Hi! This is the first edition of The Friday Sign Out. I’m Ashley, an internal medicine doctor practicing primary care. My goal with this newsletter is to arm you with some relevant medical news, share a few practice tips, and really just give you something to read for a few minutes while sipping your coffee and easing into your Friday.

I’m so glad you’re here. Let’s dive in!

In the News

A recent JAMA study found the old adage that alcohol intake can be protective and healthy is actually inaccurate. This article includes points we can use when talking to our patients about changing habits and improving their health.

As for me, I’ll probably still be reaching for my glass of red wine on Friday night, because, well #kids.

This article got me thinking, though, of the axiom I’m sure many of us heard throughout our training: “50% of what we teach you over the next 4 years will be wrong or inaccurate. The only problem is, we don’t know which 50%”.

This feels SO true and the article above is just another example. Often, I’m amazed at how much we simply don’t know about medicine, science and the human body. There’s so much left to learn! It’s great motivation to keep reading, studying and learning not only from books but from our patients and colleagues.

In Your Practice

In an effort to build camaraderie and boost morale, my office manager set out a giant coloring poster at the MA station. Over the course of the month, our staff has gradually been coloring in the beautiful design. Docs and managers have stopped by and taken a few minutes to participate as well. It’s been a great way to encourage everyone to pause and take a deep breath.

In Your Heart

Our day-to-day work is tough and can feel thankless. Taking a few minutes to reflect on the bright spots can really carry us through. I love this quote from Dr. Danielle Ofri.

On a side note, if you are looking for a new book, I love her work, especially Singulair Intimacies. I flew through this book during medical school. She has a way of translating the complexities of medical training to beautiful words on paper.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Ashley