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Does Less Medical Care Mean Better Care?
A fellow cardiologist comes to the defense of New York Times contributor Sandeep Jauhar, who was castigated on social media for suggesting that most people were fine with fewer doctor visits.
Experts And Viewpoints, July 16, 2020
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Traveling in the Shadow of a Pandemic
Despite a feeling that this could be bad, Melissa Walton-Shirley took a long-planned trip to Israel, hoping to be stay ahead of the coronavirus spread -- a decision she now realizes was an unnecessary gamble.
Experts And Viewpoints, April 06, 2020
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Smalltown Practice: Even a Bathroom Stall Is No Escape
Melissa Walton-Shirley recalls the joys and stresses of 24 years in smalltown private practice, where even an encounter in a public bathroom can turn into an office visit.
Experts And Viewpoints, March 16, 2020
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Cardiologist by Day, Rock Singer at Night: Music Is My Polypill
A dying request from a cantankerous patient reignites Melissa Walton-Shirley’s love of singing after a 15-year hiatus.
Experts And Viewpoints, December 21, 2019
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ESC 2019
Millennial Mentoring: Is it Time to Soften Our Rough Edges?
Melissa Walton-Shirley attended a talk on workplace challenges from a millennial physician, which made her rethink her assessment of a former intern as 'smart but lazy.'
Experts And Viewpoints, October 22, 2019
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ESC 2019
Terrorism and Mass Casualty: All Specialties Should Prepare
When did you last tie a tourniquet? Melissa Walton-Shirley learns that in the event of a mass casualty attack, anyone may be called upon to be a first responder.
Experts And Viewpoints, September 26, 2019
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ESC 2019
Cardiologists Should Prescribe SGLT2 Inhibitors
Is it fair to expect cardiologists to now prescribe the new diabetes drugs? Presentations at the European Society of Cardiology Congress prove persuasive to Melissa Walton-Shirley, MD.
Experts And Viewpoints, September 05, 2019
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Rediscovering the Joy of Practice via a Rocky Mountain Reboot
A burned-out physician who quit fulltime practice because of family responsibilities finds that locum tenens work in the Northwest was just the medicine she needed.
Experts And Viewpoints, August 14, 2019
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Are Exorbitant Corporate Salaries in Healthcare Unethical?
Overworked clinicians struggle to provide quality care in a cash-strapped US healthcare system as CEOs and insurance companies rake in the cash. Melissa Walton-Shirley calls for a revolt.
Experts And Viewpoints, July 05, 2019
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No One Here Gets Out Alive: DNR Code Status
Do healthcare professionals take enough time to communicate with patients about their do-not-resuscitate (DNR) wishes? Some recent experiences have raised concerns for Melissa Walton-Shirley, MD.
Experts And Viewpoints, May 22, 2019
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Philip Morris v Uruguay: A Story That Deserves Retelling
A tiny nation takes on big tobacco. Melissa Walton-Shirley, MD, sees lessons for the US in this tale of two presidents, one an oncologist, who did not back down in pushing for libre de humo de tabaco.
Experts And Viewpoints, April 18, 2019
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ACC 2019
What's New and Useful in Hypertension From ACC.19
Melissa Walton-Shirley's takeaways on hypertension management, a topic close to her heart, from the latest studies and expert presentations at the 2019 American College of Cardiology Scientific Session.
Experts And Viewpoints, March 28, 2019
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ACC 2019
Burnout: Is the Red Tide Finally Beginning to Turn?
Burned out listening to burn-out talks? An intense session at ACC.19 left Melissa Walton-Shirley, MD, hopeful that some of those words would finally turn into action.
Experts And Viewpoints, March 19, 2019
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Beyond Go Red: The Lessons From Susan Lucci’s ACS
The All My Children star experienced acute coronary syndrome last fall. After 15 years of Go Red for Women, why are we still missing heart disease in a postmenopausal septuagenarian, asks Dr Walton-Shirley.
Experts And Viewpoints, February 17, 2019
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Time to Eliminate Ageism and Sexism in Medicine
The #MeToo movement prompts Melissa Walton-Shirley to reflect on the sexism she dismissed in her early career and the ageism she sees around her now.
Experts And Viewpoints, January 22, 2019
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Advice for Anyone Contemplating Locum Tenens Work
After quitting full-time practice, Melissa Walton-Shirley, MD, joined the ranks of medical temp workers. Here's her advice on getting started.
Experts And Viewpoints, December 18, 2018
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AHA 2018
What's Needed After AHA 2018? ACTION
A sparsely attended session on social determinants of health sounded very familiar to Melissa Walton-Shirley, MD. So if we know what to do to improve CV health, why haven’t we done it yet?
Experts And Viewpoints, November 15, 2018
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AHA 2018
Glad Your EF Is Better, But Stay on Your Meds
While the TRED-HF trial may not be great news for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and recovered EF, at least it eases this physician's conscience about her reluctance to curtail pharmacotherapy.
Experts And Viewpoints, November 12, 2018
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AHA 2018
Lipid Lollapalooza at AHA 2018
The release of the 2018 cholesterol guidelines and a bunch of lipid-oriented trials made it a bountiful day at the American Heart Association meeting for Melissa Walton-Shirley, MD.
Experts And Viewpoints, November 11, 2018
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Echocardiography: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Echocardiography is a great tool when used appropriately, but Melissa Walton-Shirley, MD, finds that poor-quality images and scanty reports often cause more confusion than clarity.
Experts And Viewpoints, November 05, 2018