In this episode of From Print to Pod, Dr. Stephen M. Cohen, MD, MBA, the author of The Price of Integrity: A Surgeon’s Journey Through Legal Battles and Professional Betrayal, shares his experiences navigating the complexities of medical ethics, legal battles, and professional integrity as a surgeon. He discusses the emotional challenges of facing professional betrayal from organizations like the American College of Surgeons and the implications of serving as an expert witness in malpractice cases. Dr. Cohen emphasizes the importance of truth in medicine, the need for accountability within medical societies, and the challenges faced by young physicians in the legal landscape. He advocates for patient safety and integrity in the medical profession while expressing skepticism about the current state of professional organizations..

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Takeaways:

• Dr. Cohen has over 30 years of experience in surgery.
• He faced professional betrayal from the American College of Surgeons.
• Testifying honestly can lead to professional repercussions.
• Many surgeons fear retaliation for serving as expert witnesses.
• The truth in court can be overshadowed by biases.
• Young physicians must be prepared for emotional challenges in legal cases.
• Professional societies often prioritize loyalty over accountability.
• Dr. Cohen chose not to renew his ACS membership due to lack of support.
• Advocating for truth in medicine is crucial for patient safety.
• Change in professional organizations will take time.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Stephen Cohen's Journey

01:17 The Emotional Toll of Professional Betrayal

07:52 Navigating Professional Societies and Accountability

10:06 The Role of Expert Witnesses in Malpractice Cases

13:51 Mentoring Young Physicians in Legal Testimony

15:37 Balancing Truth and Professional Loyalty

17:52 Advocating for Patient Safety and Medical Integrity

19:00 Looking Forward: Trust in Professional Organizations

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Doctorsonsocialmedia.com, or SoMeDocs for short, is a healthcare omnimedia platform committed to promoting autonomy for the individuals in healthcare. Subscribe to our newsletter to not miss our new articles, episodes, or events: https://doctorsonsocialmedia.com/subscribe. Contact us anytime, at [email protected] (please note that we receive many emails and may not respond to all).

In this episode of From Print to Pod, Dr. Stephen M. Cohen, MD, MBA, the author of Sued, Not Shamed: What Five Malpractice Lawsuits Taught Me About Being a Good Doctor, discusses his experiences with medical malpractice lawsuits and how they have shaped his identity as a surgeon. He emphasizes the importance of transparency, communication, and empathy in patient care, particularly after adverse outcomes. Dr. Cohen shares strategies for navigating the emotional and legal challenges of litigation, highlighting the value of peer support and the impact of apologies in medical practice.

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Takeaways:

• Dr. Cohen has been in practice for 32 years.
• Litigation reshaped his identity as a surgeon.
• Transparency and owning mistakes are crucial.
• Patients often don't want to sue their doctors.
• The first lawsuit is the hardest to navigate.
• Communication about risks is essential.
• Preparation for litigation requires thorough knowledge.
• Emotional support from peers is invaluable.
• Apologies can significantly influence legal outcomes.
• Empathy in patient care can prevent lawsuits

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Stephen Cohen

01:13 Impact of Litigation on Professional Identity

03:15 The Importance of Transparency and Communication

07:57 Navigating Patient Conversations Post-Lawsuit

11:11 Preparation and Strategies for Legal Defense

13:09 Emotional Toll and Support Systems

16:09 The Role of Peer Support in Litigation

19:01 The Power of Apology in Medical Practice

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Doctorsonsocialmedia.com, or SoMeDocs for short, is a healthcare omnimedia platform committed to promoting autonomy for the individuals in healthcare. Subscribe to our newsletter to not miss our new articles, episodes, or events: https://doctorsonsocialmedia.com/subscribe. Contact us anytime, at [email protected] (please note that we receive many emails and may not respond to all).

In this episode of From Print to Pod, Dr. Cynthia Chen-Joea, DO, MPH, FAAFP, DABOM, the author of The Things Physician Mothers Don’t Talk About, shares her experiences as a physician mother, discussing the challenges of the fourth trimester, including physical and mental health issues. She emphasizes the importance of speaking up about postpartum struggles and the societal pressures faced by physician mothers. Dr. Chen-Joea also reflects on her journey of balancing motherhood with her medical career and the role of introversion in her entrepreneurial endeavors.

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Takeaways:

• Strength often looks like silence.
• The fourth trimester can be unexpectedly challenging.
• Postpartum physical changes are often under-discussed.
• Urinary incontinence is common but rarely talked about.
• Postpartum anxiety can manifest in various ways.
• Balancing motherhood and a medical career is a constant struggle.
• Self-compassion is crucial for managing expectations.
• Work-life harmony is more important than perfection.
• Introversion can be an asset in entrepreneurship.
• Building deep connections is valuable for introverts.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Cynthia Chen-Joea

00:54 The Challenges of the Fourth Trimester

05:02 Postpartum Physical Changes and Mental Health

08:43 Balancing Motherhood and Medical Career

12:35 Navigating Societal Pressures as a Physician Mother

16:39 Embracing Introversion in Entrepreneurship

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Doctorsonsocialmedia.com, or SoMeDocs for short, is a healthcare omnimedia platform committed to promoting autonomy for the individuals in healthcare. Subscribe to our newsletter to not miss our new articles, episodes, or events: https://doctorsonsocialmedia.com/subscribe. Contact us anytime, at [email protected] (please note that we receive many emails and may not respond to all).

In this powerful episode of From Print to Pod, Dr. Noemi Adame, the author of Being a Female Doctor Isn’t the Same Job. That’s Data., discusses this viral article on the unique challenges faced by female physicians. She highlights the gendered burdens in medicine, supported by data, and shares personal experiences that illustrate the differences in patient and staff interactions. Dr. Adame emphasizes the importance of balancing high expectations with self-care and advocates for rethinking compensation models to better support female doctors. She also introduces her upcoming retreat aimed at providing a healing space and practical tools for female physicians to combat burnout.

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Takeaways:

• Being a female physician involves unique challenges and burdens.
• Data shows female doctors receive more messages and often negative ones.
• Female physicians tend to be more thorough in their documentation.
• Patients and staff often perceive female doctors differently than male doctors.
• The healthcare system often profits from the altruism of female doctors.
• Mindset is crucial for female physicians to maintain boundaries.
• Compensation models need to reflect the realities of female doctors' practices.
• Creating supportive communities can help uplift female physicians.
• Balancing personal well-being with professional demands is essential.
• Practical tools and strategies are necessary to combat burnout.

Chapters:

00:00 The Viral Article and Its Impact

01:01 Realizations of Gendered Burdens in Medicine

01:59 Data-Driven Insights on Female Physicians

04:16 Interactions with Staff and Patients

07:25 Balancing Expectations and Well-Being

11:31 Rethinking Compensation and Practice Models

16:40 Creating a Healing Space for Female Physicians

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Doctorsonsocialmedia.com, or SoMeDocs for short, is a healthcare omnimedia platform committed to promoting autonomy for the individuals in healthcare. Subscribe to our newsletter to not miss our new articles, episodes, or events: https://doctorsonsocialmedia.com/subscribe. Contact us anytime, at [email protected] (please note that we receive many emails and may not respond to all).

In this powerful episode of From Print to Pod, Dr. Sulana Misra, the author of I Quit as a Civil Surgeon. This Is Why shares the deeply personal and political reasons behind her decision to resign as a USCIS-designated civil surgeon. As immigration policy shifts and ethical boundaries blur, she opens up about the weight of responsibility, the threat to patient data, and the moral dilemma of participating in a system she no longer trusts. This conversation sheds light on how medicine, ethics, activism, and patient care intersect in times of social upheaval.

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Takeaways:

• Resigning can be a form of advocacy: Dr. Misra chose to step away from her federal role to stand by her ethics and speak out against harmful immigration practices.
• Physicians must protect patient trust: The attempted access to her full EMR—including non-immigration patients—was a red line that underscored growing federal overreach.
• Ethical discomfort is a red flag: Dr. Misra encourages clinicians to listen to their bodies and instincts when something feels wrong in their practice or environment.
• Silence is not neutral: Staying quiet in the face of injustice can be complicity, especially when physicians hold trusted voices in society.
• The personal cost is real: Her decision meant loss of income and opportunity, but it also brought clarity, solidarity, and a deeper commitment to justice and patient care. 

Chapters:

00:00 – Welcome & Introduction

00:45 – What Is a Civil Surgeon?

02:00 – Why Dr. Misra Took the Role

03:30 – What Prompted Her to Quit

07:00 – Ethics, Safety, and Listening to the Body

09:40 – Impact on Her Practice and Colleagues

11:00 – Advocacy Through Resignation

12:00 – Grassroots Physician Activism in LA

13:00 – Patient Data and Ethical Responsibility

14:20 – Final Reflections and A Call to Physicians

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Doctorsonsocialmedia.com, or SoMeDocs for short, is a healthcare omnimedia platform committed to promoting autonomy for the individuals in healthcare. Subscribe to our newsletter to not miss our new articles, episodes, or events: https://doctorsonsocialmedia.com/subscribe. Contact us anytime, at [email protected] (please note that we receive many emails and may not respond to all).

We explore why cognitive and non-procedural specialists like infectious disease and endocrinology physicians spend far more time in the EHR than proceduralists, revealing a system that undervalues intellectual labor and documentation-heavy care.

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Doctorsonsocialmedia.com, or SoMeDocs for short, is a healthcare omnimedia platform committed to promoting autonomy for the individuals in healthcare. Subscribe to our newsletter to not miss our new articles, episodes, or events: https://doctorsonsocialmedia.com/subscribe. Contact us anytime, at [email protected] (please note that we receive many emails and may not respond to all).

In this episode, Dr. Santina Wheat, the author of the article No One Knows What's right for you: A Mommy's Take on the "Mommy Wars (and speaker of both of our SoMeDocsLeadership conferences - part I is here and part II here) discusses her views on the challenges of motherhood, particularly for working moms. She reflects on personal experiences of judgment, the unrealistic expectations placed on mothers, and the complexities of balancing a medical career with parenting. Dr. Wheat emphasizes the importance of personal alignment, the impact of social media on perceptions of motherhood, and the need for healthcare systems to provide flexible support for new mothers. The discussion offers valuable insights and advice for navigating the pressures of motherhood and finding one's own path.

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Takeaways:

• True balance comes from personal alignment, not pleasing others.
• Moms often feel judged, especially regarding childcare decisions.
• Cultural expectations of motherhood can be unrealistic.
• Medical training can complicate the motherhood experience.
• Being present is more important than just showing up.
• Social media amplifies the pressures of motherhood.
• There is no one right way to be a good mom.
• New moms should turn off outside noise and trust themselves.
• Healthcare systems need to offer flexibility for new parents.
• Each parenting journey is unique and should be respected.

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Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Santina Wheat and Her Article

01:06 Navigating Judgment as a Working Mom

03:00 Cultural Expectations of Motherhood

05:14 The Impact of Medical Training on Motherhood

06:54 Finding Personal Alignment in Parenting

08:46 Social Media and the Mommy Wars

09:59 Advice for New Moms

10:40 Healthcare Systems Supporting New Mothers

12:32 Understanding Individual Parenting Journeys

Send us a message to tell us what you loved about the show!

Doctorsonsocialmedia.com, or SoMeDocs for short, is a healthcare omnimedia platform committed to promoting autonomy for the individuals in healthcare. Subscribe to our newsletter to not miss our new articles, episodes, or events: https://doctorsonsocialmedia.com/subscribe. Contact us anytime, at [email protected] (please note that we receive many emails and may not respond to all).

In this episode, Dr. Stephen Cohen, the author of the article From Scalpel to Strategy: Reinventing Surgical Education for the Next Generation (and speaker of not one, but two, SoMeDocs conferences - the second annual entrepreneurship course and the Finance, Investing, and Real Estate course) discusses the evolution of surgical education, emphasizing the need for autonomy, modern skills, and the integration of technology like AI. He reflects on the disconnect between training and real-world practice, the importance of teamwork in surgery, and the role of storytelling in medical training. Dr. Cohen advocates for a more innovative approach to surgical education that prepares future surgeons for the complexities of modern healthcare.

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Takeaways:
Surgical education must evolve beyond traditional apprenticeship.
Autonomy is crucial for developing competent surgeons.
Modern surgical training lacks essential skills like open surgery.
AI should not replace critical thinking in patient care.
Teamwork is essential in surgical practice.
Communication is key in patient care and surgical teams.
Storytelling enhances understanding and empathy in medicine.
Leadership training is vital for future surgeons.
Experience is gained through mistakes and learning from them.
The future of surgery will be shaped by technology and innovation.


Chapters:
00:00 Reinventing Surgical Education
02:46 Autonomy in Surgical Training
04:03 Modern Skills in Surgery
06:06 AI and the Future of Surgery
08:08 Systems Thinking in Surgical Care
09:43The Team Sport of Surgery
11:13 Leadership Lessons in Surgery
12:27 The Role of Storytelling in Medicine
13:42 Innovating Surgical Education
15:44 The Future of Surgical Training

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Doctorsonsocialmedia.com, or SoMeDocs for short, is a healthcare omnimedia platform committed to promoting autonomy for the individuals in healthcare. Subscribe to our newsletter to not miss our new articles, episodes, or events: https://doctorsonsocialmedia.com/subscribe. Contact us anytime, at [email protected] (please note that we receive many emails and may not respond to all).

In this episode, Robin Finn, the author of the article Why So Many Women Struggle to Write - and What’s Really Behind It (speaker/workshop facilitator of both of our 1st annual SoMeDocsLeadership conference here and the second annual SoMeDocsWriters) discusses the struggles women face in writing, emphasizing the internal conflicts related to worthiness and societal expectations. She introduces the concept of 'limiting beliefs' and how perfectionism can hinder completion of writing projects. Finn shares personal anecdotes about overcoming shame and judgment in her writing journey and highlights the importance of community and mentorship. She advocates for writing as a healing tool and calls for changes in the publishing industry to better support women's voices.

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Takeaways:
The struggle to write often stems from feelings of unworthiness.
Judgment is a significant barrier to creative expression.
Perfectionism can lead to incomplete writing projects.
Societal norms pressure women to be quiet and polite.
Personal experiences can fuel powerful writing.
Dismantling limiting beliefs is crucial for writers.
Community support enhances the writing experience.
Writing serves as a form of self-care.
The publishing industry often overlooks women's stories.
Women’s voices and experiences deserve more representation.


Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Writing Struggles for Women
01:25 The Internal Conflict of Worthiness
03:05 Understanding Misslexia and Perfectionism
04:39 Societal Expectations and Gender Norms
06:28 Personal Experiences of Internal Barriers
08:34 Dismantling Limiting Beliefs
10:38 The Importance of Community and Mentorship
12:29 Impact of Publishing Industry on Women Writers
14:00 Writing as a Tool for Healing
15:44 Changes Needed in the Literary World

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Doctorsonsocialmedia.com, or SoMeDocs for short, is a healthcare omnimedia platform committed to promoting autonomy for the individuals in healthcare. Subscribe to our newsletter to not miss our new articles, episodes, or events: https://doctorsonsocialmedia.com/subscribe. Contact us anytime, at [email protected] (please note that we receive many emails and may not respond to all).

In this conversation, Dr. David Epstein, who authored the article, When Yelp Becomes a Source of Anxiety, discusses the anxiety induced by online reviews, particularly Yelp, and its impact on small businesses and healthcare. He shares personal experiences from running an urgent care facility and highlights the importance of communication between service providers and clients. The discussion also explores the complexities of healthcare visits compared to restaurant experiences, the influence of patient expectations on clinical decisions, and the challenges physicians face in managing their digital presence. The conversation concludes with a call for better communication and understanding in the face of online reviews.

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Takeaways:

• Yelp reviews can induce significant anxiety for business owners.
• The impact of online reviews is profound in small businesses.
• Healthcare visits involve more variables than restaurant experiences.
• Communication is key in addressing patient concerns.
• Patients often react impulsively by posting negative reviews.
• Physicians face challenges in managing their online presence.
• HIPAA regulations limit how physicians can respond to reviews.
• Human connection can resolve many issues arising from misunderstandings.
• The complexity of healthcare can lead to patient dissatisfaction.
• Proactive communication can strengthen relationships between patients and providers.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Anxiety from Online Reviews
02:53 The Impact of Yelp on Small Businesses
06:11 Healthcare vs. Restaurant Reviews: A Complex Comparison
08:54 Navigating Patient Expectations and Clinical Decision Making
11:45 Managing Digital Presence as a Physician
15:01 The Need for Guidelines on Patient Reviews
17:54 Closing Thoughts on Communication and Connection

Send us a message to tell us what you loved about the show!

Doctorsonsocialmedia.com, or SoMeDocs for short, is a healthcare omnimedia platform committed to promoting autonomy for the individuals in healthcare. Subscribe to our newsletter to not miss our new articles, episodes, or events: https://doctorsonsocialmedia.com/subscribe. Contact us anytime, at [email protected] (please note that we receive many emails and may not respond to all).