Red Doctors and Blue Doctors. What about the Color Purple?

Politics is a very strange thing. It changes your friends and your enemies faster than the turnover in a schoolyard playground. It is a flawed system in which the disgruntled are tempted to think that the only people politicians represent are themselves. Like most responsible people, politicians are neither as bad as their detractors say nor as good as they themselves feel they are. A moral compass is usually there, but it is fragile because its needle is easily magnetized toward the politician him or herself.

Being a physician requires a crystal-clear moral compass because it’s too hard and too important of a job to do for just money. The labor, whether it’s cost efficient or not, is worth the satisfaction of doing one’s best while helping someone out the most. For doctors, their moral compass points to true North; for politicians, it sometimes points the way the wind is blowing.

9 Networking Tips Every Healthcare Provider Should Know

Providers. Physicians. Physician assistants. Nurse practitioners. Allied health professionals. No matter what type of medical position you’re in, tending to a network of colleagues pays off by attracting opportunities right to your doorstep. Keep reading to learn nine networking tips for healthcare professionals to build and nurture a network full of valuable contacts.

Pursuit of Happiness and a Healthy Lifestyle as a Resident Physician

Physician well-being has become high priority and high visibility. Concern about well-being is almost invariably coupled with concern for physician burnout. We see these concerns in almost every issue of every reputable medical journal. The attention is appropriate, essential, and long overdue. We preach the importance of prevention and risk management to our patients, but we are oblivious to our own needs for the same…

So You Want to Switch Specialties? Here’s What You Should Know

Regardless of their initial choice, many PAs, and NPs, to the extent of their training, choose to take advantage of the lateral mobility offered them and work in a different area of medicine. Those who have experience in primary care have the benefit of exposure to many types of medicine and a solid foundation to build upon. Transitioning from a specialty to general medicine, on the other hand, is a bit more difficult but can be done.

Tales from the Trenches: A True Urologic Emergency

As a second-year resident with only a few weeks of urology experience, I was used to introducing myself whenever entering the ER, hoping to summon a façade of expertise and bravado that was not entirely familiar to me. However, on this occasion, as soon as I passed through the double doors of the ER, I was summoned urgently to the first trauma bays by a frantic looking ER attending. I walked by a very uncomfortable looking police officer standing just outside before entering the trauma bay to find the entire trauma team assembled next to the patient.

6 Best Practices for Marketing a New Physician Practice

In competitive healthcare environments, building a new practice may feel like an uphill battle. Whether you are a provider starting out solo, or you are joining a group practice, it is not likely that patients will just show up knocking at the door. The reality is that in competitive marketplaces, patients today have a lot of options. Even with the support of a group or hospital practice, building a strong patient referral base can take an enormous amount of time and effort, and success rarely happens overnight.

Each practice is different, every market unique, and each specialty has its various challenges. There is not a “one size fits all” approach for how to successfully market a new physician practice. However, there are some basic strategies when implemented correctly that have proven effective…

The Most Important Questions Physicians Should Ask During a Job Interview

To paraphrase Tony Robbins, the quality of your questions determines the quality of your life.

Interviewing for a first attending job, considering a lateral move, or negotiating a contract all require poise, openness, and intuition to arrive at the desired end. 

As physicians, we are experts at teasing out the details necessary to make a diagnosis. Digging deeper is critical to saving lives. The same applies to our futures. 

Levity in Medicine

Is Medicine Fun? Does That Make It Funny?

Roller coasters are fun. Playing sports is fun. Neither is really funny. Like a roller coaster, the practice of medicine can be thrilling and unpredictable, rough or smooth. Like playing sports, to do it well, you have to know what you’re doing—be good at it.

Alternative Careers & Side Hustles for Physicians

To be clear, multiple streams of income does not necessarily mean multiple jobs. Your investment portfolio and real estate holdings may already serve as a great side gig. Rather, find opportunities that are enjoyable and do not usurp too much of your time, educational or financial resources. While stepping outside of clinical medicine may initially seem daunting, these side gigs not only boost income, but also offer leadership skills, increased work-life balance, a creative outlet and may even augment your ability to care for your patients.

What Are the Biggest US Immigration Mistakes Made by Physicians?

The United States is a popular destination for physicians, thanks to its advanced healthcare system as well as an extremely high demand for medical professionals. Despite the shortage of trained and qualified physicians in the country, however, it isn’t easy for foreign medical school graduates to make it through the United States immigration system.

Here are 10 common mistakes made by physicians while immigrating to the U.S., and some tips on avoiding them…