens went into a "dirty" cup, and a gloved staff member had to wipe down the pen, clean the entire desk surface and dispose of the cup before anyone else was allowed to use that station. Before I could sit down and receive the vaccine, I had to stand back and allow the administering nurse to wipe down the whole chair with isopropyl alcohol. We didn't go to these lengths before the pandemic, so why go over the top now for a virus that, for all intents and purposes, is not spread by contact?" Clayton Foster is an infectious disease physician and founder, AirborneID. He can be reached on Facebook and Twitter @AirborneID_CO. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "COVID transmission should not be a touchy subject." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/covid-transmission-should-not-be-a-touchy-subject.html)

"It has been over a month since I started this new hobby. I told my middle-school-aged daughter tonight, 'I am going to write a post about how ocean plastic picking has made me a better pediatrician.' She replied, 'You mean better than other pediatricians?' 'No, I mean a better pediatrician than I was before,' I answered in all seriousness. I know where her thoughts were coming from. I have always thought that anyone who makes it through the medical training process, including her mother, must have some level of narcissism and arrogance to make it and succeed. We have to convince parents, patients, and colleagues that we are just special enough to deserve their trust, their respect, and that we know what we are doing. Being mid-career, I certainly know I am competent. But the regular ritual of collecting ocean plastic has helped me be a better and more humble pediatrician." Vi Thuy Nguyen is a pediatrician who blogs at Dr. Plastic Picker. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "How ocean plastic picking made me a better pediatrician." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2019/12/how-ocean-plastic-picking-made-me-a-better-pediatrician.html)

"I am overwhelmed right now. I know I am not alone. I hear it in the voices of my friends, family, colleagues, patients. We are all feeling it. I am overwhelmed by this virus. There is so much to learn, so much to teach. Every day the information changes. Who is credible? Who is just shouting the loudest? It can be hard to sort, but it must be done. As I figure it out, I need to pass on the information in the most compassionate but clearest way possible, despite the naysayers. I am overwhelmed by our numbers. In my small county of about 40,000, we had two cases on March 22, ten on April 1, seventeen on May 1. We seemed to be doing ok. Then we climbed from 76 on June 1 to 196 on July 1. And as of July 8, we are up to 346. That's 150 in a week. That more in one week than we had in 3 months. And it is not just from testing more. Our hospital, COVID-free for weeks, is now seeing more and more COVID-19 patients not only in the ER but needing admission and serious treatment. The numbers are heart-stopping." Diana R. Twiggs is a family physician and can be reached at her self-titled site, Diana Twiggs, MD. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "I am overwhelmed right now. I know I am not alone." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/07/i-am-overwhelmed-right-now-i-know-i-am-not-alone.html)

"Each year, medical students across the country prepare to start the long-anticipated core clinical rotations. Suddenly, we're thrust into a world of constant adaptation and evaluation, with many highs and many lows. As I finish up the year and new students get ready to start, I've been asked time and time again for my advice. I decided to aggregate my key takeaways from the year, and what I wish I had been told." Netana Markovitz is a medical student. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "13 tips for medical students starting their clinical rotations." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/13-tips-for-medical-students-starting-their-clinical-rotations.html)

"We in medicine are experts in delayed gratification. We've been in school for what, about 21 years before residency? Then we finally become an attending. Then we can splurge a little. But still, we were told to hold back. Live like a resident. This is a great skill to have as an entrepreneur. Their world is tough. Countless working hours, low pay, myriad emotions, and a light at the end of the tunnel. Sounds just like residency, right? Now I know the idea of doing another residency doesn't sound that great, but it's possible. You've already survived one. Many even more than one or a fellowship. You have the power to do another if you wanted." Pranay Parikh is a hospitalist and can be reached at his self-titled site, Pranay Parikh. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD articles, "Doctors make bad entrepreneurs" (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/doctors-make-bad-entrepreneurs.html) and "Doctors make great entrepreneurs." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/doctors-make-great-entrepreneurs.html)

"What has become of medicine today? What has become of the sacred patient-physician relationship? What has become of medical offices- aren't they supposed to be healing places? Who goes to a medical clinic (no matter how Big the Name) to be insulted and diminished and hurt? What has become of physicians as stewards of healing? Why is this happening to us? How much have we been hurt, as doctors, to not be able to see past our own ego and agenda and use our hard-earned healing potential to harm instead of soothe and heal?" Corina Fratila is an endocrinologist. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Are physicians the stewards of healing that they are meant to be?" (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/10/are-physicians-the-stewards-of-healing-that-they-are-meant-to-be.html)

"I plan to reach out to climate organizations and see what I can do to get involved. Whether that means writing more op-eds like this one or writing to legislators, I now recognize that as part of the medical field, especially in regard to mental health, I have a role to play. I invite all of you in the medical field to join me in this effort. You can hear the rumblings in certain pockets that, just like with gun control, medicine should stay in its lane and not be involved in issues like climate advocacy. That's simply not a tenable stance. With a warming planet and without action, the human population will simply get sicker. That stands in direct conflict with our oath to "Do no harm." So again, get involved with the climate movement in the best way you know how. Our patients' and future patients' lives are on the line." Derek Wolfe is a medical student. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Dear medical community, it's time to engage in the climate movement." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/dear-medical-community-its-time-to-engage-in-the-climate-movement.html)