Interview with Matthew H. Samore, MD, author of Clinical Decision Support and Appropriateness of Antimicrobial Prescribing: A Randomized Trial, published in the November 9 issue of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association. Summary points: 1. Repetitive use of a diagnostic and treatment algorithm to ingrain new prescribing habits was a valuable part of this practice change intervention. 2. Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) are feasibly implemented in practice settings that lack electronic medical records, including rural communities. 3. CDSS needs to be integrated with tools that save clinicians' time to be sustainable.

Forty years ago, in 1980, Jimmy Carter was president. Pac-Man debuted. In medicine, smallpox was declared to be eradicated. Additionally, on May 9, 1980, A Piece of My Mind was inaugurated in JAMA. The first essay, “Tuna on Rye, 1984,” was written by then–senior editor Samuel Vaisrub under the pen name Sam Vee. He introduced the column with an editorial entitled “For the Peace of Your Mind.”

We hasten to assure our readers that a piece of my mind...is not intended as a sounding board for peevish gripes, nit-picking beefs, or sundry assortments of righteous indignation, which are usually prefaced by an angry “let me give you a piece of my mind.” Nor is this section of The Journal meant to be a podium for pompous preachments and ex cathedra pronouncements. Nor again is it designed to be a forum for half-baked speculations and warmed-over hypotheses. Least of all is a piece of my mind envisaged as a jamboree of jokes and a shivaree of limericks.

In this narrative medicine essay, a family physician shares the beginning and ending of a near 12-year journey with a patient, helping him reach sobriety that led to a full though short life and feeling humbled to have been so entrusted to travel with him.

In this narrative medicine essay, an attending physician reflects on the evolution of the role of the attending physician from a supervisor in the background to a micromanaging supervisor to ensure that the proper steps are followed to meet the quality metrics in place in the current health system.

In this narrative medicine essay, an anesthesia resident describes his feelings of loss and unease when a coresident is admitted as a patient and dies of an overdose of fentanyl; this article emphasizes the importance of prioritizing physician wellness programs to help avoid burnout and substance use disorder.

In this narrative medical essay, the authors present 3 scenarios exemplifying the collision between mentoring expectations among millennials and older generation faculty and proposes strategies to bridge generational divides and engage the next generation of physicians.

Jamieson, Kathleen Hall

Boczkowski, Pablo J

Australia. Parliament. House of Representatives. Standing Committee on Transport, Communications and Infrastructure

Wenger, Debora Halpern