Standing Strong

Mindfulness

How to Remain Calm in an Emergency

Dustin W. Ballard MD, MBE on February 19, 2023

How we prepare and train our minds can help us immensely when stress and anxiety intersect with the unexpected.

How we prepare and train our minds can help us immensely when stress and anxiety intersect with the unexpected.

Happiness

How to Give Yourself a Holiday Gift That Brings Joy

Dustin W. Ballard MD, MBE on December 12, 2022

It's a common sentiment that happiness isn’t for sale and that money can buy things, but not contentment. But is that actually true?

It's a common sentiment that happiness isn’t for sale and that money can buy things, but not contentment. But is that actually true?

Traumatic Brain Injury

The Latest in Concussion Treatment and Recovery

Dustin W. Ballard MD, MBE on December 7, 2022

While concussions usually aren’t hard to diagnose, they are difficult to treat. New evidence provides hope for a better and more effective approach to care.

While concussions usually aren’t hard to diagnose, they are difficult to treat. New evidence provides hope for a better and more effective approach to care.

Health

How to Ask a Doctor Friend for Medical Advice

Dustin W. Ballard MD, MBE on November 4, 2022

If you’re searching for medical advice from a doctor friend, here are some helpful guidelines.

If you’re searching for medical advice from a doctor friend, here are some helpful guidelines.

Environment

Using the Mind as a Blanket

Dustin W. Ballard MD, MBE on October 12, 2022

The mind is powerful, but is it capable of regulating body temperature? The Iceman of the BBC TV series 'Freeze the Fear' would have us believe it is.

The mind is powerful, but is it capable of regulating body temperature? The Iceman of the BBC TV series 'Freeze the Fear' would have us believe it is.

Sleep

The Latest in Sleep Science

Dustin W. Ballard MD, MBE on August 29, 2022

Data consistently shows that Americans are under-slept. New evidence suggests that collective sleep deprivation may be negatively impacting our national altruism.

Data consistently shows that Americans are under-slept. New evidence suggests that collective sleep deprivation may be negatively impacting our national altruism.

Unconscious

The Surprising Benefits of Yawning

Dustin W. Ballard MD, MBE on August 1, 2022

Why do we yawn? Research suggests that yawns aren't merely reactions to fatigue; they also serve key cognitive and social functions.

Why do we yawn? Research suggests that yawns aren't merely reactions to fatigue; they also serve key cognitive and social functions.

Career

Why Doctors Choose Medicine as a Career

Dustin W. Ballard MD, MBE on July 6, 2022

Today's doctor-patient relationship is less an art and more about interpreting laboratory or radiographic tests and explaining the risks and benefits of treatment.

Today's doctor-patient relationship is less an art and more about interpreting laboratory or radiographic tests and explaining the risks and benefits of treatment.

Trauma

How Do You Know If You're Really Sick?

Dustin W. Ballard MD, MBE on June 27, 2022

Many healthy people seek care for nothing, while many sick people refuse to get the care they need. How do our brains tell when we're truly unwell?

Many healthy people seek care for nothing, while many sick people refuse to get the care they need. How do our brains tell when we're truly unwell?

Aging

This Simple Cognitive Bias Can Have Serious Consequences

Dustin W. Ballard MD, MBE on June 17, 2022

Implicit left-digit bias in medical decision-making is more pervasive than many of us realize.

Implicit left-digit bias in medical decision-making is more pervasive than many of us realize.

Addiction

Why Some People Become Obsessed with Misinformation

Dustin W. Ballard MD, MBE on June 8, 2022

What do you do when a loved one is obsessed with murky news sources and the communities swirling around them?

What do you do when a loved one is obsessed with murky news sources and the communities swirling around them?

Coronavirus Disease 2019

How to Sort Through Medical Misinformation

Dustin W. Ballard MD, MBE on November 9, 2021

How to think critically about the latest medical breakthrough.

How to think critically about the latest medical breakthrough.

Health

Capturing Recordings of Your Medical Encounters

Dustin W. Ballard MD, MBE on April 22, 2021

Are some discussions too important not to have a recording of? Should doctor-patient interactions be captured for review and replay?

Are some discussions too important not to have a recording of? Should doctor-patient interactions be captured for review and replay?

Career

Should You Read the Notes Your Doctor Writes About You?

Dustin W. Ballard MD, MBE on April 4, 2021

The concept of Open Notes—physician notes fully available and transparent to the patient electronically—is convention-twisting.

The concept of Open Notes—physician notes fully available and transparent to the patient electronically—is convention-twisting.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Should People Be Able to Choose Which Vaccine They Receive?

Dustin W. Ballard MD, MBE on February 26, 2021

Vaccines are steadily rolling out, and more formulations are on the horizon. When multiple options are available, should individuals be able to choose which vaccine they want?

Vaccines are steadily rolling out, and more formulations are on the horizon. When multiple options are available, should individuals be able to choose which vaccine they want?

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Anticipating the Wave of Long-Haulers After the Pandemic

Dustin W. Ballard MD, MBE on February 2, 2021

With Long-Haul COVID, are we witnessing the early days of the largest and most significant contested illness surge in modern history?

With Long-Haul COVID, are we witnessing the early days of the largest and most significant contested illness surge in modern history?

Coronavirus Disease 2019

It's 2020. Do You Crave Normalcy?

Dustin W. Ballard MD, MBE on October 19, 2020

We know how our bodies adjust to different climates and altitudes—but we don't really understand how our brains acclimatize to abrupt and profound changes in our reality.

We know how our bodies adjust to different climates and altitudes—but we don't really understand how our brains acclimatize to abrupt and profound changes in our reality.