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In the middle of a fulfilling career as a reconstructive surgeon, I decided to change paths. I realized that I had become more interested in hearing my patients’ stories and helping them through the health-care labyrinth than in performing operations. This interest compelled me to switch to palliative medicine. In 2013–2014 I did a formalRead more

Plastic surgery travels. Part of what had attracted me to the specialty of plastic surgery was a desire to use my skills in resource-poor areas of the world. I am privileged that my practice, primarily in a large multi-specialty group located outside Los Angeles, afforded me the opportunity to do this work. I have warmRead more

some background. I am a “mature” doctor who, mid-career, shifted from reconstructive plastic surgery to palliative medicine. Although the two specialties are seemingly very different, I actually see them along the same continuum: both deal primarily with “quality of life” issues. My new specialty just doesn’t happen to involve cutting into people. Before I gotRead more