David Epstein, MD, MS, FAAP

07/22/2025

“Failure is not an option.”
Great in crisis. Misleading in life.

Most growth happens because we fail…then learn, adapt, and try again.

Maybe it’s time to rethink failure.

https://www.physiciansweekly.com/failing-forward-how-setbacks-shape-success/

Dr. David Epstein advocates for reframing failure as a springboard for adaptation, innovation, and long-term success, rather than a discouraging setback.

03/27/2025

“You are significant simply because you are alive. Winning the lottery of life isn’t about luck—it’s about perspective.”

https://davidepsteinmd.blogspot.com/2025/03/you-already-won-greatest-lottery-ever.html

This is a healthcare blog for those interested in acute care pediatrics with perspectives and information on acute illness and injury in children.

03/25/2025

“Approaching problems from a single perspective increases blind spots and stunts a team’s growth. It begs the question: if everyone is thinking the same, who is thinking at all?”

https://doctorsonsocialmedia.com/the-power-of-diverse-thinking/

Dr. David Epstein, MD goes over how teams that embrace diverse perspectives unlock innovation, adaptability, and better decision-making.

02/10/2025

“We navigate life through our connections with others. We should not struggle alone, whether emotionally, physically, or intellectually. There is power in connection and life is richer for having connections with others.”

Just as physicians seek help for others, they should also seek support in overcoming challenges in their personal lives, as there is strength in connection.

01/29/2025

“Are following protocols the same as surrendering autonomy? Physicians sometimes perceive them as a constraint on their autonomy, but this perspective overlooks the value these tools bring to medical practice.“

https://davidepsteinmd.blogspot.com/2025/01/beyond-blueprint-how-protocols-enhance.html

This is a healthcare blog for those interested in acute care pediatrics with perspectives and information on acute illness and injury in children.

10/19/2024

I challenge the old saying, "Curiosity killed the cat." Curious minds don’t just accept things at face value—they ask questions, dig deeper, and uncover new possibilities. Ready to rethink curiosity?



https://davidepsteinmd.blogspot.com/2024/10/curiosity-didnt-kill-cat-it-changed.html

08/29/2024

Have you experienced imposter syndrome?

David Epstein, MD, MS, FAAP shares his personal experience with imposter syndrome, and offers physicians advice regarding confronting and overcoming it in his latest Physician's Weekly Words of Wellness column here:https://buff.ly/3X8YjDc

08/29/2024

“As we aim to make an impact in our world, we often equate more with better.

In the world of teaching, this translates to reaching more students with the knowledge we hope to impart.

But, is more really better?

Can we still have an impact without mass exposure?

While it may seem that teaching a larger group would naturally result in a greater impact, teaching fewer students is not the disadvantage some might assume.”

https://doctorsonsocialmedia.com/teaching-for-impact-less-is-more/

David Epstein, MD, MS, FAAP dissects the importance of teaching as a function of quality and not quantity.

08/27/2024

“Awe and inadequacy are a recipe for inspiration and a good remedy for complacency. One should embrace the feelings of awe and inadequacy that trigger the imposter syndrome because if you feel like an imposter, chances are you are not.”

https://www.physiciansweekly.com/from-awe-to-action-overcoming-imposter-syndrome/

Dr. David Epstein shares his personal experience with imposter syndrome, and offers physicians advice regarding confronting and overcoming imposter syndrome.

08/16/2024

Heart transplantation is one of the most extraordinary medical achievements, offering hope and a second chance at life. But it’s not without its challenges. It epitomizes the profound decision-making process, the reality of trading one set of problems for another, and the lengths we go to preserve life.

https://davidepsteinmd.blogspot.com/2024/08/heart-transplantation-second-chance-at.html

This is a healthcare blog for those interested in acute care pediatrics with perspectives and information on acute illness and injury in children.

08/15/2024

New article on SoMeDocs!

“We can all appreciate the advancements in medicine and all the amazing things that are now achievable through discovery, scientific study, and field experience.

But as medicine advances, it is sometimes not appreciated how the field evolves to accommodate these advancements.

Medicine has become a field that once entrusted the care of a patient to a single doctor.

Now, taking care of a single patient is a team effort.”

https://doctorsonsocialmedia.com/the-evolution-of-medicine-a-double-edged-sword/

David Epstein, MD, writes on how medicine evolved into subspecialized groups because of the vast amount of knowledge acquired over centuries.

07/31/2024

This essay delves into the contextual concept of “gaps” through a few musings and ends up with something to think about in the bigger picture of life.

How do you “mind the gap”?

https://davidepsteinmd.blogspot.com/2024/07/mind-gap.html

This is a healthcare blog for those interested in acute care pediatrics with perspectives and information on acute illness and injury in children.