Alexander T. Yahanda

Oct 21, 2024 | opmed.doximity.com | Ajibike Lapite |Kirk Sidey |Alexander T. Yahanda

I listened to morning report as I weaved through vendors in the side streets of Gaborone, Botswana. A week prior, I was a supervising resident on the inpatient pulmonology service at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. My ego was bruised on the first day of my global hematology/oncology rotation at Princess Marina Hospital (PMH); it took 10 minutes for me to recognize that some of my medical training would be irrelevant in this setting. It took a few days for me to establish a new routine.

Oct 21, 2024 | opmed.doximity.com | Kirk Sidey |Alexander T. Yahanda |Vincent Myers

“If it’s wet, make it dry; if it’s dry, make it wet.” I can still remember the general surgeon’s playful response when, as a fourth-year medical student, I told him I was going into dermatology. I should say mostly playful, with only a hint of condescension. I suspect it is a rite of passage to hear this phrase at some point in one’s dermatologic training.

Oct 17, 2024 | opmed.doximity.com | Alexander T. Yahanda |Vincent Myers |Arthur Lazarus

A patient came to see me recently (All my stories start like this: “A patient walked into the room…” akin to “A guy walked into a bar…”), and she was so embarrassed to be there. That’s not uncommon for me. What was unusual was that she refused to talk about her bowel habits. She couldn’t say what her symptoms were or what her poop looked like. To her, it was all dirty, uncouth, and taboo. With a little patience, she eventually opened up (literally and figuratively).

Apr 8, 2024 | opmed.doximity.com | Lauren Grawert |Joseph Philip Zucchi |Melissa Schiffman |Alexander T. Yahanda

I sat on the phone yesterday consoling a single mother going through heroin withdrawal. In between bouts of vomiting and dry heaving, she pleaded, “When will I be able to pick up the medication you ordered that stops all of this?” This mother had already overcome significant barriers Americans face when seeking addiction treatment, including stigma associated with treatment, affordability of treatment, and finding high quality, highly trained addiction specialists.

Apr 8, 2024 | opmed.doximity.com | Joseph Philip Zucchi |Melissa Schiffman |Alexander T. Yahanda

As a society, we stand on the brink of a revolution in treating obesity, a condition affecting millions and a leading cause of numerous health problems worldwide. The recent surge in the popularity of GLP-1 agonists, like semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Zepbound), has been a beacon of hope, showcasing significant weight loss and health improvements.