Blog
An extraordinary full-circle moment
Rest in Power, Mary Lou! Mary Lou smiled wide as she spoke to me. Sure, she would help teach a safe sex workshop to the Friday night LGBTQ+ youth group, but first I'd have to come by the clinic myself for a check up. That way I could talk from experience, she...
How to diagnose gender dysphoria.
how do I know if my patient is transgender? In my practice I work with many medical students and residents who we train in part to provide gender affirming care. I frequently speak with colleagues who know I have a transgender-inclusive family practice and field many...
Treating cancer pain in patients with Opioid Use Disorder: FREE Resources
People who use drugs (PWUD) deserve same access to primary care as everyone else One of my biggest frustrations as a doctor are the “care-silos” patients get stuck in. A colleague who’d taken a gig at a methadone clinic told me she was reprimanded for prescribing...
Your Patients Don’t Have Too Many Problems if You Set an Agenda
“My patients come with too many problems,” is a common grievance I hear from doctors. Your patient wants your help with their shoulder pain, the diarrhea, a form and prescription refills, which doesn’t include your priorities which are checking the blood pressure and...
Guest Appearance on the Northern Exposure Podcast
Many of my patients living with addiction and homelessness who attend our downtown Vancouver health clinic refuse to go to the emergency room.
How Changing the Way Doctors Apologize Can Make a Difference
Many of my patients living with addiction and homelessness who attend our downtown Vancouver health clinic refuse to go to the emergency room.
How to Overcome a History of Medical Violence
We carry the burden of our patients’ past mistreatments. We know from history how doctors have participated in the medical violence brought upon Black people, transgender and queer community, and women--just to name a few. Think about the roles physicians played in...
How Do We Address Addiction in Long Term Care Facilities?
Last year, I was invited to speak at the Catholic Health Association of BC annual conference about a novel and, for some, controversial pilot project we’re undertaking at our long term care facility in Vancouver. We’ve invited patients taking methadone and other...
A Doctor’s Note Can Prescribe More Than Medicine
The power of even a short letter written by a physician cannot be overstated. I’m constantly pulling up the digital letterhead in my EMR to write a note to a service agency, landlord or employer to advocate for a change that I believe is in the best interest of my...
Patients Avoid the Emergency Room for Good Reasons – Doctors Can Change That
Many of my patients living with addiction and homelessness who attend our downtown Vancouver health clinic refuse to go to the emergency room.