self-care
Golden August
By Camila R. Guetter Created in 1992 by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), the World Breastfeeding Week completed its 25th edition this year. During the first week of August, campaigns and partnerships take place in order to support and raise awareness on the importance of breastfeeding. It is an international effort that currently involves 150 countries. This year, to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week’s 25th anniversary, the Brazilian government announced the expansion of this campaign from a single week to a whole month dedicated to the cause, the Golden August. Initiatives include public talks and events, community meetings, advertising on the media, and illuminating monuments and buildings with golden lights. All in an effort to spread even more knowledge and awareness about breastfeeding in Brazil. The name “Golden August” relates to the fact that breastfeeding is the gold standard for newborn feeding. Compared to Pink October initiatives for Breast...
BLOG for FINDING FRIENDS
By Beth Shaughnessy This lifestyle we have chosen seems to come in 4-5 year runs, Each new phase of training means we may have to pick up and move somewhere else, again. At least until we get that first real job. And with that comes a little loneliness. What if we have never lived there before? What do I do to find a friend? Before I left for my fellowship in Los Angeles, I had lived in Illinois nearly my entire life - and was lucky enough to complete medical school and residency training close to home. I knew NO ONE in California except for my husband. As I started fellowship, he appointed me his social secretary! What to do? The social culture was a bit different in L.A. as compared to Chicago, as compared to Cincinnati where I now live. In California, people tend to live farther away, commuting...
Perception of Personal Success in Burnout
By Shree Agrawal In the preclinical years of medical school, the idea of burnout among healthcare workers is more of an abstract concept. The unique environment of healthcare, regardless of specialty or academic/private practice settings, has been shown to make all healthcare providers vulnerable to burnout.(1)(2) In my observations on clinical rotations, it seems highly successful peers, trainees, and faculty, who may have multiple publications, excellent clinical skills, and a strong work ethic, can also be the same individuals who unexpectedly experience burnout. Interactions with someone who does not realize they may actually be experiencing burnout are challenging, even for individuals who are at the fray of most clinical situations. Some of the key manifestations of burnout include emotional exhaustion, cynicism, depersonalization or isolation, feelings of ineffectiveness, and lack of accomplishment, as shown in Figure 1.(3) Some of these features are difficult to fully notice in brief professional interactions with...
My First Delivery Was My Own: A Medical Student’s Journey into Motherhood
By Grace K DeHoff, MS III I had my first child in November of my 2nd year of medical school. My husband and I tried to plan for a winter break baby but were surprised a little earlier. With plenty of open communication with my school, an unbelievable support system in my husband and my classmates, and more multitasking than I ever knew was possible, I had my child and was able to return to school full time after two weeks off. I was able to make up the missed work over Christmas break. The experience taught me a lot about why so few women decide to have children during medical school. Unfortunately, the alternative to waiting until after residency leaves many women delaying pregnancy to their their late 30s to 40s. Complication rates, infertility and genetic disorders all increase with increasing maternal age. This leaves female physicians with a...
How Medical School Turned Me into a Runner
By Hilary McCrary, MPH Prior to medical school, I considered myself athletic but never a runner. I could not run more than a few miles without an overwhelming sense of discouragement. When I began medical school in 2013, I found myself surrounded by individuals that had been running most of their lives. It was inspiring that people were able to juggle the demands of school and still properly train for a half or full marathon. Before long, I had set my first goal of running a half marathon. This race took place during my second year of medical school, which for me was the most academically challenging year with USMLE Step 1 looming in the distance. I was lucky to have a group of classmates that became my running buddies. We called ourselves the “wolf pack”, meeting after studying to run on the local river path. I found that training...
Knocking on the Door of Disparity
By Danielle Henry, MD Before the end of National Minority Health Month, I am compelled to take the opportunity to talk about how a disease I'm passionate about affects black women - breast cancer. National Minority Health Month gives us another chance, outside of October, to focus on breast cancer's impact on the black community. After being introduced to the Sisters Network by one of my patients, I gained a greater understanding of breast cancer’s impact on the black community. During one of the events I attended, "Stop the Silence", there were women who traveled from near and far who were currently battling breast cancer, survivors of breast cancer, loved ones of those who previously passed away from breast cancer and simply supporters coming together to raise awareness. Many admitted that cancer was a taboo topic growing up, and went on to share personal stories of struggles, triumphs, and loss...
Grey’s Anatomy: 5 Reasons to Aspire to be Like Seattle Grace Hospital
By Sristi Sharma MD, MPH I confess--there are days when I like to unwind and binge watch Grey’s Anatomy. I revel at the personal drama, root for certain characters (Jackson!), cringe at medical atrocities and then spend (my precious) hours on the internet looking up this mythical hospital, that I can assure you, does not exist in the United States. All real-life medical doctors, especially surgeons, have several issues with Grey’s Anatomy: the medical science in the program is all wrong, interns in the show have an impossible life, the attendings have a severe I-need-to-do-it-all complex-and don’t even get me started on the hair! However, what Grey’s Anatomy does get right is the alternate reality of gender roles in the field of surgery. Here are 5 things that Seattle Grace Hospital Department of Surgery can teach the real-life surgical community: The number of female surgery residents: As per AAMC 2016...
National Minority Health Month
By Robin Williams, MD, FACS Despite the vast advancements of modern medicine, significant health disparities remain amongst minority populations. Heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and unintentional injuries are the top 5 concerns that disproportionately affect minorities. Just to highlight a few disparities: Thirty percent of African Americans are more likely to die from heart disease. Coronary artery disease occurs earlier in life and in higher percentage of Asian Indians than in other ethnic groups. Seventy percent of African Americans and Latinos are more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes compared to non-Hispanic whites. Twenty percent of Asian Americans are more likely to have type 2 diabetes than their non-Hispanic white counterparts. Although the incidence of breast cancer is higher in white women, African American women tend to be diagnosed at an earlier age (58 compared to 63) and have a death rate that is 42% higher. Hispanic women have among...
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month!
By: Heather Yeo, MD, MHS March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month an important time to talk about Colorectal Cancer, because it is a time of national focus and provides an opportunity for education and prevention for a common, but often “hidden” form of cancer. One of the reasons that I decided to spend my life treating colorectal cancer is because of the exciting progress that has been made in its detection, understanding, and treatment over the last decade and the potential for even greater progress on the horizon. While I deal with colorectal cancer every day, as I am caring for my patients, I am always researching ways to improve their care and quality of life. A few key points I would like patients to think about: Prevention is Key. There are certain risk factors that we know put individuals at higher risk, for example, consumption of red meat, smoking,...
World Cancer Day
By Ainhoa Costas Chavarri, MD, MPH, FACS Last week I gave a chat on breast cancer to a Rwandan women’s sewing cooperative group. As I spoke, via a local surgery resident who acted as translator, the women listened but remained steadfast at their wooden stations, cutting fabric, threading needles, and throwing stitches. When we got to the part where I touched my hand to my chest, mimicking a breast exam, however, they all immediately stopped what they were doing and began giggling. “What is it?” I asked Grace, the resident translator. “Well,” she said, smiling, they are saying, “you want us to check ourselves?” February 4, 2017 was World Cancer Day. Under the theme of #WeCanICan people all around the world showed their support in real life and online by hosting events, posting on social media, sharing stories and spreading awareness. Many of you might have noticed while scrolling through...
