I don’t know about you, but this month has been…a lot. Between the L.A. fires, the confusing health-related executive orders, RFK Jr.’s confirmation hearings, and now this tragic D.C. plane crash, it’s hard not to feel consumed by recent headlines.
Everywhere we turn, physicians, and all healthcare professionals, are being put to the test: Will NIH funding freezes compromise the future of clinical research? Could drug development slow due to looming budget cuts? Will we be prepared for the next public health crisis after pulling out of the W.H.O.? Will infectious disease rates (and ER visits!) skyrocket if anti-vaccine skepticism takes root? Will rural AI health robots replace us?
With so many unknowns, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed or even defeated. I personally felt weighed down by these heavy questions several times this week. But then I remembered a different truth: That particularly in moments like these, there’s nothing more cathartic than having a community to lean on. As I’ve lamented before, we as physicians lack authentic digital spaces for connection (long gone are the days of the physicians’ lounge) — which is why I couldn’t be prouder of the community we’re building together at Offcall. I want this to be a space where we lift each other up. A space where we can collaborate, commiserate, and cheer one another on.
Navigating life, and our careers, is more fulfilling as a team. So thank you for being here. Whatever you’re feeling right now is normal. In fact, I’d bet someone else feels the same way.
Graham Walker, MD, Emergency Physician
Co-founder, Offcall
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This week on How I Doctor, Graham spoke with Jim Dahle, an emergency medicine physician who’s best known as the founder of the White Coat Investor. Jim started blogging about personal finance for physicians almost 15 years ago. And he’s as determined as ever to help physicians with every aspect of money management — whether protecting them from predatory financial advisors, recommending investing strategies, or debunking misconceptions about loan repayment. Jim shares practical tips on saving, spending and building wealth over time, as well as the lessons he’s learned from his own career in medicine.
4 Things to Do Before Filing Tax Returns →
It's that time of year. Whether you're working with a tax advisor or doing your own returns, here are some important tips.
The Surprising Reality of Physician Pay →
Most people think doctors are uniformly wealthy and have no money-related worries. Time to set the record straight.
In response to this lazy take on social media, we decided to set the record straight!
KFF Poll on Health Information and Trust: January 2025 → (KFF)
Public trust in government health agencies has fallen, most adults are uncertain if MMR vaccines can cause autism, and more depressing findings.
National Science Foundation suspends salary payments, leaving researchers unable to pay their bills → (STAT News)
The federal funding freeze was supposed to be lifted for post-doc researchers relying on NSF grants, but the NSF’s online payment system stayed down.
Use and Evaluation Of AI And Predictive Models In Hospitals → (Health Affairs)
Many hospitals don’t test AI tools for bias or to see if the tools actually work with their own data, according to a new study.
At Offcall, our goal is simple: to bring more fairness and transparency to medicine. If you’re new here, don’t forget to sign up for our job transparency tool!
Using our private and anonymous salary tool, thousands of physicians are benchmarking their pay and key aspects of their jobs — things like patients seen per shift, total hours worked, supervising NPs and PAs, etc. We’re gearing up for our first major data release across various specialities. If you’re curious how your compensation compares to your peers, and to ensure we have the most accurate data to help bring about pay and workload transparency, we would love for you to join us!
Sign Up (It’s anonymous and takes less than 2 minutes)
We’re trying something new: Let’s crowd-source answers to a key question and publish the responses to help fellow physicians at work and in their lives.
Last week, we asked: What’s one tool (AI or otherwise), app, or work hack that you’ve used to make your life or job easier? Explain how it’s helped.
Here are a few of our favorite answers:
This week, we’re asking: What’s one important thing happening in your speciality right now that you feel deserves more attention?
Reply directly to this email, or add a comment, and we’ll publish the responses next week. Have a question you think we should ask next week? Also let us know!
Each week, we celebrate career milestones, launches, & other goings-on in the physician community. Have something to promote? Reply and we’ll feature you.
✍️ Congrats, Ed Yap
Dr. Yap published research in BMC Anesthesiology about a new prediction model for older patients facing emergency surgery. Read it.
✍️Well done, Mohammad Rashidian
Mohammad co-authored a paper published in Nature about a non-invasive tool for imaging inflammation. Read it.
🎙️Way to go, Arti Thangudu
Dr. Thangudu’s new podcast, Endocrine Matters, launches on February 5. Mark your calendars and subscribe.
🎈Back in the news, Brad Goldberg
Two weeks in a row. Dr. Goldberg was interviewed by ABC7 Los Angeles and Healthcare Brew for his work in response to the L.A. wildfires.
🎤Great job, Priya Jaisinghani
Dr. Jaisinghani spoke about medication and surgical therapy during a panel hosted by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
🎊Cheers, Damon Ramsey
Dr. Ramsey is joining Quadrivia AI as CTO.
📢 Funding opportunity alert!
$12 million in grant money for AI approaches to heart, vascular and brain health. Learn more. (h/t Dr. Michael McConnell.)
Thanks for reading! Each week, we give you the latest news, information, financial and career tips, and a dose of inspiration delivered to your inbox. Join our growing physician community by subscribing to our newsletter. And be sure to forward this newsletter to your physician colleagues and friends!
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