The Podcast by KevinMD

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How COVID changed this physician forever Mar 19, 2021

Show notes

"As a professional woman who most identifies as a physician more than any other title, I know that I run the risk of losing myself to this disease. I am not ignorant to the risk. I understand that my identity is supposed to be separate from my achievements and that my babies are supposed to make me value something greater than my career. But my oath runs through me in a way that I can only describe as visceral. And for this reason, the pain is that much worse. Because as much as I miss them. And as much as I miss me. I can't not keep going. Because they deserve the best we have to offer. And those of us who have stood here on the front lines for over 10 months know more than anyone else, that if we don't do it, then who will?"

Nicole M. King is an anesthesiologist.

She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "I keep going because I miss them. And I miss me." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/01/i-keep-going-because-i-miss-them-and-i-miss-me.html)

Executive presence for women leaders Mar 18, 2021

Show notes

"Research conducted by the Center for Talent Innovation (CTI), a nonprofit research organization in New York, defines the three pillars of executive presence (EP) as gravitas, communication, and image. Stated differently, EP reflects how you act, how you speak, and how you look. CTI concluded that when people are perceived as capable of becoming leaders, they are more likely to be promoted into leadership roles. This is particularly important for aspiring female leaders who continue to battle both conscious and unconscious gender bias.

Studies show that men are more often associated with leadership qualities and women with nurturing qualities. This forces women to confront the need to master an intricate balancing act that simultaneously conveys both softness and strength."

Nandita C. Gupta is a cardiologist.

She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Executive presence for women leaders." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/10/executive-presence-for-women-leaders.html)

Life in a rural emergency department during COVID Mar 17, 2021

Show notes

"I am grateful that I work in a small rural hospital that is like a family. I am grateful that my organization has done everything in its power to protect us… but I hope we can do better. I hope medical workers have enough left within them to give their all for the coming months. Now we are in November with cases on the rise throughout the country: I hope we are more prepared. As the medical community, we do everything we can to protect our patients, our loved ones, and ourselves. Life in the emergency department during COVID has been some of the most emotionally and physically taxing of my career, but I remain optimistic that there is hope."

Andrew Tisser is an emergency physician.

He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Life in the emergency department during COVID: a rural physician's perspective." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/11/life-in-the-emergency-department-during-covid-a-rural-physicians-perspective.html)

Weight stigma in children and teens Mar 16, 2021

Show notes

"Let's meet in the middle and listen to what's happening in communities. All across U.S. communities, there are pockets of promise and programs focused on family interventions, behavior change, and health disparities, but there are many obstacles to true change. Currently, the work relies on visionary champions within a community, but when the champion leaves the work, the work often goes away.

There is a lack of resources on every level, from public health, research, primary care, specialty care, and advocacy, especially to sustain and scale effective efforts. The burden of sustainability must not be placed on one champion's shoulders, but rather viewed as an opportunity for sustainability and must be a shared effort among multiple partners representing multiple sectors."

Karla Lester is a pediatrician.

She shares her story and discusses the KevinMD article, "When it comes to weight stigma in children and teens, let's meet in the middle." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/12/when-it-comes-to-weight-stigma-in-children-and-teens-lets-meet-in-the-middle.html)

Medical school interview secrets Mar 15, 2021

Show notes

"When you're applying to medical school, it's remarkable how much four years or more of intense work can come down to one single day. The medical school interview is high stakes: studies have found that interview performance is the most important factor in admissions decisions.

While your MCAT score and your GPA can help secure an interview invitation, it's your interview performance that matters most when it comes to acceptance to medical school.

I've advised many students who are prepping for their interviews, and what I've found is that overall they're great about avoiding certain common mistakes. They practice their handshake, know what to wear, and already researched the school's interview format.

But I've found that many talented and highly accomplished applicants still make several other (very common) mistakes in their interview preparation."

Rajani Katta is a dermatologist and author of Conquer the Medical School Interview and The Successful Match.

She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "5 common and commonly overlooked mistakes in the medical school interview." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/11/5-common-and-commonly-overlooked-mistakes-in-the-medical-school-interview.html)

A physician deals with uncertainty during the pandemic Mar 14, 2021

Show notes

"Despite forces not within our control, namely the thoughts and actions of others, headway has been made in my local practice area: the decline in mortality, the advances in clinical knowledge about the pathophysiology, more efficient testing, more PPE, an uprooting and great revealing of the need for prioritization of health care worker wellness, the impact of stress and isolation on health, the magnification of health care disparities, racism, and sexism, an opportunity for the interweaving connection of humanity for some, along with the stark divisiveness that continues to exist. But we get to choose how this pandemic plays out for us. I choose extreme caution, gratitude for this opportunity for temporary seclusion, an opportunity to recharge while reconnecting. I wait in the uncertainty."

Ni-Cheng Liang is a pulmonary physician and founder, the Mindful Healthcare Collective.

She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "A physician waits in uncertainty." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/11/a-physician-waits-in-uncertainty.html)

End the draconian hospital visitation policies during COVID-19 Mar 13, 2021

Show notes

"At the start of the pandemic when hospitals were overrun, testing and PPE were scarce, and unknowns about COVID-19 transmission abound, such restrictions were reasonable, perhaps even essential. But we have made progress since then; most hospitals test most if not all admitted patients for COVID-19; most Americans own a mask, and hospitals are able to provide to those without one. We must still take reasonable precautions. Allowing only one visitor at bedside, placing restrictions on movement of visitors throughout the hospital, and ensuring they practice social distancing from other hospital staff. With this, we can maintain patient and staff safety but also prioritize a part of care that is currently being undervalued.

And as hospitals and cities across the country continue to try and get a handle on the pandemic, we must also continually re-examine what aspects of care we determine to be essential and must preserve in some way. And we must realize that family at the bedside is part of that essential care our patients need to heal."

Taimur Safder is a cardiology fellow.

He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "It's time to end draconian hospital visitation policies during COVID-19." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/02/its-time-to-end-draconian-hospital-visitation-policies-during-covid-19.html)

What this physician says to vaccine-doubters Mar 12, 2021

Show notes

"A scientific achievement can never have success on its own unless if it has acceptance in the social context by the masses. I think that the concerns brought forward by the vaccine-doubters cannot be dismissed as ignorance, and it is hard to convince people. As a physician, it is not uncommon that I see a patient become indecisive and anxious about various treatment decisions facing them. I don't shy away from asking them to put their faith in me as their physician at moments like this. There is a simple strategy that makes the decision-making relatively easier, and that is to think of each patient as your own family member and recommend to them what you would want done if they were your own mother or grandfather. When presented this way, it usually goes very well with the patient, and a bond of trust is built, which ends up in successful care for the patient.

I would say the same thing to a vaccine-doubter. If I am being vaccinated myself as a health care worker and if I agree to vaccinate my children, please trust me that you should do the same."

Farhan S. Imran is a hematology-oncology physician.

He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "What this physician says to vaccine-doubters." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/12/what-this-physician-says-to-vaccine-doubters.html)

Addiction medicine during COVID-19 Mar 11, 2021

Show notes

"The rapid change-over to telemedicine in March of 2020 brought predictable challenges to health care at large and substance use disorder treatment in particular: patients without the skill set to navigate HIPAA-compliant apps, phones with too little smarts to handle video conferencing, lack of connectivity in rural and economically depressed areas. But telemedicine brought unexpected benefits: the no-show rate plummeted. Patients were more empowered by their own motivation to engage in care than limited by bus schedules' vagaries. Suboptimal face-to-face interactions among individuals in the throes of addiction (otherwise known as "mayhem in the parking lot") ceased immediately.

Most of all, telemedicine mitigates the stigma associated with substance use treatment."

Julie Craig is an addiction medicine specialist.

She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Telemedicine reduces the stigma in substance use disorder patients." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/12/telemedicine-reduces-the-stigma-in-substance-use-disorder-patients.html)

Using technology for behavioral health integration Mar 10, 2021

Show notes

"While behavioral health integration (BHI) has been a long-standing conversation in collaborative care or health's team-based approach, it hasn't always been clearly defined and rarely means more than referring a patient in need to a specialist. The biggest shift over the past twenty years has simply been recognizing just how vital behavioral health is to overall wellness.

To effectively and efficiently achieve true BHI, we must engage people in the digital age we currently live in. This modernization begins with innovative technology at its core to drive connected care."

Chris Molaro is a health care entrepreneur and CEO, Neuroflow.

He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Pandemic or not, we're failing patients when it comes to behavioral health." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/11/pandemic-or-not-were-failing-patients-when-it-comes-to-behavioral-health.html)

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