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Second Opinions

Essays and opinions from our readers, always thought-provoking, sometimes controversial

A photo of an open tanning bed.

Tanning Salons Are Overdue for a Regulatory Burn

In the meantime, don't forget to educate patients on the risks

A photo of an overflowing mailbox.

'Opting Out' of Medical Snail Mail Can Boost Your Karma (and Maybe Save the Planet)

We can't shrug off environmental responsibility just because we're doctors

A close up photo of the U.S. flag on the shoulder of a military uniform.

Sounding the Alarm: The Silent Epidemic of Suicide Among U.S. Veterans

We have a moral obligation to care for those who have served our country

A photo of signage outside of FDA headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Was the FDA Panel Right to Recommend Against MDMA Approval?

Psychedelic treatments have potential, and taking an evidence-based approach is what's needed

A computer rendering of a surgical robot.

Are We Ready for AI-Assisted Surgery?

Some may be reluctant to let this technology into the training and treatment settings

A photo of Covid Task Force Ambassador Deborah Birx speaking during the covid pandemic.

'Uncertainty' Is Indeed a Bad Word: A Second Opinion on Pandemic Communication

Information should be presented to the public using a three-part approach

A photo of a refrigerator door handles secured by a cable lock.

Food Addiction Should Be Included in the DSM-6

Without an expanded diagnostic menu, many patients will struggle to get appropriate care

A photo of a senior woman describing her pain to a male physician.

An Older Woman's Chronic Pain Is Not 'All in Her Head'

There are serious consequences of under-managed pain

A photo if an anatomical model of the female reproductive system in front of a woman receiving an ultrasound.

Here's What I'm Looking For in an Ob/Gyn Residency: Comprehensive Training

Access to abortion training in all states can help prevent the growing gaps in women's health

A photo of two male farmers talking in a dairy cow barn.

'Uncertainty' Isn't a Bad Word: U.S. Agencies Must Tighten Up H5N1 Communications

More effective and efficient public messaging is the need of the hour

A photo of a male nurse looking at a laptop outside an examination room.

Where Are All the Male Nurses?

Gender stereotypes may be exacerbating the nursing shortage

A track of human footprints in moist beach sand.

How Will You Make Your Mark on Medicine?

Whether in academia or practice, find a way to leave your footprint

A close up photo of a man vaping.

Smoking Isn't the Only Source of Nicotine Addiction in Town

Emerging data suggest pharmacological interventions may help patients quit vaping

A photo of a hairdresser applying hair relaxer to her female client鈥檚 hair.

The Sickening Reality of 'White' Beauty Standards

From hair straighteners to racial surgery, the physical and emotional harm runs deep

A computer rendering of in vitro fertilization.

For Cancer Patients Facing Infertility, Access to IVF Is Paramount

Legislation can ensure all health insurance plans provide coverage

A photo of a fire alarm strobe/speaker attached to a wall.

Are We Desensitized to Fire Alarms in the Hospital?

We hear them and see them, but we often don't react to them

A photo of the book cover of CHAT GPT MD.

Knowledge Is Power: Will AI Democratize Medicine?

An adapted excerpt from the new book, ChatGPT, MD

A photo of a female physician at a desk on the phone and looking at a computer monitor

Imagine What EHR Interoperability Could Do for Healthcare

Connected systems would benefit patients and clinicians alike

A photo of two male and one female physician talking in the hallway of a hospital.

From Resident to Academic Attending: The Challenges Ahead

With appropriate support, this can be a time of growth and learning

A photo of people sitting in a the waiting room of an emergency department.

Revisiting 'Left Without Being Seen' Metrics in the ED

The current system drives problematic decisions regarding how care is allocated

A photo of three girls affected by measles in 1949.

Measles Is Preventable. How Did the World End Up Back Here?

Health professionals must encourage vaccination and fight misinformation

A photo of the Dirksen senate office building in Washington D.C.

When It Comes to Preventive Health, Play the Long Game

Proposed budget scoring legislation can boost disease prevention and drive cost savings

A photo of Jerome Adams, MD, MPH

I'm a Former Surgeon General and I Couldn't Believe My $10k Medical Bill

Everyone must be able to access necessary care without fear of financial ruin

A photo of Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, and his family.

20 Years of Same-Sex Marriage Has Been a Boon to Health

We should all celebrate strides in healthcare

A photo of a mother and daughter looking at a tablet on the kitchen counter.

The Online World Is a Double-Edged Sword for Youth Mental Health

Here's how to support young patients and their parents

A photo of a gardener harvesting vegetables for a farm to table restaurant.

Farm-to-Hospital Meals Can Help Protect Patients and the Climate

Every health system should partner with local, high-quality farms

A photo of a little girl carrying a tray of food in a school cafeteria.

New School Meal Standards: An Encouraging Step Towards Healthier Kids

The momentum coming from the federal government is promising

A close up photo of a woman鈥檚 hand with an IV line attached.

Ending Oncology's Toxic Relationship With High Chemotherapy Doses

Optimizing doses can improve patient outcomes and lower costs

A photo of an ambulance and state police cruiser at the scene of an overturned car on a highway

Fraudulent Practices Abound in Post-Accident Healthcare

These costs often fall unfairly on patients and insurance providers

A photo of traffic making its way through a flooded road in Karachi Pakistan in 2022.

The Green Elephant in Medical School Classrooms

Climate change should be weaved into the very fabric of health education

A photo of a crowd of people in bleachers at a sporting event.

Unmasking the 'Lost' Mental Health Generation

Many adults have been retrospectively diagnosed with autism, ADHD, and bipolar disorder

A photo of James Baker, MD, MPH

I Didn't Truly Understand Opioid Addiction Until It Killed My Son

Despite being a doctor, I learned too late that substance use disorder is a treatable disease

A photo of a mature male physician looking out the window of a hospital lobby.

The Plight of the Late-Boomer Physician

Does anyone besides me feel like we got the short end of the financial stick?

A photo of a female physician handing a swaddled baby to a new mother after childbirth.

We Screen Postpartum Women for Depression. But What About PTSD?

We're not asking all of the right questions

A photo of a broken cigarette lying on a stack of $100 bills.

What if States Paid People to Stop Using Drugs and Smoking?

This underutilized strategy has proven effective

A photo of a woman sitting at her desk using a calculator next to a laptop.

A Look Inside the Exorbitant Costs of Applying to Residency

The expense creates a barrier to equity and excellence

A photo of a white pill on the tip of a man鈥檚 finger.

Why Don't Men Have Their Version of 'The Pill'?

A focus on gender equity should include contraceptive equity too

A photo of a measuring tape wrapped around 3 Wegovy injection pens next to a stethoscope.

Patients Hitting GLP-1 Plateaus? Here's How to Help

Set expectations up front, and explore alternative approaches when necessary

Sylvie Stacy, MD

What I Learned From My Unconventional Career Path in Medicine

Don't be afraid to let your medical career meander

A black woman working at a lab.

Closing Gender-Based Disease Disparities Starts in the Lab

Women must have a seat at the table in deciding what type of research to pursue

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