Doctors Pray Too “I just want you to know, the night before my surgery, I prayed for you, Dr. Liza Marie Colimon. God knows you and sees what you do.” She even included my middle name. It was the best compliment I had ever received from a patient. The conventionality of Western Medicine keeps discussions of spirituality in… Read More
Dear Patient, There is No Room for Your Cell Phone in My Office Honor Health Vow # 4 I Promise to Be an Active Participant in the Patient-Doctor Relationship Good afternoon Ms. B. Wait, how do I interrupt? As I walked into my patient’s exam room this week at the end of a very busy morning packed with procedures, there I stood, waiting over a minute at least… Read More
The Contraception Controversy is Real I am often amazed by the Double Standard which characterizes the moral code and pulse when it comes to healthcare in the United States. I love my country, but we have work to do to heal a broken system which is moving further and further out of the hands of the professionals who actually are… Read More
Are You Happy With the Appearance of Your Vulva or Labia? A Gynecologist’s Perspective on Size The theme of the past month in my gynecologic practice has been labia, labia, labia. We’ve discussed it all…big labia, small labia, uneven labia…irritated labia, torn labia, ugly labia, “in the way labia.” Although several patients I saw actually had a legitimate concern and need for a little nip and stitch, most women were reacting… Read More
Getting On Track Prioritizing Your Health Care Needs So I have a confession. I’ve been guilty of misaligning my priorities and was recently called out when I saw my gifted gastroenterologist last week. I had it coming. A soft stern look is all I received. My block has nothing to do with my relationship with the doctor. Making the appointment was my first… Read More
Tired of Feeling Wet? Vaginal Discharge and What You Need to Know After discussing fibroids, an upcoming surgery or an irregular period, it never fails… “Dear Doctor, one more thing; my vagina is too wet! Why?” I always take this as a compliment when the question comes at the end of a visit. This tells me my patients feel comfortable and embraced their desire to ask that… Read More
The Gratitude Lesson in Mothering I’ve been a Mother for over 11 years now. And I’ve learned that Mother’s Day is truly a personal experience for all of us. For me it’s become about gratitude. I’ve abandoned expectations of relaxation and receiving acts of appreciation. I woke up today feeling grateful that I can fully see the blessing in it… Read More
Politicians Should Be Required to Uphold the Hippocratic Oath I woke up this morning trying to ignore the pit in my stomach. I decided to distract myself… deter my thoughts from the CNN news blast that keeps showing up on my iPhone. I had taken a news holiday in order to avoid recurring symptoms of anxiety and frustration for the past 100 days especially… Read More
Why I Value Face-to-Face Conversation With My Patients These are challenging times for physicians who aim to please their patients, and equally challenging for patients who are juggling full schedules and dread waiting for an upcoming appointment with their doctors. Technology has increased access but the demands on our time remain the same. Many of our email addresses are now posted online. Individuals… Read More
You Want to Talk About Your Menstrual Period? Being Prepared is Key Honoring Health Vow # 4 I Promise to Be an Active Participant in the Patient-Doctor Relationship Although the Doctor you choose is a very important player in your health care experience, the most important person in the Doctor-Patient relationship is you. Before deciding which imaging and blood tests to order; before deciding what… Read More