Laura Vater, MD

Published via 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...

Published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology October 2024 I kept her family holiday card tucked into the side pocket of my black...

Many physicians are still thriving in an era of burnout and exhaustion in medicine. What are they doing differently? I've polled my...

Congratulations on finishing your training and stepping into your first clinical role! You are about to enter into the absolute best...

As a gastrointestinal oncologist who cares for patients with some of the most aggressive cancers, grief is something I often face. I have...

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...

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....

It's normal to feel nervous before exams, presentations, and learning to do procedures on clinical rotations. Here are a few tangible...

Whether you’re in training or practice, working overnight is incredibly challenging. The weight of responsibility for keeping patients...

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...

A new attending reached out: “I’m struggling to balance my interest in medicine with time for my family, other interests outside of my...

Making a relationship work in a medical career isn’t easy. Between long working hours, studying demands, not a lot of extra time, and...

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...

Julie carried the news of two diagnoses, coming just weeks after burying her son: Multiple myeloma and amyloidosis were the unfamiliar...

Published in Blood and Thunder: Musing on the Art of Medicine ​ Four Walls Laura Vater, MD, MPH Published in Blood and Thunder: Musings...

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?...

(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...

(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...

Working in the hospital doesn’t exactly promote the health of clinicians. Here some strategies that have helped me stay healthy.

Focusing is hard. Here are some tips that have helped me study during medical school and for board exams like the USMLE Steps 1, 2, and 3.