Background: Survivors of hospitalization for COVID-19 are potentially at high risk for subsequent psychiatric morbidity due to medical trauma, systemic inflammation, and potential neurotropism of SARS-CoV-2(1). In addition, social isolation during the hospital stay due to restrictive visitor policies and after discharge due to fears of contagion or stay-at-home orders could further increase psychiatric vulnerability [...]

Background: While medical school experience could be very rewarding, it is also known to be unusually stressful to many future physicians. Previous cross sectional studies have shown that symptoms of depression and burnout are higher among medical students compared to age matched general population. A meta-analysis reported overall pooled crude prevalence of depression, or depressive [...]

Background: Urinary catheters, vascular catheters, and wounds such as pressure injuries are often hidden from view under gowns and sheets – out of sight, out of mind – contributing to prolonged catheter use, infections, delayed interventions, and diagnostic errors for symptoms (e.g., fever, delirium) related to catheters and wounds. We developed and pilot tested a [...]

Background: Under-represented minority (URM) physicians, specifically African American, Native American, Hispanic, and/or Pacific Islander, constitute only about 10% of practicing cardiologists. Although concerted efforts to increase diversity may increase the likelihood of graduating minority cardiologists, there remains uncertainty regarding how best to recruit and incentivize URM applicants to apply for cardiology fellowship training. As a [...]

Background: As the COVID-19 pandemic persists, many have grown concerned about the mental health of frontline healthcare workers. Given the rising death toll, potential for overcrowding hospitals, and resource shortages, a comprehensive assessment of healthcare workers’ well-being during COVID using validated measures of anxiety, depression, and burnout is needed to help improve the healthcare workforce’s [...]

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a strong predictor of cardiovascular events. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of CAC detected by chest CT scan (CT) in heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) patients (pts) in the absence of coronary artery disease history (CAD Hx). Methods: In this retrospective cohort, we queried [...]

Background: Early development of clinical reasoning and problem-solving competencies are essential in generating individualized, outcome-based, and cost-effective patient care plans (Nat Acad Press 2015). However, few medical schools and residency programs have an explicit curriculum in clinical reasoning (Graber et al., 2012). A recent survey of internal medicine clerkship directors found medical students receive limited [...]

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is underdiagnosed in patients with heart disease, however, there has been controversy surrounding whether it is a cardiovascular risk factor or not. To determine the prognostic significance of SCH in Heart Failure (HF) with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) we followed a cohort of patients for 9 years. Methods: In this retrospective [...]

Background: Addressing the needs of the geriatric population is critical, as “baby boomers” comprise a larger proportion of hospitalized patients. Hospitalists increasingly care for these complex geriatric patients. The “BEERS Criteria” are evidence-based guidelines that encourage medication safety by describing potentially inappropriate and harmful medications (PIMS) among geriatric patients. BEERS guidelines recommend that with a [...]

Background: The rates of physician burnout have been widely reported. However, burnout rates among hospitalists, who have been particularly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, are lacking. The objective of this study was to describe burnout, COVID-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and professional fulfillment among hospitalists. Methods: A voluntary, anonymous survey was sent via email link [...]