Sideline MD

05/09/2026

Academic medicine was built around patient care, teaching, research, and public service. But as hospitals increasingly chase productivity, margin, market share, and efficiency, the doctor-patient relationship risks being replaced by a system-patient relationship. This piece explores how corporate medicine is reshaping medical training — and why patients should care: https://open.substack.com/pub/sidelinemd/p/when-medical-training-becomes-a-business?r=1n2qvi&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

05/06/2026

This article is really close to home for me — both literally and figuratively.

It started with a story about Harold Wilken, a Central Illinois farmer near my hometown. His wife, Sandy Wilken — who will always be Mrs. Wilken to me — was my high school home ec teacher. And she was wonderful.

But this story is much bigger than one farm.

It is about Roundup, glyphosate, pesticide exposure, cancer risk, organic farming, and a Supreme Court case that could affect whether people can sue pesticide manufacturers over missing or inadequate warning labels.

It is also about something we don’t talk about enough:

What happens when the chemicals used to grow our food may also affect the health of the people growing it?

As a physician, a patient advocate, and someone raised in Central Illinois farm country, this one hit me hard.

Sometimes the health story is not in the hospital.

Sometimes it is in the field.

Sometimes it is in the soil.

And sometimes, it is in the warning label that should have been there all along.

Read the full article here:

BLOG LINK: https://www.sidelinemd.org/blog/when-the-farm-story-becomes-a-health-story

SUBSTACK LINK: https://sidelinemd.substack.com/p/when-the-farm-story-becomes-a-health

MEDIUM LINK: https://medium.com/p/ce7a1d2f11b9?postPublishedType=initial

05/04/2026

Let’s be honest.

Patients feel it.
Doctors feel it.

Something isn’t working.

When a system can justify $60 million for leadership—but can’t create enough time for meaningful patient care… that’s not a coincidence.

That’s design.

And until we understand that, we’ll keep blaming the wrong things.

👉 Read more:

When executive pay is tied to company performance, what happens to patient care? As healthcare CEOs earn tens of millions, many patients are left navigating a system that feels harder than ever. Here’s what that means for you.

04/30/2026

Your doctor has ~15 minutes.

What you do with those minutes matters more than you think.

As both a physician and a patient, I’ve seen how small changes in communication can completely transform a visit.

Here’s how to make your next appointment count:

It happens all too often.

04/28/2026

AI is already part of your healthcare.
But what happens when it gets it wrong?

This is something every patient should understand—before it affects your care.

👇

Artificial intelligence is already part of your healthcare. You may not see it. But it’s there—helping read scans, summarize charts, and even influence decisions about your care. And here’s the part no one is saying loudly enough: It’s not foolproof.

12/12/2025

There will be NO Walk with a Doc tomorrow, Saturday, December 13th, 2025! See you next month!

11/13/2025

New Flu Strain Causing Concern:

11/04/2025

It’s Open Enrollment, and healthcare coverage can feel overwhelming.

Join us for our FREE monthly walk as we break down your Medicare and insurance options in plain language. We’ll be sharing highlights from Chapter 7: Mastering Insurance & Billing from Beyond the Waiting Room — so you can walk away (literally!) with more clarity and confidence about your coverage.

🌿 Walking. Real talk. No pressure.
📍 The Martens Center, 1515 N Market St, Champaign Park District
🕗 11:00 AM

All are welcome — bring a friend and your questions!

Experience Champaign-Urbana Champaign Park District

10/25/2025

If you’re feeling unsure about the difference between Medigap and Medicare Advantage during the current Medicare Open Enrollment period, you’re not alone.

This easy-to-read guide from the Illinois Department on Aging explains your options, costs, and what to look for before choosing a plan:

👉 Medicare Choices Guide (2025):https://ilaging.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/aging/ship/documents/medicare-choices.pdf

It’s about 40 pages and super helpful if you or a loved one are trying to make sense of Medicare this season. 💙

10/16/2025

Prior authorizations for Medicare enrollees are heading your way!

Like, share, and comment below!

For a great resource on how to better advocate for yourself as a patient or caregiver, check out my new book!

Find it at: www.sidelinemd.org/store or on Amazon at https://amzn.to/4op7VWj

10/15/2025

🌟 It’s that time again — Medicare Open Enrollment starts today! 🌟

If you’ve ever struggled to compare plans or wondered why your “$0 premium” comes with surprise bills, you’ll want to check out this excerpt from Beyond the Waiting Room, Chapter 7: “Mastering Insurance & Billing (The Basics).”

💡 Highlights include:
✅ The truth about Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage
✅ What those “extra perks” really mean
✅ Why some plans cost taxpayers billions more

📘 You can read the full 6-page excerpt — “Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: Busting the Myths” — on the images attached to this post.

And if you’re ready to go deeper, the full book covers everything from preauthorizations to decoding your medical bill.

👉 Available here:
🌐 sidelinemd.org/store
📦 Amazon: amzn.to/4olDeRG