top of page
Laura Vater, MD
Search
Calluses (Published in the Intima)
I’m 16, and my hands are covered in thick, hardened layers of skin across my upper palms—my body’s attempt at protecting me from the...
Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
How Physician Exhaustion Kills Compassion -- And Nurtures Shame (Published in STAT News)
It was 5 o’clock in the morning, and I entered the room of my eighth admission. A thin man was reclined in bed, a breathing tube in his...
Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
Five Tips for More Joy in Medicine
Many of us who work in medicine face several challenges that can sap the joy from our days: lack of adequate time with patients, pressure...
Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
The Holiday Card (Published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology)
I kept her family holiday card tucked into the side pocket of my black briefcase for a year and 3 months after she died. I carried it...
Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
Ten Things Thriving Doctors Do
Many physicians are still thriving in an era of burnout and exhaustion in medicine. What are they doing differently? I've polled my...
Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
Your First Year of Clinical Practice
Congratulations on finishing your training and stepping into your first clinical role! You are about to enter into the absolute best...
Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
We Honor the Patients We've Lost by Living Well
As a gastrointestinal oncologist who cares for patients with some of the most aggressive cancers, grief is something I often face. I have...
Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
Words for when You Feel Like Quitting
If you're facing an obstacle, or a deep discouragment, or failure, know that we've all been there. Here are some words that have helped...
Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
What Happens if There's a Medical Mistake? Next steps, Healing, and Self-Compassion
What happens when you make a medical mistake? This guide is about what to do next, how to prevent further errors, and how to heal. Dr....
Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
Overcoming Performance Anxiety: Tests, Presentations, & Procedures
It's normal to feel nervous before exams, presentations, and learning to do procedures on clinical rotations. Here are a few tangible...
Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
Tips for Night Shifts & On Call
Whether you’re in training or practice, working overnight is incredibly challenging. The weight of responsibility for keeping patients...
Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
5 Changes I've Made to Support My Mental Health
Here are some things I've changed to protect my well-being: 1. Talking about it – in therapy and personal relationships For too long, I...
Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
Protecting your Health, Relationships, & Life Beyond Your Career
A new attending reached out: “I’m struggling to balance my interest in medicine with time for my family, other interests outside of my...
Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
12 Tips for Couples in Medicine
Making a relationship work in a medical career isn’t easy. Between long working hours, studying demands, not a lot of extra time, and...
Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
Sharing Bad News: Tips to Deliver It as Compassionately as possible
My mentor once told me that as an oncologist, I'll share bad news with patients more than 10,000 times throughout my career. Whew. How...
Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
What She Carried (Gold Humanism Workshop)
Julie carried the news of two diagnoses, coming just weeks after burying her son: Multiple myeloma and amyloidosis were the unfamiliar...
Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
Four Walls (Published in Blood and Thunder)
Published in Blood and Thunder: Musing on the Art of Medicine ​ Four Walls Laura Vater, MD, MPH Published in Blood and Thunder: Musings...
Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
Grief, Loss, and Coping Strategies for Doctors and Nurses
A common question I get as an oncologist is this: "How do you deal with the sadness of your work? How do you cope when your patients die?...
Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
Why Can't I Be Both a Good Doctor and a Good Mother? (MEDPAGE TODAY)
(Published on MedPage Today) I became a mom in medical school. I became a mom at a time when many people told me I shouldn't (or...
Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
After 28 Hours Awake I Didn't Care if I Made It Home Alive (MDLinx)
(Published on MDLinx) After months of long hours and fractured sleep as a resident, followed by a stressful 28-hour call, I sat in the...
Laura B. Vater, MD, MPH
ARTICLES
bottom of page