From the operating room and beyond
Blog & Essays
Thoughts on medicine, communication, judgment, and the human stories behind surgical care.
A continuing conversation
The stories continue here.
A collection of thoughts and events that continue threads begun in my books—written for patients, families, healthcare professionals, and curious readers.
All essays
Reflections from a life in medicine.
from the operating room
Bloody Halloween
A Halloween interrupted by a life-and-death surgical emergency.
Read essay →
surgical judgment
Too Sick for Surgery
Weighing the risks of surgery against the risks of doing nothing.
Read essay →
patient care
Income or Outcome?
Why excellent patient care must always come before income.
Read essay →
patient care
Listen
Why listening and a real examination still matter in modern medicine.
Read essay →
communication
Medicalese
Why doctors should speak to patients and families in clear, everyday language.
Read essay →
human nature
We Are All (a Bit) Crazy
Mental-health stigma, physical symptoms, and the humanity shared by us all.
Read essay →
surgical judgment
Decision Making
The difficult question at the center of surgery: whether to operate—or not.
Read essay →
the future of care
AI on the Horizon
Two reflections on artificial intelligence, medical decisions, and the physician’s role.
Read essay →
art & science
Medicine and Surgery
Anatomy, experience, and the balance between science and surgical craft.
Read essay →
humility
The Dunning–Kruger Effect
Confidence, knowledge, and why humility matters so much in the operating room.
Read essay →
for patients
Colonoscopy
A candid—and lightly humorous—look at preparation and getting it right.
Read essay →