Best of Physicians Blogs

‘How are the babies?’ he would ask in a gentle voice. ‘Are they all breathing?’

How to put out fires in medicine that stem from poor communication.

Four years after beating cancer, Dr. Howard Goldstein reflects on what it means to emerge from the ‘tunnel’ of treatment.

After watching a string of family gatherings get swallowed by screen time, Dr. Howard Goldstein wonders what this advancement in technology is costing us.

Making accurate assumptions is one of a physician’s superpowers. But recent events brought back memories of a patient who didn’t fit the (unflattering) labels I gave her.

I have a nephew in Berlin. He is gay. He was at this Christopher Day Parade with his husband. I emailed him immediately expressing my condolences and to check on him.

Dr. Hector Baillie attempts to untangle the absurdity of an encounter with a patient who had been taking medical advice from questionable sources.

We feel impotent when it comes to changing the inevitable. How can I, in my lifetime, make the environment just a little less toxic? I know I am a powerful entity, saving lives and curing acne, but gosh, tornadoes seem beyond me.

As life keeps getting in the way, Dr. Melissa Yuan-Innes reflects on self-care.

I never thought I'd hit a midlife crisis. I'm a happy person. But the last half year has been roooooooough.

Dr. John Crosby interviews intensivist Dr. Shelly Dev about how she avoids burnout in the ICU.

Dr. John Crosby discusses his tips on how to say no and set boundaries with patients and co-workers.

Perimenopause can be tricky, with some symptoms more easily eased than others. But there is plenty of help to offer our patients.

When patients have help with navigating the health system, it can be hugely beneficial. But that extra help isn’t always available, so here’s my advice to patients so they can help themselves.

When CJ walked into the office, she was angry, exhausted, and ready to explode. She spoke quickly and loudly, describing every injustice she had faced: the accident, her employer, the doctors, even the system itself.

There are important and uncomfortable intersections between chronic pain, automobile insurance systems, and the economic burden imposed on the public through fraudulent claims.

A reflection on the toll of diagnosing suffering as systemic barriers mount and wait times grow.

When the demand for healthcare efficiency replaces the space for medical curiosity.