From the other side of the drapes: what surgical teams are actually evaluating in the first few days on rotation — and why trust matters more than brilliance.

I'm a colorectal surgeon, and I want to say something that might sound strange: I hope you never need me. Not for this. Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in Americans under 50 — seven years earlier than researchers projected. One in five diagnoses today involves someone under 55. As a surgeon who has operated on patients in their thirties with metastatic disease, I have one ask this March: stop putting it off.

Scrub in like you belong. Attending guide walks med students through sink technique, gowning/gloving, what to say if you contaminate ("I'm not sterile"), sterile field rules (no reaching across surgeon), and fainting prevention. From hyper-aware hands at the sink to Surgical Prayer—what the OR team actually wants from you.

The night before your surgery rotation starts, you're not afraid of the anatomy. You're afraid of not knowing the rules — and nobody thought to write them down. Until now.

End-of-life conversations in the ICU are among the hardest skills trainees learn. This attending-level guide offers practical frameworks, coaching strategies, and emotional normalization to help residents lead family meetings with clarity, confidence, and compassion.

If you spend enough time in the ICU, you will miss lines. That doesn’t mean you’re bad at procedures—it means you’re learning. This attending’s guide shows how setup, mindset, and recovery turn hard attempts into confidence.

ICU nutrition is active therapy, not an afterthought. This attending-level guide teaches medical students and residents how to assess nutrition risk, start feeds safely, know when to initiate TPN, and present nutrition clearly on rounds.

RRT doesn’t require you to be a nephrologist—it requires a system. Written to help trainees, this guide helps students and residents understand when dialysis is needed, how to choose the right modality, what orders to write, and how to tell if therapy is actually helping at the bedside.

I wrote about this a couple years ago as an "Emerging Crisis" and presented information on this last year. Those words no longer fit. Early-onset colorectal cancer is no longer "Emerging". It is here! Once relegated to the realm of later life, colorectal cancer (CRC) now casts a growing shadow over younger generations. Its insidious rise among individuals under 50 demands urgent attention, a shift in clinical paradigms, and a deeper understanding of the unique biological land

A high-yield ABG teaching guide for medical students and residents using the CLEAR framework, bedside shortcuts, and worked ICU cases to simplify acid–base interpretation and avoid missed mixed disorders.

VTE is a leading cause of preventable hospital death. Effective prophylaxis requires more than "checking the box"; it demands tailoring orders to patient physiology. For medical patients with renal failure, switch from Enoxaparin to Heparin 5,000 units TID. Trauma patients often require aggressive 40 mg BID dosing due to high metabolism, while neuro-trauma requires 30 mg BID. For obesity, use weight-based dosing (0.5 mg/kg) and consider Anti-Xa monitoring to ensure safety.

One of the most common questions that seems to always come up on rounds is, "Does this patient need GI prophylaxis?" Depending on who's rounding, the day or the experience, a different answer will come. Why is this? Maybe training or experience play a role in this. We can look at the recommendations based on training. Comparing Surgical Guidelines, SCCM/ASHP Recommendations, and the REVISE Trial Stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) in critically ill patients  has been a standard

Happy New Year! While renewing my medical license, I found myself reflecting on ways to improve—not just as a physician, but as a person. One of my main focus areas this year is how I approach goals and habits. As the year changes, many of us feel the urge to improve ourselves. We embrace that “new beginning” energy and commit to multiple transformative habits. We plan to run marathons, read 50 books, and finally master meal prepping without ending up with a fridge full of wi

As the clock strikes midnight and the calendar flips, there is a collective shift in the world’s energy. On the surface, it’s just another day—the sun rises and sets as it always does—but for my family, the New Year represents one of our most powerful psychological tools: the fresh start. This fresh start isn't just a mental shift; it’s a sensory experience. New Year’s Day is built around the belief that what you eat on January 1 sets the tone and a roadmap for the year to c

The holiday season is often portrayed as the "most wonderful time of the year," filled with twinkling lights, family gatherings, and joyful celebrations. But for many, it's also a period of heightened holiday anxiety —a mix of stress, overwhelm, and emotional strain that can turn merriment into misery. If you've ever felt a knot in your stomach while wrapping gifts or dreaded family dinners, you're far from alone. Recent surveys show that holiday-related stress is on the rise

Enhancing patient outcomes through cultural sensitivity is a continuous journey. It requires humility, curiosity, and a genuine desire to connect with patients beyond their medical conditions. When we embrace this approach, we not only improve healing but also honor the rich tapestry of human experience. Whether patients are facing a complex surgery or navigating intensive care, know that cultural identity matters. Healthcare providers who listen and adapt can make all the d

The Mediterranean Diet offers a rare combination in the nutrition world: it is scientifically rigorous and culinarily delicious. It moves the focus away from what you can't eat and highlights the abundance of what you can enjoy.

# Movember: A Call to Action for Men's Health Movember , an annual event held throughout November, encourages men to grow mustaches to raise awareness for crucial men's health issues . This includes prostate cancer , testicular cancer , and mental health . Started in Australia in 2003 , it has evolved into a global movement with participants in countries like the US, Canada, and the UK. To learn more about their mission, visit the Movember Official Website . Beyond the Mus

October paints our world pink, and for a very important reason: it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is more than just a colorful observance; it's a crucial annual reminder to prioritize breast health, understand the risks, and embrace the power of early detection. As a healthcare provider, my primary goal is to empower you with the knowledge and resources to safeguard your well-being. When it comes to breast cancer, this empowerment begins with understanding the facts a

While we are trained to care for others' health, we often struggle with our own mental health due to the demanding nature of our profession.