I emailed all of you guys to do some reverse spamming, as one of my readers put it. The goal was to clean up my email list and keep the most engaging readers on the list.
I got some fabulous replies, thank you all. And so I decided to post some of the noteworthy ones here.
Blog Subscribing
I subscribe to a lot of blogs and newsletters. I find that it’s the best way for me to obtain news and get the opinion of a nerd who lives and breathes a particular topic.
But it’s tedious to filter through all those posts which come into my email. Here are my tactics for keeping it all in check.
I prefer blog posts which are posted in full-length within the email notification. If the writer wants me to click on a link to read their post, they are usually doing so to drive up their website traffic, to increase their ad revenue.
I also don’t care to read most blog posts. Many don’t apply to me or are only worth a quick glance. I can file it up in my head and search the author’s website in the future, if I need to.
My Blog Readers
The majority of my readers don’t comment on my posts, they simply hit reply on the post notification they get, and that’s how we interact. I generally reply to everyone.
Many have medical board problems, legal problems, are burnt out, or have rather strong views which aren’t best shared online. For such matters it’s better to email me at drmo@digitalnomadphysician.com rather than post a comment.
My website however is completely anonymous. Anyone can post without inputting their email or their name. It’s a little more work for me to filter out the spammers that way, but I don’t mind.
Here is everyone who reads my website:
- NP’s
- PA’s
- MD’s
- Podiatrists
- Pharmacists
- Dentists
- CEO’s
- CMO’s
- Internists
- Family Med docs
- EM docs
- Laypersons
- Retired docs
- Residents
- Medical students
- My mom
The Comments From Readers
You’re doing great stuff sharing your journey. Be sure to sign up for C P R where we’re building a pretty sizable base to take on unfairness.
I am already subscribed to CPR (free) and I think every physician should be. Just like the NBPAS (<$200 for 2 years), physicians should be subscribed and active to the best of their abilities in organizations which are helping physicians and improving our career.
The ABMS and the AMA don’t give a shit about us. Their revenue is coming from things which are ruining medicine.
Déjame vivir
Hell, yes keep me subscribed, please! I appreciate all you do and you’ve been a huge help to me personally and professionally.
I love reading stuff like this. Somehow by me sharing my journey this person has learned something. Maybe they just got a different perspective.
Don’t delete me bro!
Keep me on! I am trying to eventually do this from Italy where I am also a citizen. I appreciate all of your blogs, I used to work in primary care and loved the one you did a few weeks ago on EMRs and time suckers.
Keep me bitch!
Cursing is always encouraged and appreciated. As physicians we are so afraid to express ourselves publicly because we are held to this higher moral standard, even though we are readily treated like criminals.
I’m not saying everyone should have a foul mouth like me. But if you don’t have an outlet to express yourself, you wilt on the inside.
Thanks for your posts. On a few of the more recent posts I’ve almost replied to you with something like “omg, yes! agreed” but then got lazy tbh. Provider economic violence, the general hassle, and impending burnout are all topics I’ve been contemplating lately. I certainly could not have identified or articulated them as well as you, and I am often reading these posts thinking you are quite a concise writer. I’m not a physician, but many of the issues you write about are on point for me too. I recently became financially free (no debt other than a reasonable mortgage plus good savings – I think maybe defined somewhere on WCI) and it is a wonderful feeling. A long ways off from financial independence for sure, but it sure feels good. And to avoid burnout I’ve significantly cut back my workload temporarily.
I have appreciated your insightful and frank posts on what is the too often reality of these professions we’ve chosen. And I admire the fortitude you had to survive the medical boards. Although I suppose it could be a bit like getting cancer, what’re you gonna do, not fight it? But you come out changed. I wonder if I had gotten a simple business degree and had entered corporate American at a young age, it might be about the same chance of being unsatisfied there also. But I do wonder.
These are lovely comments to read. We need more inquisitive medical minds in healthcare. And he’s in an interesting medical profession. I would love to read a blog by this non-MD. Sadly, not enough of us have time or the drive to maintain our own platform.
I’ve had phone calls with some of you who have lived the most interesting lives and are doing the most interesting things with your careers.
And you mofo’s don’t write about it, don’t talk about. We could learn so much from each other if we all chose a way to share our experiences with each other.
Man I read this mofo every time!
Hey Dr. Mo. I hope you’re doing well. Thanks for the responsible spamming! I’d like to keep receiving your emails unless your planning to sell my information to a third party. This is the first time I’ve ever seen someone threaten to stop emails. Usually I try to unsubscribe from shit but keep getting more! Does your locums thing not pay for your accommodation and transportation?
Silencing Physicians
There are too many physicians who are silenced by state medical boards, their employers, or other licensing bodies.
We are held to a professionalism standard which limits the way we can express ourselves.
In fact, your state medical board has the right to terminate your medical license if they feel that you are bad mouthing the medical profession. This is part of the Medical Practice Act, which every state adopts.
Speaking Out Anonymously
Fortunately, you can post comments anonymously, you can run an anonymous podcast, and you can have a blog such as this, all without revealing your identity.
In fact, I don’t think many of us would benefit from knowing the exact identity of the medical professionals whom we follow.
When you speak out and discuss your feelings and put your thought process into writing, it no longer feels like a complaint.
In my case, I also get feedback from many of you when I write something. Many of you email me and dose me with a shot of reality and others echo what I say.
Blogs, podcasts, and social media are our way of discussing our careers outside of the workplace, and often for the first time after leaving residency.
1. Recording a Podcast
I’ve read online instructions on how to start a podcast, I find them complicated.
Step 1) record your episode into you phone’s Voice app, 2) choose a podcast hosting company, I use Libsyn, 3) upload your episode. Done.
You can always go back and make it sexy, whatever sexy means to you. Here is the link to my podcast.
2. Writing a Blog
Starting a blog is easy too. There are plenty of great online tutorials to get started. It’s something you can definitely do anonymously.
You can choose your website name by picking your unique URL and then choose a hosting company. I use Bluehost. There are far better companies than Bluehost – but that’s what I use.
Inside the WordPress environment you click “New Post” and write down your thoughts. You can always go back and edit your posts in the future.
3. Posting on Social Media
I don’t have FB, I only post on Instagram. Here is my IG link. And you can see that it can be anonymous and you can use it as a “business” account, no need to post any selfies if you don’t want to.
I find Social Media to be a very useful tool for a physician who may want to reinvent their career in the future. I wrote a free course for mastering Social Media, check it out if you’re interested.
One reply on “Comments From Blog Subscribers”
Dr. Mofo,
Thank you for your blog.