The Shortcut That Saves a Vein, and the One That Costs a Patient Years

Why early vascular access planning can preserve options and why prolonged reliance on a dialysis catheter carries risks.
What the First Ninety Days of Dialysis Access Actually Look Like

A practical look at the first ninety days of dialysis access, from vessel mapping and fistula placement to maturation and follow-up.
The trade-off nobody names in dialysis access decisions

A choice that gets rushed When a patient needs dialysis access, there is usually pressure to move fast. Kidney function is dropping, someone needs a fistula, a graft, or a catheter, and everyone in the room wants a plan today. I understand the urgency. But the fast answer and the right answer are not always […]
The Physician-Scientist Mindset: Asking Better Questions to Deliver Better Care

Learning to Be Comfortable With Questions When I entered medicine, I thought learning was mostly about finding answers. You study biology, chemistry, anatomy, and disease. You take exams where there is usually a correct answer and several incorrect ones. If you work hard enough, you learn how to recognize the right choice. Research changed that […]
Giving Back Through Medicine: The Lasting Value of Pro Bono Care

Where My Idea of Service Started Long before I became a physician, my parents taught me something simple. If you are fortunate enough to help someone, you should. I grew up in Los Angeles, and I saw early that people living in the same city can have very different experiences with healthcare. Some people have […]