Lifestyle

Dad practiced medicine in New Jersey for some 50 years. Born and educated in New York City, he came to the Jersey Shore in the early 1950s to join his brother-in-law in a 2-man physician partnership. They had to work very hard to succeed-overly hard, based on where they lived.

After 18 years in the business, you'd think nothing could amaze me. But every time some clown upgrades or downgrades a stock or puts out a research note that moves the share price, I'm surprised.

As November turns to December, luxury car-makers bombard the airwaves with ads suggesting the perfect holiday gift-one with 4 wheels, leather seats, and a giant red bow on top. But do those ads really work?

This week's list of must-read news stories includes a look at top concerns for doctors heading into the new year, a pair of stories about physicians fighting Ebola, and the true cost of all those missing waiting room magazines.

The end of the year has a number of significant financial implications that we should not lose sight of in our merriment. And being aware of some of them will allow us to feel better and maybe save some money, even if we are sometimes profligate in our holiday shopping.

Dad was a big advocate of the "brief vacation." And he held that it's the wise doctor who has a ready escape. Perhaps 8 to 10 times a year, my father would leave behind his concerns (usually work and family) and take a timely trip to where he could loosen up.

The amount of time a person spends exercising can have a lot to do with the availability of resources like parks, gyms, and bicycle paths. These cities do the best job of providing and embracing those amenities.

This week's list of must-read news stories for physicians includes the retirement of a physician-senator, hot healthcare stock tips, and a hard look at how physicians may have impacted the behavior documented in the Senate's so-called "Torture Report."