Humanism, Medicine & Social Justice
Overnight there blossomed numerous Constitutional scholars on my Twitter feed. Countless Americans, members of both parties, representatives in Congress and average citizens debating the rights guaranteed us in the US Constitution. The right to access Twitter. The right to participate in inflammatory discourse online. The right to maintain a social media platform. The right to... Continue Reading →
I used to put on my white coat every day knowing it was an emblem of both professionalism and caregiving. It was a piece of uniform I felt proud to wear because it symbolized both my years of training and my commitment to my patients. But this year my white coat has transformed. Much like... Continue Reading →
We talk about health disparities a lot in the abstract. We talk about the numbers, the statistics. We talk about race and politics and structural violence. But I wasn’t thinking about any of that when my patient had to be admitted due to serious complications from COVID-19. I was thinking about how stubborn he had... Continue Reading →
“All Democrats just raised their hands for giving millions of illegal aliens unlimited healthcare. How about taking care of American Citizens [sic] first?!” This is a tweet from Donald Trump during this week's primary debate. Unfortunately, we as a nation are now accustomed to the speed of the President’s thumbs - tweeting out commentary and... Continue Reading →
“Doctor, can you possibly help me fill out disability forms? So I can stop working?” Miguel asked. His cheeks were just slightly flushed as he sat wringing his hands, averting eye contact with me. Usually, when someone asks me about filing for disability, I experience a fleeting moment of dread at the prospect of all... Continue Reading →
Carla usually arrives in my office wearing a big smile, even if I don't have good news about her diabetes or blood pressure. But at our last visit, she was wringing her hands and tapping her feet nervously. “What's going on, Carla?” I asked with concern. Carla looked down at her feet, hiding her tears.... Continue Reading →
Mr. T came in for a visit to address his back pain. "I just have this terrible ache in my lower back, can't seem to do anything to get rid of it," he explained. He was a middle-aged man, close to 60, his blue jeans worn at the knees and his sweater just barely covering... Continue Reading →
I am an internist who loves what she does and wants to share some things I've learned from my practice and my patients. Thoughts are my own. Stories are edited for patient privacy purposes. Thanks for reading.
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