Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

A doctor who forgot the basics they teach you in medical school

Cory Michael, MD
Physician
March 3, 2016
78 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

I was spending time with friends and family over the holiday when I started to experience various vague symptoms without an obvious etiology. Having been treated for high blood pressure about ten years prior before successfully overcoming the issue with exercise, I immediately recognized the return of the condition. (As an aside, it should be stated that elevated blood pressure typically produces no symptoms at all.)

Stopping by my local pharmacy, I silently accepted reality as the cuff from the blood pressure machine eased off of my arm reading a disturbing 165/100. I was going to need medicine again, at least until I can reorganize my lifestyle. While I will be the first to admit that I could lose a few pounds, the floundering job market for radiologists, coupled with living in an unfamiliar city, seemed to be taking its toll on my health.

The casual reader may wonder how a doctor chooses a doctor. In my case, I simply picked a clinic associated with a hospital I’d prefer to be admitted to and asked for a doctor with the soonest opening. The doctor I was assigned turned out to be a fellow of the American College of Physicians with over 20 years of experience and was a former teacher of residents in addition to being married to a radiologist. When I walked into the exam room, I also learned that he was a fitness buff of sorts, as his wall was decorated with various photos of marathon completions and certificates.

It was not hard for me to get the inexpensive medicine that I’d requested in addition to the screening colonoscopy that I was due for given my family history, however, much of the session turned into a lecture session about my diet. While I do feel that every physician should absolutely discuss food intake with patients and recommend healthy options, engaging a former molecular biologist in a discussion regarding GMO foods is something that belongs in the barber shop, not the doctor’s office. I wasn’t impressed. The key to a successful lifestyle discussion starts with what caused the correctable behavior in the first place. I didn’t come for a lecture. I didn’t come to be made to feel worse.

I get it. My body mass index is 30 which is technically obese, but world class bodybuilders are obese according to this definition as well. Good medicine takes all factors into account, and had he performed a physical exam or attempted to empathize with my personal circumstances, we may have been able to establish the sort of trust that is necessary for a successful doctor-patient relationship. He never picked up on the fact that I couldn’t wait to get out of the room or why.

It amazes me that someone with so much experience as a doctor had forgotten the very basics they teach you in medical school. When I first meet a patient, the initial moments I spend in the room are used to gauge what kind of vocabulary I am going to use so that we can communicate on the same level and how I can make sure that the patient gets the most from our encounter. To this doctor, I was a list of lab values and vital signs just like any other patient. He barely looked up from the paper.

Next came a laundry list of unnecessary tests, all offered in his office, of course, some of which I simply declined. No attempt was made to explain why I needed what he wanted or what he was going to do with the results afterward bearing in mind that I, too, spent a year as an internal medicine physician prior to residency. The fact of the matter remains that I may have agreed to some of what he wanted. He just failed to, as they say in the car sales industry, “earn my business.”

I went back for a follow-up six weeks later, and as expected, the blood pressure medicine worked. My colonoscopy was basically normal. He didn’t ask about medication side effects even though I was visibly coughing in front of him. The doctor’s advice? “Now all we need to fix is fat Cory.” As I glanced at the bill before I left, I couldn’t help but giggle at a $45 charge for weight loss counseling. I didn’t schedule another appointment.

I just wish I hadn’t shared this story with the last person I spoke to at a job interview who asked me what I thought was wrong with health care in the U.S. In reflection, I think she may be this doctor’s wife. I may need to add another medication. Does anybody know of a good doctor?

Cory Michael is a radiologist.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

It's time for doctors to stop feeling guilty for taking time off

March 2, 2016 Kevin 2
…
Next

Working in the ICU, I now know what hell feels like

March 3, 2016 Kevin 9
…

Tagged as: Cardiology, Primary Care

Post navigation

< Previous Post
It's time for doctors to stop feeling guilty for taking time off
Next Post >
Working in the ICU, I now know what hell feels like

More by Cory Michael, MD

  • Inequity contributes to burnout among new academic physicians

    Cory Michael, MD
  • Missouri and Texas: a tale of 2 COVID cultures

    Cory Michael, MD
  • The coronavirus vaccine is not a political or social issue

    Cory Michael, MD

Related Posts

  • It’s time to learn the basics of financial management in medical school

    Aashish Shah
  • End medical school grades

    Adam Lieber
  • One of the biggest lessons medical school can teach you

    Prerana Chatty, MD
  • They didn’t teach social media in medical school

    David Epstein, MD
  • The medical school personal statement struggle

    Sheindel Ifrah
  • Why medical school is like playing defense

    Jamie Katuna

More in Physician

  • Finding peace through surrender: a personal exploration

    Dympna Weil, MD
  • The struggle to fill emergency medicine residency spots: Exploring the factors behind the unfilled match

    Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH
  • Beyond the disease: the power of empathy in health care

    Nana Dadzie Ghansah, MD
  • How to overcome telemedicine’s biggest obstacles

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • The patient who became my soulmate

    Anonymous
  • Breaking the stigma: Addressing the struggles of physicians

    Jean Antonucci, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • Healing the damaged nurse-physician dynamic

      Angel J. Mena, MD and Ali Morin, MSN, RN | Policy
    • From physician to patient: one doctor’s journey to finding purpose after a devastating injury

      Stephanie Pearson, MD | Physician
    • Lifestyle change: the forgotten solution in health care

      Tyler Petersen | Conditions
    • An unspoken truth about non-compete clauses in medicine

      Harry Severance, MD | Policy
  • Past 6 Months

    • The hidden dangers of the Nebraska Heartbeat Act

      Meghan Sheehan, MD | Policy
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • Why are doctors sued and politicians aren’t?

      Kellie Lease Stecher, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Finding peace through surrender: a personal exploration

      Dympna Weil, MD | Physician
    • The struggle to fill emergency medicine residency spots: Exploring the factors behind the unfilled match

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Physician
    • Unlocking the secret to successful weight loss: Curiosity is the key

      Franchell Hamilton, MD | Conditions
    • The teacher who changed my life through reading

      Raymond Abbott | Conditions
    • Revaluating mental health assessments: It’s not just the patient you should consider

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Conditions
    • Beyond the disease: the power of empathy in health care

      Nana Dadzie Ghansah, MD | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 9 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Trial of Novel TYK2 Inhibitor Hits Its Endpoint in Plaque Psoriasis
  • Durable Vitiligo Responses With Topical Ruxolitinib
  • FDA Has Neglected Clinical Trial Transparency — Plus $45 Billion in Fines
  • Tofacitinib May Reduce Risk of Interstitial Lung Disease in RA Patients
  • Finally, a Potential Therapy to Prevent Long COVID

Meeting Coverage

  • Trial of Novel TYK2 Inhibitor Hits Its Endpoint in Plaque Psoriasis
  • Durable Vitiligo Responses With Topical Ruxolitinib
  • High Rates of Psoriasis Clearance With Investigational TYK2 Inhibitor
  • Rapid Improvement in Atopic Dermatitis With Topical PDE4 Inhibitor
  • New Approaches in the Bladder-Sparing Paradigm
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • Healing the damaged nurse-physician dynamic

      Angel J. Mena, MD and Ali Morin, MSN, RN | Policy
    • From physician to patient: one doctor’s journey to finding purpose after a devastating injury

      Stephanie Pearson, MD | Physician
    • Lifestyle change: the forgotten solution in health care

      Tyler Petersen | Conditions
    • An unspoken truth about non-compete clauses in medicine

      Harry Severance, MD | Policy
  • Past 6 Months

    • The hidden dangers of the Nebraska Heartbeat Act

      Meghan Sheehan, MD | Policy
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • Why are doctors sued and politicians aren’t?

      Kellie Lease Stecher, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Finding peace through surrender: a personal exploration

      Dympna Weil, MD | Physician
    • The struggle to fill emergency medicine residency spots: Exploring the factors behind the unfilled match

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Physician
    • Unlocking the secret to successful weight loss: Curiosity is the key

      Franchell Hamilton, MD | Conditions
    • The teacher who changed my life through reading

      Raymond Abbott | Conditions
    • Revaluating mental health assessments: It’s not just the patient you should consider

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Conditions
    • Beyond the disease: the power of empathy in health care

      Nana Dadzie Ghansah, MD | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today iMedicalApps
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

A doctor who forgot the basics they teach you in medical school
9 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...