In Episode 2 of Hard Medicine, I sit down with my colleague and friend Dr. Bryant Lin, a clinical professor who was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer just shy of his 50th birthday. What makes a good life with stage IV cancer? Full episode here: ilanayurkiewiczmd.substack.com/p/what-makes...

Primary care is the only high-stakes service designed to operate at >100% capacity, leading to predictably devastating results. I wrote about the forces that got us here. This is a story about perverse incentives, queuing theory — and courage. open.substack.com/pub/ilanayur...

In our fragmented medical system, you are the only guaranteed source of continuity in your care. My field guide has 3 strategies anyone can use: on medical elevator pitches, finding primary care, and getting your team to talk. ilanayurkiewiczmd.substack.com/p/the-fragmented-field-guide

Full-time primary care doctors work ~62 hours per week, and even 90+ hours cover <70% of the job's demands. These numbers back what every primary care doctor knows: Going part-time is the only way to do the job. Read "The Fake Math of Primary Care" ilanayurkiewiczmd.substack.com/p/the-fake-m...

Medical education teaches that conveying prognosis is hard because of communication. But the larger challenge is that curveballs are expected. How can doctors convey what isn't known? New Hard Medicine piece here: open.substack.com/pub/ilanayur...

Writing about medicine is one thing. Getting published is another. My latest Hard Medicine piece breaks down how to get your work out there — from pitch to publication. open.substack.com/pub/ilanayur...

Not everything needs more research. I wrote this speech weeks *before* the Tylenol-autism non-story. “We could study whether tides cause autism. We wouldn’t — because it doesn’t make sense to invest limited dollars & research into what isn't biologically plausible.” www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRO0...

Medicine is deeply fragmented. The question I'm asked most now is: Will AI fix it? In my latest Hard Medicine piece, I examine whether generative AI can transform the current data mess into a meaningful narrative that helps both patients and doctors. ilanayurkiewiczmd.substack.com/p/can-ai-fix...

At the same time doctors are least available, bad information is most available. Unpacking the push and pull behind the nadir in medical trust for Big Ideas in Medicine opening talk (13 min): youtu.be/kWEQm_10pNs?...

I spoke to @cancertherapyadv.bsky.social about why cancer survivors can fall through the cracks - and how to prevent it.

Who Can We Trust? My new essay. "I spoke about managing symptoms with palliative care and hospice. He spoke of blue scorpion venom and mistletoe. I pointed to prescription medications. He pointed to expensive supplements. I cited PubMed. He cited TikTok." open.substack.com/pub/ilanayur...

Most cancer survivors don’t stay with their oncologist—they land in primary care. Meanwhile, most primary care doctors aren't trained for what comes next. New from my Substack, Hard Medicine: What every internist should know. ilanayurkiewiczmd.substack.com/p/cancer-is-...

I was honored to be a part of Stanford Alumni Association's 50th Annual Books on Review with brilliant authors Kathryn Ma, Charmaine Wilkerson, and Allegra Goodman, in conversation with the inimitable Linda Landau. Watch here: youtu.be/tbUPEVVkguU?...

Today, I joined Ann Nyberg to discuss my book Fragmented and how we can piece together U.S. health care. And yes - we still use fax machines in 2025. www.wtnh.com/on-air/nyber...

Nominations for speakers are now open for the 2025 Stanford Big Ideas in Medicine conference. Nominate someone (or yourself!) today. Categories are Magic Medicine, Climate & Health, Neuroscience, and End of Life. I look forward to reading your submission. www.stanfordbigideas.org/2025-speaker...

Join me for the 50th Annual Books on Review! Jan 30 via Zoom. I will discuss FRAGMENTED - origin story, writing process, etc. Register here: groups.stanford.edu/events/106988. (If no Stanford connection, email [email protected].) Thanks to Stanford Women's Club of the East Bay for hosting.