Research Review: Surprise, a plant-based, low-fat diet has health benefits!

Note I didn't say "is the healthiest for everyone" or "is the best wait to achieve any and all goals". As I enjoy doing from time to time (#nerd), I'll walk you through the study and weigh in on the findings. This study (in JAMA, no less) has demonstrated some of the short-term metabolic effects...

The federal coronavirus response: Is anyone at the wheel?

Health and politics have always overlapped. . . but this is different. The alaphabet soup of government agencies showing up in the news has created plenty of confusion and distraction around what, exactly, the federal government is and is not doing about the pandemic. Below is a basic breakdown of the federal bodies that have...

The golden rule is wrong. Fight me.

As a healthcare provider and educator, equity is a top priority for me. I try to consider the differential impact of every decision I make on different people with different needs. I know I don’t always do this perfectly and I am always learning. It helps to observe others a lot and develop some basic...

Diagnosis vs. Understanding

I’ve been a long-time fan of the Diagnosis column in the New York Times Magazine, written by Dr. Lisa Sanders. (Yep, I get the Sunday Times delivered. I also take my rescue dog to the dog park, shop at the famers’ market, drink kombucha, and wear athleisure. Bite me). Dr. Sanders writes about medical puzzles— cases...

Compassion.

Ask yourself what’s missinig in contemporary news and discourse. What underlies divisiveness and hate speech. What makes some encounters (with a police officer, or a doctor, or someone you expect to care) so completely demoralizing. And what causes hopelessness and pain and substance use and. . . My answer: compassion is missing. When a person...

Why is getting healthcare so stressful? And how can we make it work for us?

So yes, get health care when you need it. And you probably will. Clinics and hospitals are there for you when you are hurt or sick. But know that true health might come from outside the medical system. Take responsibility for learning and practicing health.