The Podcast by KevinMD

"It's time to flip the script on evaluations. How can we shine a light upon the strengths of the wonderful peers we are blessed to work with? How can we amplify their greatness, help them work in their own zone of genius? How can we recognize that we all have different, complementary strengths that overlap so that there are no weaknesses; there are just different approaches or different strengths to mobilize? When we are all working in our own zones of genius, that's where we create a culture of well-being." Wendy Schofer is a pediatrician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "It's time to flip the script on peer evaluations." Did you enjoy today's episode? Rate and review the show so more audiences can find The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out. Click here to earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME for this episode. Also available in Category 1 CME bundles. Powered by CMEfy - a seamless way for busy clinician learners to discover Internet Point-of-Care Learning opportunities that reward AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info

"It is a time to ponder on those essential questions: What is your purpose in life, and how can you follow it? What talents can you share with the world, and what are you grateful for? When we deviate from this true calling, when we deviate from love, from creativity, our spiritual crisis occurs. Our body breaks down with negative thought patterns, pain and illness. Even though burnout is the end-stage symptom of chronic stress, it is, in essence, the deviation of our spiritual self. How do we reverse this? We begin to ask ourselves the essential spiritual questions. When we practice them during the time of introspection/quiet/meditation/prayer on asserting our truths of being loving, joyful and creative beings, the process begins and continues. Stress and creativity cannot co-exist. We cannot wait until our health crisis or until we hit rock bottom, deviating into greed, anger, shame or lust. That is not our nature. We must prioritize time to get back to our true selves and, as Gandhi said, "be the change" we want to see in this world: be love, be joy, be creation." Diana Londoño is a urologist and can be reached on Twitter @DianaLondonoMD. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Burnout is a spiritual crisis." Did you enjoy today's episode? Rate and review the show so more audiences can find The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out. Click here to earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME for this episode. Also available in Category 1 CME bundles. Powered by CMEfy - a seamless way for busy clinician learners to discover Internet Point-of-Care Learning opportunities that reward AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info

"2022 is well underway, and we are still unclear about exactly where this virus is headed and what the lasting impact it will have had on all of us. We have self-driving cars, drones delivering food, and most of us spend our entire day on video calls, and the rest on social media. Who knows what innovations will emerge next year (or, to be cynical, the next pandemic). I am all for the conveniences offered to us by innovation and forward-thinking companies, but I hope we can come to an understanding that a 'one size fits all' approach to health care should be a non-starter. While it may work for some people in some situations, trying to make every aspect of health care as virtual as possible will likely lead to disillusionment, uncertainty, or indifference – not things anyone should experience when discussing their health care. And to put aside all technical or logistical concerns, some people just appreciate the importance of touch and connection. It is, as they say, what makes us human." Shruti Singal is an emergency physician and health care executive. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Virtual care is convenient, but is it better for everyone?" Did you enjoy today's episode? Rate and review the show so more audiences can find The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out. Click here to earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME for this episode. Also available in Category 1 CME bundles. Powered by CMEfy - a seamless way for busy clinician learners to discover Internet Point-of-Care Learning opportunities that reward AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info

"It's been over twenty years since clinical inertia was coined a term, and since that time, experts have debated on how to define it, and where and when it exists across the treatment paradigm. Every year, scores of information cross HCP's desks on clinical inertia, but when it comes to your patients, how do you determine whether your decisions to delay treatment intensification are clinical inertia or 'appropriate inaction?' And what about obesity? Individualizing treatment targets for patients with diabetes requires a comprehensive approach to minimize associated morbidity and mortality. Because most patients with T2DM are overweight or obese, effective glucose control and weight loss are needed to reduce cardiovascular risk factors and other complications of T2DM. However, misconceptions about the causes and mechanisms of obesity, and the false assumption that patients can manage their weight with simple behavioral modifications, contribute to ongoing clinical inertia in patients with diabetes." Visit the CME activity and Clinical Inertia Assessment Tool. Donna Ryan is professor emerita at Pennington Biomedical in Baton Rouge, LA. Robert Kushner is professor of medicine and medicine education at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and director of the Center for Lifestyle Medicine in Chicago, IL. This episode is sponsored by the Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning, an independently owned and operated full-service medical education company that has been developing certified health care education for nearly twenty years. Visit the CME activity and Clinical Inertia Assessment Tool.

"When people think of eating disorders, the image is often of an emaciated, white teenage girl in the hospital hooked up to feeding tubes. In fact, eating disorders are varied in how they present in a person, and they certainly do not 'look' a certain way. Eating disorders occur in all cultures, ethnicities, age groups, genders, and socioeconomic groups. Eating disorders do not discriminate. So, no, eating disorders do not 'look' a certain way, and you cannot tell by looking at a person if they for sure have an eating disorder." Melissa Geraghty is a psychologist and can be reached on Twitter @mindfuldrg. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "3 eating disorder myths that health care professionals should debunk." Did you enjoy today's episode? Rate and review the show so more audiences can find The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out. Click here to earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME for this episode. Also available in Category 1 CME bundles. Powered by CMEfy - a seamless way for busy clinician learners to discover Internet Point-of-Care Learning opportunities that reward AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info

"If we want to alleviate the fatigue and frustration women physicians are experiencing, we can always start by solving two old problems: (1) All doctors need fewer bureaucratic tasks forced upon them, and (2) women physicians must be able to work in environments free of harassment and discrimination. There's yet another solution that must come from outside the workplace. The spouses and partners of women physicians must confront any gender inequalities that may exist within their relationship. It would be impossible for anyone to work eight extra hours each week at home — on top of a busy work schedule — without experiencing greater exhaustion, cynicism, and feelings of detachment (a.k.a. burnout). We know from the data that occupational burnout harms personal relationships. If not addressed, it will continue to add stress to doctors' home lives. But physicians must also recognize that gender inequality at home strongly contributes to burnout in the workplace. It, too, must be addressed." Robert Pearl is a plastic surgeon and author of Uncaring: How the Culture of Medicine Kills Doctors and Patients. He can be reached on Twitter @RobertPearlMD. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Gender inequality is making burnout worse." Did you enjoy today's episode? Rate and review the show so more audiences can find The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out. Click here to earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME for this episode. Also available in Category 1 CME bundles. Powered by CMEfy - a seamless way for busy clinician learners to discover Internet Point-of-Care Learning opportunities that reward AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info

"COVID-19 melted down the world at a very inopportune time in history. Just as medicine was getting a handle on previously intractable conditions, from sophisticated diabetes management to less invasive surgical procedures, a new threat that devastates our population with few good treatments overwhelms health care. Medical workers come to the rescue, as we always do, though at a personal and communal price. Somebody else keeps our food available, allows our communications to flow without interruption, and maintains most of our transportation systems, even though many of us have fewer places to go. Our elected and appointed officials went to work, most no smarter or less contentious than they were before, but emergency support came through in the form of research subsidies to enable better treatment and prevention, mass purchases to enhance lab capacity, and for many an emergency boost to available personal funds. Heroes all, except for the ones you see on TV that you wish to exclude." Richard Plotzker is an endocrinologist who blogs at Consult Maven. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Doctors as organizational stewards." Did you enjoy today's episode? Rate and review the show so more audiences can find The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out. Click here to earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME for this episode. Also available in Category 1 CME bundles. Powered by CMEfy - a seamless way for busy clinician learners to discover Internet Point-of-Care Learning opportunities that reward AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info

"It's apparent to most that the dark clouds and stormy waters in the business of health care continue. There is much that needs attention from both health care workers and consumers. We have learned that when we work together, strength, creativity, and energy multiply exponentially. We need to move forward and create a sustainable and caring health care system. We can accomplish this by joining together and acknowledging our struggles, sharing and learning from them. The next step is key to change — we must take those narratives of drowning and shift their energy in a positive direction. We need to help each other start swimming toward a vision for the future of healing. Just think about it; what are the possibilities? No dream is too big or too small. Put it out there. You may be surprised at what sticks. And who knows better than you, the working nurse?" Beth Quaas is a nurse practitioner. She shares her story and discusses the KevinMD article, "A tale of 2 nurses." Did you enjoy today's episode? Rate and review the show so more audiences can find The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out. Click here to earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME for this episode. Also available in Category 1 CME bundles. Powered by CMEfy - a seamless way for busy clinician learners to discover Internet Point-of-Care Learning opportunities that reward AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info

"Many families still prefer their providers to wear a mask. I have no way to know who carries what political or health views around their mask-wearing. Their masks were off, and mine was on. When I asked them for their preference of whether they feel comfortable with me wearing a mask or not, the parent's response was: 'Whatever you want. It doesn't really matter.' But it does matter. Doesn't it? It matters if you feel comfortable and safe. It matters if I am an agent of viral infectivity. It matters if you want to be able to read my emotions as much as I need to read yours. It matters if your child has autism, is hearing impaired, or even if English is your second language. It matters if we want to 'get back to normal.' But for all the reasons listed above, I find that I don't want to lift my mask just yet. Given a choice, I find myself behind the mask still. At least, for now, this continues to give me the semblance of safety: to wear my heart on my sleeve and my emotion on my face. I will not feel guilty about this. I am just a psychiatrist presenting emotion. PPE for me. Shivana Naidoo is a child psychiatrist. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "PPE: psychiatrist presenting emotion." Did you enjoy today's episode? Rate and review the show so more audiences can find The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out. Click here to earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME for this episode. Also available in Category 1 CME bundles. Powered by CMEfy - a seamless way for busy clinician learners to discover Internet Point-of-Care Learning opportunities that reward AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info

"My IVF baby turns 12 this week — and having attempted frozen and fresh IVF cycles six years ago, which did not result in pregnancies — I can also hold tenderly the space for those who have heard those words, 'Only one child?' Yes. Only one. Only one, magical, amazing, child destined to be ours. How blessed am I? Our thoughts are so very powerful, and I would like to leave you with these thoughts: You are not broken. You never were. Be gentle with yourself." Dympna Weil is an obstetrician-gynecologist. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "A physician's infertility story." Did you enjoy today's episode? Rate and review the show so more audiences can find The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out. Click here to earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME for this episode. Also available in Category 1 CME bundles. Powered by CMEfy - a seamless way for busy clinician learners to discover Internet Point-of-Care Learning opportunities that reward AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info