American College of Physicians
Celebrating women physicians: Keeping our foot on the gas
Given that September is Women in Medicine month, my thoughts turn to celebrating women across the spectrum of medicine, from pioneers like Elizabeth Blackwell, MD, the first woman to earn a medical degree in the U.S., to physicians today caring …
Patients and immunizations: It’s a matter of trust
It was 2018. Previously, “Max” had steadfastly refused all vaccines. Despite his HIV infection, which was well controlled, and my pleading with him over multiple years to get a flu shot, he was firmly opposed. He was intelligent and very …
How international medical graduates shape U.S. health care [PODCAST]
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Join us for a conversation with George M. Abraham, former president of the American College of Physicians (2021-2022) and a professor of medicine. We’ll explore the vital role of international medical graduates (IMGs) …
Everyone under the big tent: the international medical graduate
The internal medicine community is broad and varied, with a diversity of internal medicine physicians as its foundation. As we move forward as a country and as health care continues to evolve, we must embrace our diversity and afford equal opportunity to all segments of our physician workforce, including our international medical graduates (IMGs). The American College of …
Why we all need to care about the primary care physician shortage
It is somewhat cliché these days to talk about physician workforce shortages, but recent data highlights that the problem is getting worse. Two research publications this past year were particularly alarming.
First, in a recent analysis of internal medicine resident career plans from 2019 to 2021, only 9.4% of internal medicine residents indicated they planned to pursue a career …
Doctors can get angry, too
A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.
There is a tremendous amount of anger raging in our society today.
The profound uncertainty posed by COVID-induced cataclysms and the cultural, civil, and political unrest we’ve experienced over the past year has significantly skewed our sense of normalcy and well-being. Thus, responding with …
Hope: One of the strongest “medicines” we have to treat both our patients and ourselves
A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.
By any measure, the past year has been difficult for everyone.
The ongoing pandemic with its widespread personal, social, and economic disruptions, as well as civil and political unrest throughout the country has clearly stretched the fabric of our society and had remarkably negative …
The destructive health consequences of political polarization
A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.
Political divisiveness has always been part of the fabric of America. Even as our Founders laid the groundwork for the United States, they understood the challenges of seeking to assemble a unified and functional country from such a wide geographic and culturally diverse …
Treating the patient, not the disease
A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.
Engaging personally with our health care system either as a patient or family member is usually an eye-opening experience for most physicians. It provides a glimpse of what those under our care likely deal with on a daily basis while attempting to manage …
What doctors can (and should) learn from patients
A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.
In many ways, the patient-physician relationship is seen as being mostly one-sided, with doctors possessing medical knowledge and wisdom, and patients with less medical information being in a position where they need a physician’s help and guidance in managing their health issues. Consequently, …
How the administrative burden contributes to physician burnout
A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.
The administrative burden associated with caring for patients in today’s health care system has emerged as a primary driver of the loss of joy in the practice of medicine and the epidemic of burnout among physicians.
No medical specialty is immune from the upward …
How internal medicine got its name
A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.
Of all medical specialties, perhaps the most difficult to understand is internal medicine.
While the name suggests that those who practice internal medicine focus primarily on non-dermatologic diseases of “Internal” organ systems (which in many ways is true), unlike other medical fields whose names …
Why should you belong to a medical professional society?
A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.
Because I work for a medical specialty society, I’m frequently asked by non-members why I believe they should belong to a medical professional society. This is a particularly relevant question these days given the rapidly changing landscape of medicine and with physicians becoming …
Why we must embrace medical uncertainty
A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.
In the late 1800s, William Osler stated, “… if you want a profession in which everything is certain, you had better give up medicine.” He made this observation at a time when the science underlying health care was nascent, and little was understood …
In our health system, who “owns” patients?
A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.
When talking with patients – particularly those with multiple, complicated medical issues – it often doesn’t take very long to hear about their increasingly suboptimal and sometimes harrowing interactions with our health care system.
Examples include inpatient experiences in which care is provided by …
The isolation and loneliness that physicians experience
A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.
We are just now beginning to recognize the impact of isolation and loneliness on the health of our patients. Recent cultural and societal changes have led to markedly increased levels of isolation of our patients with a dwindling size and activity of their …
Practice at the top of your license: What does that really mean?
A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.
Much has been discussed in recent years around the concept of “practicing at the top of your license.” But what does this really mean?
The most common definition is that each medical professional’s routine activities should utilize the full extent of their education, training, …
The power of the tincture of time
A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.
I distinctly recall during residency a much older and well-respected clinical teacher periodically opining that what was needed in a particular patient case was “a dose of the tincture of time.”
For those less familiar with more historic terminology, a tincture is an alcoholic …
Why patients don’t do what physicians tell them
A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.
Those of us who provide clinical care inevitably have patients who simply don’t do what we tell them. And this isn’t limited to only primary care but is encountered in all specialties and by subspecialists and consultants alike.
Not only can this be frustrating …
Past Week
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Why is our health care system going down the drain and no one seems to care?
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How biased medical experts are destroying doctors’ lives and careers in the opioid crisis
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What my patients taught me about faith
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Doctors beware: the hidden legal risks of following CME guidelines
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Why diversity in sports medicine is the key to better patient care
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Nurse practitioner reveals startling flaws in APRN education: Is patient safety at risk?
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Past 6 Months
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Why is our health care system going down the drain and no one seems to care?
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How medical school curricula perpetuate inequality
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President Biden: a closer look at leadership, dignity, and aging
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The future of health care depends on hands-on training: We cannot afford to cut corners
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How biased medical experts are destroying doctors’ lives and careers in the opioid crisis
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Should transgender athletes compete in women’s sports?
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Recent Posts
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The clean slate approach: Transform your day with this simple mindset shift
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What Blue Zones can teach us about health [PODCAST]
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The truth about entrepreneurship: What no one tells you about business success
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How medical students can contribute to neurosurgery research: tips for getting started
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A future male OB/GYN’s commitment to patient comfort
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How a pediatrician fights vaccine misinformation in a small town
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Past Week
-
Why is our health care system going down the drain and no one seems to care?
-
How biased medical experts are destroying doctors’ lives and careers in the opioid crisis
-
What my patients taught me about faith
-
Doctors beware: the hidden legal risks of following CME guidelines
-
Why diversity in sports medicine is the key to better patient care
-
Nurse practitioner reveals startling flaws in APRN education: Is patient safety at risk?
-
Past 6 Months
-
Why is our health care system going down the drain and no one seems to care?
-
How medical school curricula perpetuate inequality
-
President Biden: a closer look at leadership, dignity, and aging
-
The future of health care depends on hands-on training: We cannot afford to cut corners
-
How biased medical experts are destroying doctors’ lives and careers in the opioid crisis
-
Should transgender athletes compete in women’s sports?
-
Recent Posts
-
The clean slate approach: Transform your day with this simple mindset shift
-
What Blue Zones can teach us about health [PODCAST]
-
The truth about entrepreneurship: What no one tells you about business success
-
How medical students can contribute to neurosurgery research: tips for getting started
-
A future male OB/GYN’s commitment to patient comfort
-
How a pediatrician fights vaccine misinformation in a small town
-
