A dermatologist on the COVID-19 front lines

Here are the stories you missed on KevinMD. Thank you for your continuing readership. --------------------------------------------------------------- Here are the stories you missed on [KevinMD](. Thank you for your continuing readership. --------------------------------------------------------------- Sponsors There are no easy ways to eliminate alarm fatigue, protect health care workers from workplace violence events, or eradicate physician burnout. [COVID-19 complicates these issues](. Improved communications can be part of the solution. [Read this eBook to find out more](. [Since the start of COVID-19]( a majority of people are experiencing increased levels of stress and 42 percent report a decline in mental health. Physicians face [potential liability risks]( if warning signs of stress are missed. Did you know more than 80% of surveyed Americans who have used telehealth services said they [liked or loved it]( Download the Updox infographic on consumer preferences of telehealth both [now and post-COVID](. [Tax planning for physicians]( updated with recent COVID-19 changes. Learn how to save taxes and keep more of what you make by registering for [this month’s webinars]( Make the Most of Your S-Corp Deductions and Hiring your Children (Including Spouse and Parents) --------------------------------------------------------------- KevinMD Plus: Jun 18, 2020 [A dermatologist on the COVID-19 front lines]( Let’s get the jokes out first. Yes, I am a dermatologist who is on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic at my hospital, and no, you do not want me to intubate you. I’m a little different than most dermatologists. I also trained in internal medicine, and I regularly spend time on the medicine […] [Why we must keep learning from the coronavirus pandemic]( Looking back on the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, I hope that we are able to take away several lessons. Immediately after the virus showed up in the United States, many physicians without access to virus testing seemed to go straight to imaging for an answer. While a few imaging tests proved to be […] [A physician awakens to racism in America]( Until recently, I didn’t really understand the meaning behind the Black Lives Matter movement. I was one of those people who felt, “of course black lives matter, all lives matter.” I mean, that’s exactly why I became a doctor in the first place. To help people. All people. I would venture to say that with my rose-colored glasses and […] [Transition recommendations for the reporting of USMLE Step 1 scores as pass/fail]( On February 12, 2020, the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) announced that, “the USMLE program will change score reporting for Step 1 from a three-digit numeric score to reporting only a pass/fail outcome” as early as January 1, 2022. This change will have a major impact on medical education. USMLE has not announced a […] [Why this physician marched during a pandemic]( The nature of the virus has not changed. Large gatherings of people increase the risk of transmission of a deadly COVID-19 virus that could kill me, my loved ones, and my community. I have emphasized this for the past few months to my patients and scolded anyone who casually and carelessly broke public health recommendations […] [South Asian physicians must be part of the solution against racism]( Over the last few days, physicians and nurses across the country have taken a knee, galvanized by the recent death of George Floyd, as well as the disproportionate effect of the coronavirus pandemic on African-American families. The White Coats for Black Lives movement firmly identifies racism as a public health issue and calls on everyone […] [What physicians need to know about real estate syndications]( Physicians have not been immune to the economic impact of the pandemic. There have been several furloughs and reductions in RVUs. Although physicians are high earning professionals, many start careers well into their 30s and are saddled with tremendous debt, and the need for financial planning cannot be ignored. There has been a lot of […] [Feeling guilty for not being on the frontlines of the pandemic [PODCAST]]( “Do all physicians and scientists not on the frontlines of this pandemic feel this, or is it unique to women? Women in medicine and science have long struggled with the sense of never having ‘done enough’ and have pushed themselves even harder to get the same recognition accorded our male colleagues. Does that make us […] [It is time our scientists and physicians lead from the frontlines]( Last year Harris poll did a survey asking children ages 8 to 12 years in the U.S., the U.K., and China what they wanted to be when they grew up. In the U.S., “Vlogger” and “YouTube star” ranked number 1 (29%). Other choices were teacher (26%), professional athlete (23%), musician (19%), and astronaut (11%). Physician, […] [A medical student’s physician inspiration]( Amaka was a timid-looking girl, tall in stature with a head of braided hair, like myself. She was unassuming and composed at first glance and, if my hypothesis was correct, she could not have been older than me. We were similar, both being of Igbo heritage, but also different—Amaka was pregnant. Admittedly, at 14, I […] [We can’t breathe: black and brown trauma in COVID-19]( The sirens wail as the ambulance approaches, bouncing off New York City skyscrapers and empty storefronts. They swirl around one building, sweeping up old paint chips and dust from centuries-old stairs. Inside on the third floor, a family paces around in panic. Their matriarch fights for air. The youngest holds her hand and softly sings […] [There’s a code for pain, but what’s the code for suffering?]( Opiates relieve pain and can transport people to their apparent happy place. So does marijuana. Lyrica, the seizure-turned-pain medication, caused enough of a buzz in early study participants that it became a controlled substance. The anesthetic ketamine is now used for treatment-resistant depression. Years ago, we had to be very specific about the location and […] [A social worker remembers a tortured soul]( By profession, Donna Dillon is a photographer. She wouldn’t like to be described as a “professional” anything, but the quality of her photos make her deserving of the term. But disarray and inertia characterize Donna now, by her own description. “My life’s work is stuffed into little places, and I sit relatively immobile, before the […] [Medical students have the responsibility to correct racial inequities]( Before I walked hospital hallways as a medical student, I walked high school hallways as a science teacher in Houston’s 5th Ward. Each year, the most difficult time for me was graduation. The pride of watching my students, most African American, achieve a well-earned success was mixed with the sadness of losing incredible people as […] [The healing power of art [PODCAST]]( “Each morning before the doctors came in for rounds; I’d paint feverishly whatever abstraction came to mind and what evolved from my situation. When I completed my pieces, I felt like I had not only gotten out my frustrations and worry, but also found a place of joy and gratitude. I would put each canvas […] --------------------------------------------------------------- If a friend sent you this email and you want to subscribe, go to [KevinMD](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 345 Hudson Street New York NY 10014 USA [Unsubscribe]( | [Change Subscriber Options](