The gender gap in physicians’ earnings is well recognized — studies have shown that female physicians earn 8% to 29% less than males — but its underlying causes are a source of ongoing investigation and often vigorous debate. Shedding new light on the subject is a study challenging conventional assumptions about women in medicine —…
For those who enjoy wine with their meals, the wide variety of flavors found in a Thanksgiving dinner can pose a challenge in finding the “right” pairings. I put the word in quotes because I’m not a firm believer in rules when it comes to food. The easiest and ultimately best pairing for any dish…
Earlier this month, shortly after Pfizer announced that its vaccine was 90% effective in preventing COVID-19 in a clinical trial, New Jersey physician Linda Girgis tweeted to her patients: “As a family doctor, I’m seeing whole families infected with #COVID19. Please #WearAMask and keep #SocialDistance. A vaccine is coming soon.” But despite her hopeful message,…
Stuffing, dressing or filling? A debate much like us Italians arguing over whether we use sauce or gravy on our pasta. Matters not at all when it tastes great! Whatever you call this beloved side dish, the choice of bread used in stuffing — white, corn, challah, brioche, bagels or waffles — often depends on…
It’s Saturday morning and about a dozen young children are making hand sanitizer for their families, mixing together isopropyl alcohol and aloe vera. Via a Zoom screen, several John Hopkins University medics look on, reciting the right proportions and answering questions—such as why the alcohol concentration should be 90 percent and how sanitizer kills the…
Also known as Hunter’s chicken, chicken Cacciatore is an easy one skillet dish with deep flavors. Although one can use chicken breast, the more flavorful bone-in thighs are best in this dish and make for a richer tasting meal. Keep in mind, recipes are a guide and not carved in stone. Love garlic? Throw in…
Myths and misinformation about COVID-19 may be spreading as rapidly as the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself. An infodemic is vying with the medical pandemic for public attention—not surprising for a disease brand-new to the world—and poses unique challenges for clinicians trying to help their patients sort fact from fancy. Here are a dozen persistent COVID-19 myths…
Last Monday, Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation solidified a 6-to-3 conservative majority in the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS). Reputed a conservative jurist who has disagreed with certain aspects of the Affordable Care Act, Barrett is set to hear her first case beginning on November 10. The case challenging the constitutionality of the ACA,…
In early spring, soon after the start of the pandemic when many Iranians went into lockdown, cartoonist, caricaturist and illustrator Alireza Pakdel learned of the hard work and sacrifices of the healthcare sector through various news outlets. The reports inspired the Iranian artist to produce a COVID crisis-themed illustration each night until the end of…
Detailing the importance of immunization and clarifying the concept of herd immunity to patients is a worthwhile conversation at any time but especially relevant in the COVID-19 era, rife with an abundance of information and misinformation. A good way to approach the subject is to change the terminology. “Herd immunity originally applied to farm animals,”…
In a remote Indian village, a murdered family of three walks into a rural clinic asking a surgeon for help. If he can mend the wounds of the dead before sunrise, the family will live again. Stunned, surgeon Saheb takes on the challenge nonetheless—just like doctors do in everyday life, not knowing what they may…
