Doximity’s Op-Med provides a platform for physicians to share their thoughts, experiences, and perspectives with other physicians. These original articles often spark deeper conversations among physicians who share their reactions and ideas in the comments. The top-read articles provide insight into the industry topics with which physicians are engaging.
Here are the top-read Op-Med articles from this month, organized by trending topic.
Patient Care
My Patient Went Against Medical Advice. By the Time I Saw Him He Was Paralyzed
Paul Calvin Holtrop, MD reflects on a patient experience that has stayed with him throughout his career. He muses on a patient’s autonomy in their medical care, the importance of evidence-based decision-making, and a physician’s role in guiding their patients. Physicians in the comments largely agree with Dr. Holtrop’s stance and introduce other salient points, such as the rapid spread of medical misinformation.
My 'Face-Palm' Moment with a Patient
Fourth-year med student Ruchi Desai reflects on an important lesson learned during her time in the emergency department. She recounts when she fell into a trap of overthinking and overcomplicating, which forced her to slow down and remember that patient care is simply about patients. Commenters encouraged Desai and shared their own stories from their medical training that led them to the same conclusions.
Future of Medicine
Is Your Medical Specialty Sustainable?
Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA shares a unique perspective on how medicine has evolved, reflecting on his own medical training in the 1980s and how his specialty, psychiatry, has changed throughout his career. He encourages med students selecting specialties to think like hockey star Wayne Gretzky thinks about a puck–that is, imagining where he believes it is going to be rather than where it is currently. Colleagues in the comments chime in with how they selected their specialties, the changes they’ve seen, and the importance of passion in your career.
The White Coat Is Here to Stay, but Do You Still Wear One?
Vincent Myers, MS breaks down the discussion surrounding a JAMA article about public perceptions of physician attire and professionalism in the U.S. that generated a lot of attention on Doximity. Physicians quoted in the article and in the comments provided various reasons for and against the white coat, citing reasons surrounding the physician’s identity or the identities of their patients, as well as hygienic best practices. While the jury is out on the white coat, everyone seems to agree that demeanor and confidence are more important than attire.
Physician Burnout
For Surgeons, Growth Often Comes From Dealing With Horrors
Caitlin Cain, MD is a first-year surgical resident who writes with inspiring honesty about her experience with trauma calls. She considers her title, “Doc,” and all that comes with it: exhaustion, excitement, never-ending calls. She reflects on the struggle to maintain humanity and empathy in such a physically and emotionally straining environment and how taking small moments throughout the day to savor a cup of coffee or visit the NICU allow her to be better for her patients and herself. Commenters praise Dr. Cain’s thoughtful article, her candor, and her focus on retaining humanity in medicine.
Is Medicine a Job, a Career, or a Calling?
Joy Chang Liu, MD considers Yale School of Management professor Dr. Amy Wrzesniewski’s framework of how people view work – as a job, a career, or a calling. She reflects on her motivations, as well as those of her colleagues. Ultimately, she acknowledges that she changes her viewpoint in different circumstances, seeing medicine as a profession that can be all of these things simultaneously. Commenters largely agree with Dr. Liu and consider how their perspectives on their work shift over time.