Eric Dessner is an ophthalmologist.

Here’s what the NFL could learn from ancient Rome and the gladiators

Physician
January 29, 2025

It seems unlikely that Paramount Studios released Gladiator Part 2 immediately after the presidential election to diffuse political rancor. They didn’t intend to provide a cathartic release for the nation’s pent-up frustrations. The goal wasn’t to help remove the hissing American tea kettle from such a divisive political flame.

Hollywood made the film to entertain us and make some money in the process. The studio probably released it during the holiday …

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Here’s what the NFL could learn from ancient Rome and the gladiators

Rethinking access to the American tip jar: It’s time to include nurses and dental hygienists

Physician
March 9, 2023

Americans are accustomed to tipping for a wide array of services. We understand that our gratuity makes up an important percentage of the wages earned by many different types of laborers: massage therapists, Uber drivers, hair stylists, tour guides, room service providers, valets — the list goes on. Much of the time, we don’t just add a tip because we’re adhering to a cultural norm but rather because we genuinely …

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Rethinking access to the American tip jar: It’s time to include nurses and dental hygienists

Finding the right balance: Fleishman is in Trouble takes on parenting in the 21st century

Physician
February 13, 2023

For those who haven’t yet seen Hulu’s dramatic series Fleishman Is in Trouble, it’s really about the different forms of existential crises people face in middle age. The show contemplates the challenges of maintaining a marriage, parenting in the digital age, job dissatisfaction, and suburban listlessness, and how a responsible adult might reconcile these dilemmas and chart a new course forward.  It manages to explore these weighty themes with earnestness …

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Finding the right balance: Fleishman is in Trouble takes on parenting in the 21st century

Addressing online addiction has become a moral imperative

Conditions
November 11, 2021

On August 30th, Uncle Xi Jinping stepped into many Chinese living rooms and asked hundreds of millions of his nieces and nephews to hand over their video game controllers. Three hours per week is all they get now. According to a press release from Xinhua state news, he promised to give them back on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for an hour each evening.

Now to my ear, that sounds a bit …

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Addressing online addiction has become a moral imperative

Rethinking tort reform in the wake of the pandemic

Physician
August 3, 2021

We had a bit of a reprieve, but now it’s over. The chorus of pots and pans that applauded our efforts during the height of the pandemic has long since faded into silence. The brassware has been put back in the cupboard, and the chest-thumping of the American malpractice gorilla has come back into focus, even louder than ever.

Just flip on the television. Personal injury solicitations …

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Rethinking tort reform in the wake of the pandemic

Celebrate health care workers by not suing them

Physician
May 13, 2020

In New York City, each evening at 7 p.m., the sound of people banging on pots and pans can be heard from apartment buildings within earshot of hospitals all over the city. The cacophonous clanging is a salute to the beleaguered health care workers changing shifts on the asphalt below. The ritual conveys appreciation and thousands of idiosyncratic messages of hope.

And that’s great. The gesture does, no doubt, positively impact …

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Celebrate health care workers by not suing them