History of Nephrology: First ASN

It was 1967 ( first ASN ever)
Some words of wisdom and pride from Dr. Grantham, John Peters Award Recipient
"Nephrology is the best kept secret of internal medicine"

Topic Discussion: "Kicking the Tar baby" effect

As medical lab tests become cheaper and more easily accessible to a click of a mouse or tick of a pen, we forget the " tar baby" effect.  A test that might appear " safe" and make you feel " complete" when you see a patient, might have drastic consequences when it leads to anxiety and frustration and can have a mountainous effect leading to other tests.

As our urges tell us to order these tests, we have to control and look at the clinical picture and decide - is it necessary? Its also hard to argue these points in the current era of malpractice and law suits and the need for the physician to have done a "complete workup".  Its a sad state of affairs but this "tar baby" effect is not going away anytime soon.

And this applies to Nephrology as well!

Take a look at this fascinating article shared to me by a friend

Ref:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3578335

New York Academy of Medicine Nephrology Lecture:- Patient advocate

http://www.nyam.org/events/2011/2011-10-26.html

Check out this month- the new york academy of medicine will be presenting the ethical issues and the humanism behind CKD and dialysis care and how Nephrologists are the Best advocate for the patients with kidney disease.

NSLIJ Transplant Surgeon on ABC

Dr Ernesto Molmenti, from our transplant department speaks about the gift of transplantation
Transplant Surgeon on

A casual reminder; Abraham Verghese: A doctor's touch | Video on TED.com

Abraham Verghese: A doctor's touch | Video on TED.com

Happy Teacher's Day to all

Today Sept 5th is Teacher's Day in India. Teachers and Educators are considered a very important part of our training as physicians. We have role models from high school, undergraduate, medical school and finally in residency and fellowship: teachers make what we are today.

Teachers come in many forms. Some as your course directors, some as your friends, some as your Attendings on the wards. They make a very important part of your decision making of what you choose as a career in medicine. Nephrology as a field needs more Role Models and teachers. Join today and make teachers day memorable by saying a big thank you to all that taught us throughout our career as we move on. A special thanks to our patients:- our best and most important teachers.

In India, Dr. S Radhakrishnan( second president of the country's) birthday is considered Teachers Day. On such a day, senior students take role of the teacher and pass on the torch. Dr. Radhakrishnan was a philosopher and scholar in comparative religion and philosophy. In USA, May 3rd week is regarded as the National Teacher's Week.

Another Did you Know Video? Some of the facts will shock you!

Unique Video on Social media

Negatives of E Learning

A recent letter to the editor in the journal "The Clinical Teacher" reveals some interesting take on e learning from a negative stand point. We all are aware of the good and fun aspects of e learning but this editorial reminds us of a very important point:- practice makes perfect; no podcast or vodcast or blog is going to make one a good physician.  The author says " It may seem a novel way to learn, but as the old Chinese proverb goes:- I hear, and I forget, I see and I remember. I do and I understand.".

Have a look at this interesting thought of the author
Ref:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21585684

Social Media and Medicine - A lawyers prespective

http://www.votervoice.net/link/clickthrough/ext/168053.aspx

Fascinating Wordle in AJT 2011

Check out this picture that was created on most cited surgical articles in ten surgical journals.
Turns out Transplantation topics rule and show the most results.
Nice
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-6143.2011.03459.x/full

USA-Nephronpower Wordle( Nephrology Rules)

http://www.tagxedo.com/art/f70ea46370324042