iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD @ilanayurkiewicz.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Despite most Americans feeling dissatisfied with the healthcare system and desiring reform, few presidents have been able to do it. In fact, advisors explicitly tell the president: Don’t go there. David Blumenthal and I discuss why. Full: ilanayurkiewiczmd.substack.com/p/can-the-pr...

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Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD @ilanayurkiewicz.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

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...

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Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD @ilanayurkiewicz.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

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...

open.substack.com

Always at Capacity

How primary care became the only high-stakes service operating at >100% by design.

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Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD @ilanayurkiewicz.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

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

ilanayurkiewiczmd.substack.com

The Fragmented Field Guide

Three strategies to navigate America's healthcare maze when it matters most.

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Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD @ilanayurkiewicz.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

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...

ilanayurkiewiczmd.substack.com

The Fake Math of Primary Care

It's a design failure built on outdated numbers.

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Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD @ilanayurkiewicz.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

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...

open.substack.com

"How long do I have?"

The challenge isn't communication. It's radical uncertainty.

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Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD @ilanayurkiewicz.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

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...

open.substack.com

How to Pitch and Publish Medical Journalism

Nuts and bolts to get your work out there.

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Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD @ilanayurkiewicz.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

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...

youtube.com

Who Can We Trust? | Stanford Big Ideas in Medicine 2025 Opening Talk | Dr. Ilana Yurkiewicz

YouTube video by Stanford Medicine & the Muse

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Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD @ilanayurkiewicz.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

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...

ilanayurkiewiczmd.substack.com

Can AI fix a fragmented medical system?

Or fracture it further?

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Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD @ilanayurkiewicz.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

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?...

youtu.be

Who Can We Trust? | Stanford Big Ideas in Medicine 2025 Opening Talk | Dr. Ilana Yurkiewicz

YouTube video by Ilana Yurkiewicz, M.D.

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Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD @ilanayurkiewicz.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

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

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Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD @ilanayurkiewicz.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

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...

open.substack.com

Who Can We Trust?

Welcome to Big Ideas in Medicine.

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Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD @ilanayurkiewicz.bsky.social · 20/07/2025

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-...

ilanayurkiewiczmd.substack.com

Cancer is over. Now what?

What every doctor should know about caring for cancer survivors.

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Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD @ilanayurkiewicz.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

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?...

youtu.be

50th Annual Books on Review

YouTube video by Stanford Alumni

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Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD @ilanayurkiewicz.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

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...

stanfordbigideas.org

2025 Speaker Nomination — Stanford Big Ideas in Medicine

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Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD @ilanayurkiewicz.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

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 swcebregistrar@gmail.com.) Thanks to Stanford Women's Club of the East Bay for hosting.

groups.stanford.edu

50th Annual Books on Review - Four Stanford Authors

50th Annual Books on Review We have a fabulous group of Stanford authors coming in January! Join us to hear these wonderful writers talk about their inspiration, writing process, and their books. ...

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