Zachary G Schwam

Jan 16, 2025 | opmed.doximity.com | Lachlan Shiver |Douglas I. Katz |Emily Johnson |Zachary G Schwam

My workroom’s phone rang, and I cradled it between my neck and shoulder. We had just admitted a patient, and the call was from the nurse asking whether the labs I had ordered were truly necessary. The patient had already been worked up in our ED, but instinctively I’d reordered her basic labs when I became her doctor. I was only on day six of residency, and the “MD” emblazoned onto my white coat still didn’t fit right.

Jan 13, 2025 | opmed.doximity.com | Douglas I. Katz |Emily Johnson |Zachary G Schwam |Chris van Eyck

Challenging Cases, 'Dumb' AI, and Old Friends: Musings on the 2024 RSNA’s Annual MeetingIt was again — to borrow a term from my son’s favorite author, Dav Pilkey — a ‘supa’ busy week at the 2024 annual Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting. The conference was held, as usual, in Chicago at McCormick Place, starting the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

Jan 13, 2025 | opmed.doximity.com | Emily Johnson |Zachary G Schwam |Chris van Eyck |Dinesh Arab

As a young child, I resented when people would say that my hair was blonde — because blonde was associated with “dumb,” and I was a kid who thought of herself as the opposite. Growing up, I defined myself by my school performance. In kindergarten, I even cried the one day I had to stay home sick and later wrote a piece arguing against the existence of summer break.

Jan 13, 2025 | opmed.doximity.com | Zachary G Schwam |Chris van Eyck |Dinesh Arab |Matthew Scott

We are in the midst of a so-called “ear infection” epidemic, which has plagued my practice since starting my job in New York City just over one year ago. While otitis media and otitis externa are in no short supply, I am inundated with patients who clearly have other pathology but are prescribed endless rounds of oral antibiotics and otic drops to no effect.

Jan 13, 2025 | opmed.doximity.com | Chris van Eyck |Zachary G Schwam |Dinesh Arab |Matthew Scott

I have been a PA for more than 20 years. In that time, I have worked in multiple fields with various levels of autonomous practice, and have worked in several states with differing levels of restriction to my practice. I have rarely felt that I am a “dependent” practitioner. I have proven my value to my team throughout my career, and have not felt overly restricted in my role. However, there have been times when I felt that seemingly needless restrictions constrained me.