By: Rachel Goossen, MD In May 2019, headlines of a study out of University of Michigan hit the lay media: “New Doctors’ DNA Ages 6 Times Faster Than Normal in First Year.” Using DNA samples submitted by medical residents across the country, the Intern Health Study measured telomere length before and after residents completed their … More Doctors Need Help Too
By Rachel Caspar, MD My first responsibility as a physician is to take care of myself. I cannot care for my patients until my own needs are met. After experiencing depression as a medical student, I now recognize burnout as a life and death issue. I use a number of practices to prevent recurrence by … More What Helps Me Manage Depression
By Kara Frame, MD I don’t remember the exact lecture or rotation, but somewhere along the course of my medical school education, I was taught this powerful lesson: a person is capable of changing how she thinks. Of course, people have natural tendencies- leaning more positive or tending toward a more pessimistic outlook- but to … More Choosing Gratitude
By Katie Fortenberry, PhD I’m just coming out of two years of sleep deprivation. Due to some sleep apnea issues (hopefully finally resolved), my now two-year-old daughter slept like a newborn until this summer. Which means, like the mom of a newborn, I was up every three hours at night for the last two years. … More Living while Sleep Deprived
By Kyle Jones, MD This was originally published on the American Academy of Family Physician’s Fresh Perspectives Blog As both a physician and someone who suffers from depression and anxiety, I have been alarmed by what appears to be a dramatic rise in mental illness in our country. With this in mind, I was extremely saddened … More How Can Family Physicians Turn Back the Rising Suicide Rate?
By Katie Fortenberry, Ph.D “I don’t need meds,” the young psychology major told me confidently. “Or therapy really. Maybe I’ll just touch base with you every once in a while. I should be able to handle this on my own.” The young woman’s physician had been concerned enough in a recent visit about this … More Transparency in Mental Health
Family Medicine Vital Signs 