The Podcast by KevinMD

"For physicians who lack experience in end-of-life counseling, the process can be daunting at the beginning. However, they can be confident that once they have obtained the proper training, preparation, and experience, these conversations will be among the most fulfilling of their careers. By regarding end-of-life planning as a shared responsibility, physicians can become more well-rounded professionally and help patients conquer their most profound fears. It's time to start the conversation." Caroline DeFilippo is an internal medicine physician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "End-of-life conversations: Why physicians should embrace the responsibility." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/11/end-of-life-conversations-why-physicians-should-embrace-the-responsibility.html)

"Nowadays, I go on long walks through the city alone. I make dinner for one. When I go on bike rides, it's a solo activity. I find comfort in myself, slowing down and making every small occasion a simple, peaceful one. I have a stronger sense of self, and through that, I have rekindled the fire that I felt during my first years of being in medicine. When I return home from the hospital, I don't dive into the distraction of another person. Now, I write daily journal entries that help get my heart on a page, where I can set it aside and leave it be for some time before revisiting it. I put music on in my apartment, and dance and dance and dance. My new self-soothing methods aren't perfect (none are), but at least they are now focused on nurturing and strengthening myself. No distractions, just facing my feelings head-on. It's an art I am starting to get the hang of." Fae Kayarian is a medical scribe. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Falling in love during a pandemic: a lesson in self-soothing." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/01/falling-in-love-during-a-pandemic-a-lesson-in-self-soothing.html)

An acupuncturist discusses her journey from medical school in China to her practice in the U.S., bridging Eastern and Western therapies. She reflects on what defines an 'ideal patient,' often inspired by personal connections. The conversation also highlights the growing trend of self-care among men discovering acupuncture. The initial consultation's importance is emphasized, along with the need for honesty in healing. Ultimately, both patients and doctors are empowered in their shared journey towards recovery.

"The science of complexity lays a conceptual foundation for understanding "complex adaptive systems." What all complex adaptive systems have in common is that they are all bound by the same set of physical laws. Their "behavior," i.e., growth, maintenance, and death, can all be described using the same set of mathematical relationships. These systems (animals, plants, ecosystems, etc.) are the most productive and functionally effective systems known to man. Unfortunately, our health care system has not been bound by the same physical laws and mathematical relationships as other complex adaptive systems. Thus, it has not been able to implement the same mechanisms that our ecosystems and cells have in order to obtain optimization in their ability to perform a function. This is most blatantly highlighted by the fact that 100,000 to 400,000 (depending on the source) Americans die each year due to medical errors." Robert Trent is a graduate student. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "What role does the science of complexity play in medicine?" (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2019/08/what-role-does-the-science-of-complexity-play-in-medicine.html)

"As health professionals, we have the platform to enact change within our own institutions, as well as local and federal governments. We must elect leaders and officials who spearhead climate action. We must reduce the carbon footprint of healthcare. And we must educate our colleagues and our patients about the impact of climate change on health. We need every single one of us to take action. Our patients' health depends on it." Sarah Hsu is a medical student. She shares her story and discusses the KevinMD article, "5 things medical professionals can do to take climate action." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/10/5-things-medical-professionals-can-do-to-take-climate-action.html)

"Instead of focusing on one organ system, I want to know everything. The diagnostic challenge is to discern patterns of insults, symptoms, and lab tests that correlate with specific microbes, specific organ dysfunction, specific diet issues, and environmental exposures. We keep asking questions until we detect patterns in the chronically ill patient that correlate with any number of overlapping issues such as infections, hormone deficiencies, immune dysregulation, toxic exposures, and diminished capacity to detoxify. And then we explore the interrelationship of all these problems. Differentiation then integration." Daniel Kinderlehrer is a physician and author of Recovery from Lyme Disease: The Integrative Medicine Guide to Diagnosing and Treating Tick-Borne Illness. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Our work as physicians and healers is to see the whole patient." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/03/our-work-as-physicians-and-healers-is-to-see-the-whole-patient.html)

"Suicide is a path, whether fast or slow, that a person chooses to take because of their own reasons. We certainly can never predict suicide or truly understand it. But with that said, every time it happens, it is a tragic loss of life that time can and will never heal. We must do more to support our physicians in training, residents, and established clinicians. Like how we sit at the bedside with patients and listen to their stories, someone needs to listen to what doctors have to say. This is an epidemic that we must address right now. We must shine a light on the underpinnings of stress, dissatisfaction, grief, guilt, and pain. And we must drag out of the shadows a broken healthcare system that burdens many of our physicians. It starts with making it OK to talk about suicide and to foster an environment where it is safe for medical students and physicians to share their stories privately and publicly. We absolutely must create safe spaces for conversations to be had at all levels of medical education." Ton La, Jr. is a medical student and can be reached on LinkedIn. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Physician suicide: We need safe spaces to talk about it." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/03/physician-suicide-we-need-safe-spaces-to-talk-about-it.html)

"Our relationship with Big Pharma is a dangerous, nasty, and abusive one, and it can prove to be fatal too. Benzos aren't limited to a specific class, race, gender, creed, etc. Many stars have died from mixing benzodiazepines with opioids or illegal drugs. It has been a little over a year that I have been off of Klonopin, and I'm happy to report that most of my withdrawal symptoms are gone. I handle stress better now, and I feel emotions more deeply and genuinely. Please be patient with the process and with yourself. It gets better, I promise." Bethany Silverman is a writer. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "My Klonopin withdrawal story." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/01/my-klonopin-withdrawal-story.html)

"Had I understood the nature of my struggles and felt permitted and supported in actively addressing them, I would have been more effective, a better learner, and more fulfilled. After trying out a few clinical settings, a lot of reading, and some much-needed coaching, I found my identity as a healthy, inspired physician. Eventually, by setting boundaries and understanding my patterns, I discovered what I needed to thrive. So, maybe we need to reimagine medical education. From medical school onward, physician education and training should be conceptualized as a career-long process supporting the holistic development of life-long learners, leaders, and healers. Certainly, there has got to be a better way than my circuitous, self-designed, and at times, painful and exhausting pathway." Tracy Asamoah is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and can be reached at Tracy Asamoah Coaching. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "It's time to focus medical education on training the whole person." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/01/its-time-to-focus-medical-education-on-training-the-whole-person.html)

"Dr. Fauci navigated the delicate balance between his obligation to the American people as one of our most respected physician-scientists and holding on to his job in a federal government whose leader doesn't take kindly to independent thought that potentially upstages his own. Dr. Fauci not only survived multiple appearances on the national stage with Trump, as the task force morphed into charade, but he even emerged as a popular folk hero, all the while maintaining his status as a respected medical authority. Despite having ample opportunity to confront the president on his misinformation, Dr. Fauci focused his unwavering attention on mitigation of the virus, refuting Trump's often puzzling and sometimes harmful pronouncements, without even having to directly acknowledge them." Michael Miyamoto is a cardiologist. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Dealing with a bad boss: lessons from Dr. Fauci." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/01/dealing-with-a-bad-boss-lessons-from-dr-fauci.html)