Christmas Toy Troubles

You may wonder why I am writing about children’s toys.  Well, it turns out that one of my many responsibilities on call is to remove them from children’s stomachs. When I relayed this to my family, they were fascinated by this. Children are naturally curious and tend to put objects in their mouths.  Interestingly, about […]

What really happens in the OR?

With all of the controversy around masks these days, people often assume that it’s pretty easy for me as I wear a mask in the OR most of the day.  The truth is, I don’t think it’s easy for any of us to wear a mask all day.  I’m pretty used to it though. The OR […]

5 ways to make your mammogram better

October is breast cancer awareness month, and my message is get your mammograms!  Mammograms are important and are the most effective tool we have for early detection of breast cancer.  Breast cancer affects 1 in 7 women in the US, and is the second most common cancer in women. Mammograms save lives! My sister hates her […]

Lessons from a 7 year old

Last week, I had the pleasure of taking care of a beautiful seven year old girl.  During a planned sleepover at her grandmother’s, she was bit by the neighbor’s dog.  I was the trauma surgeon that day and was asked to fix her up. This is an easy thing for me to do.  However, most seven […]

Community Practice for the Uninitiated

How to Get the Most out of Your Doctors Appointment

Now that I’m back to seeing patients regularly, I have noticed some of the struggles patients have in getting the most out of their doctor’s appointments.  This is really amplified when we are all wearing masks and social distancing. Patients are often nervous, forget their questions, and may feel disconnected as we are often clicking […]

Staying Safe As We Open Back Up

I have to say, I am very happy to be seeing more patients again and doing what I love to do.  I’ve missed connecting with people and the passion I have for surgery and teaching.  Today, I had a patient who is in her 70’s, tell me that she was so afraid to do anything. […]

Why should you continue to see your surgeon?

As hospitals begin to resume elective procedures, screenings and other visits, it’s time to prioritize your health and wellness.  Like myself, many of you need to reschedule that dentist appointment, your haircut and car service.  We are counting down the days to see our stylists for our hair, but we may not be too excited […]

My procedure was cancelled, now what?

During the shelter in place order, not only have nonessential businesses shut down, but many healthcare procedures have been deemed nonessential.  Of course, urgent or emergent care is being provided, but we have been asked to postpone “elective” procedures to conserve resources and help prevent the spread of the virus.  In some areas of the […]

Staying Healthy During the Coronavirus

We are all adjusting to the new normal of staying home.  I have a full house here with my four children, my son’s girlfriend and 3 dogs. We have four different schools going on in four different areas of the house.  Everyone has their own idiosynchraties and peculiarities.  While there are some challenging times, it […]