It’s that time of year again. Bright-eyed fourth years have begun wandering our hospital in uncomfortable shoes and fancy suits. They look equal parts nervous and excited, ready to embark on the insane adventure that is being an intern. But first, they have to survive interview season and Match Day: a stressful, expensive, hoop-jumping endeavor that...Read More

A dignified man, mentally sharp with clear blue eyes, sat before me. Next to him, his wife of 51 years, and next to her, their three children. His voice – surprisingly soft, and muted – offered the probability that he was nervous. Yet his attention was unwavering. He appeared to be waiting for me to speak. Mr. Meyers (not his real na...Read More

Recently, I was contacted by a prestigious medical organization that was seeking expansion of its board membership. I presumed that this was a personal invitation to join the cause, but soon realized that the caller wanted to use my influence to locate “more credible” candidates with academic gravitas. When I asked what sort of candi...Read More

Traditional medical school training is too expensive, takes too long, and is not addressing the primary care needs of the country, a complex problem with many moving parts. Medical students burdened by mountains of debt and unable to begin earning until well into their late twenties or early thirties often gravitate to higher-paid specialties and practice...Read More

A student told me about an experience at TEDMED, the future-oriented medical conference that bills itself as “a celebration of human achievement and the power of connecting the unconnected in creative ways to change our world in health and medicine.” He recounted how one speaker showed off the Remote Presence Virtual + Independent Telemedicine...Read More