Board-Certified Anesthesiologist

Aalap Shah, MD

Medical Expert Witness, Anesthesiologist, and Healthcare Innovator dedicated to improving patient outcomes and advancing medical practice.

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@aalapshahmd
13 hours ago
Once you start spotting that pattern it’s hard to unsee — that quick jump from “here’s a thing” straight to “and therefore obviously this” with zero room left for maybe, or nuance, or “it depends.”

It’s like the internet trained a whole generation of writing to sound 100% sure in 280 characters or less, and now the model just learned to imitate the same confident drumbeat.

Feels kinda wild when you realize most of the loudest AI answers are just copying that same tempo we’ve all been soaking in for years.

Pass it on if it rings a bell for you too.

#artificialintelligence #criticalthinking #medialiteracy #promptengineering #ainews
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Once you start spotting that pattern it’s hard to unsee — that quick jump from “here’s a thing”...
@aalapshahmd
@aalapshahmd
1 day ago
Sedated ≠ Rested: The THC Sleep Trap

If THC has turned into your go-to for falling asleep every night, here's something worth keeping in mind:

Over time, your body can build tolerance, so you might end up needing more to get that same sleepy feeling. When you cut back or stop, a lot of folks deal with rebound stuff like super vivid/intense dreams, choppy sleep, waking up a bunch, or just straight-up trouble staying asleep. The sedation from it isn't always the same as truly deep, refreshing rest—sometimes what feels like "better sleep" is more about masking restlessness or being less aware of it during the night. Waking up feeling groggy, cranky, or foggy-headed the next day can be a clue your brain hasn't fully gone through its normal recovery stages.

Pin this if it hits home. And if you're relying on cannabis every night for sleep, it might help to chat with your doctor or a clinician about easing off gradually while picking up some natural ways to rebuild solid sleep habits.

#sleep #cannabis #insomnia
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Sedated ≠ Rested: The THC Sleep Trap If THC has turned into your go-to for falling asleep every...
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@aalapshahmd
2 days ago
Why Physicians Often Sound So Measured Online

You see it across platforms: the short disclaimers, the precise phrasing, the frequent “please discuss this with your own doctor.” It’s not that physicians have nothing to say. It’s that almost every word they write carries potential weight.

Medical training doesn’t only deliver knowledge—it also brings constant oversight, institutional policies, legal realities, and real-world consequences. So the people with the most experience and expertise often become the most deliberate with their language.
If you’re a physician who sometimes feels constrained by all of this, you’re not the only one feeling it.

Save or share this if it speaks to you, and feel free to follow for more open, grounded talk about medicine and what healthcare looks like today.

#PhysicianLife #MedicalEducation #PatientSafety #Healthcare #WestHollywood
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Why Physicians Often Sound So Measured Online You see it across platforms: the short disclaimers,...
@aalapshahmd
@aalapshahmd
2 days ago
Marijuana and REM

A lot of people use weed to fall asleep faster, and that part's real—THC can cut down the time it takes to nod off.

But quick sleep doesn't always mean good sleep.

Research is mixed: older studies (often with higher doses) showed THC suppresses REM sleep (the dream stage important for memory, emotions, and brain recovery), and some recent ones still find that effect, especially acutely or with heavier use. Newer studies with lower/typical doses often show less consistent REM reduction, though chronic use can still lead to more wake-ups, lighter sleep, or lower overall efficiency in some cases.

Point is, sedation and actually restorative sleep aren't the same. You might crash fast, but if REM or other stages get disrupted regularly, your brain might not get the full reset it needs.

If you want to wake up sharp and balanced long-term, it's worth tracking the whole sleep picture, not just how quick you pass out

#SleepScience #REM #THC #SleepHealth #BrainFunction #EvidenceBased #Recovery #Wellness #Neuroscience
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Marijuana and REM A lot of people use weed to fall asleep faster, and that part's real—THC can...
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@aalapshahmd
3 days ago
When Expertise Gets Penalized

Patients arrive already overwhelmed by online opinions, TikTok diagnoses, AI suggestions, denial letters, and fear-based ads. That stress often lands on the doctor.

Many physicians must choose every word carefully—not from lack of confidence, but because the current environment makes speaking freely feel risky.
If this feels familiar, you’re not alone.

Save, share, or follow for more real talk about today’s medicine.

#PatientSafety #PhysicianLife #HealthCommunication #MedEd #PhysicianWellness
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When Expertise Gets Penalized Patients arrive already overwhelmed by online opinions, TikTok...
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@aalapshahmd
4 days ago
When Healthcare Becomes a Daily Calculation for Survival

When an economy collapses, the first thing that vanishes is choice.
For patients it turns into: postpone treatment, make medications last longer, pray the condition does not worsen.

For healthcare workers it turns into: find workarounds, ration what little is available, carry the moral burden home every night.

This is not abstract policy debate or political theater. It is real people forced to solve impossible equations every single day.

If you are in healthcare, you already know how quickly "we can manage this" becomes "there is no path forward."

Save this if it resonates. Share it if you think others should see it. And tell me: what part of this reality do you wish more people truly understood before a crisis arrives?

#FuerzaVenezuela #GlobalHealth #HealthcareCrisis #HealthInfrastructure #HumanitarianResponse #PatientSafety #PhysicianLife #Anesthesiology #HealthPolicy #CrisisMedicine #PublicHealth #WestHollywood
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When Healthcare Becomes a Daily Calculation for Survival When an economy collapses, the first...
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@aalapshahmd
4 days ago
Some injuries look “simple” on replay… until you see what they do to a knee.

A distal femur break is one of those: big force, big swelling, brutal first week, and a recovery plan that’s usually surgical. Pain control matters—but so does keeping you safe, stable, and sleeping.

#MMA #reactionvideo #anesthesiologist #SportsMedicine #Orthopedics #Anesthesiology #NerveBlock #InjuryRecovery #FightSports #MedEd
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Some injuries look “simple” on replay… until you see what they do to a knee. A distal femur break...
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@aalapshahmd
5 days ago
"Being in good standing" has become just another way of saying "your payment went through."

Doctors can spend years taking care of patients, training new doctors, showing up every day. But their license still depends on paying annual fees.

In finance, you can follow all the rules, do good work, get results. You still have to keep paying recurring fees and registrations just to keep your license active.

The draining part isn't learning new things or staying sharp at your job. It's the bill that shows up every year no matter how much good work you actually did.

When it's time to renew, the notice arrives like clockwork. Doesn't matter if you had a busy year or a quiet one.

If this sounds familiar, save and share: where do you see this "pay to stay in the game" pattern in your field?

#medicine #healthcare #finance #professionalidentity
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"Being in good standing" has become just another way of saying "your payment went through."...
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@aalapshahmd
February 7
If you’re scrubbed in and you have to 💩… scrub out and 💩

I’m dead serious.

Somewhere along the way, healthcare turned basic human needs into a “character test.”
Like you’re only a real professional if you can hold it for 6 hours, ignore your bladder, and pretend your intestines don’t exist.

Meanwhile your brain is trying to focus on the case while your body is screaming:
‼️Emergency‼️

Normalize tap-outs.
Normalize saying, “I’ll be right back.”
Normalize not suffering in silence like it’s part of the sterile field.

Because nothing should feel more illegal in a hospital than… a bathroom break.

If you’ve ever done the 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲” 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝, 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞. 😭👇
#surgerylife #healthcarehumor #medlife #hospitalstories
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If you’re scrubbed in and you have to 💩… scrub out and 💩 I’m dead serious. Somewhere along the...
@aalapshahmd
@aalapshahmd
February 6
The dead giveaway of AI writing? that "but here's the thing..." pivot 🚩

You know the pattern:

"X is important. However, Y..."
"While many think A, the reality is B..."
"Sure, C matters. But what REALLY matters is D..."

It's literary the equivalent of clearing your throat before every sentence. real writers don't constantly set up opposing ideas just to knock them down—they actually commit to a thought.

How to avoid it:

→ make your actual point first
→ let ideas stand without the theatrical "but wait, there's more"
→ trust that nuance doesn't require mechanical back-and-forth
→ if you DO need contrast, vary the structure (not every paragraph needs an "although"

The irony? AI does this because it's trained on persuasive writing. but persuasion that sounds persuasive isn't the same as being compelling
your writing should sound like you think, not like you're constantly arguing with an imaginary opponent

#WriteLikeAHuman #WritingTips #CopywritingTips #ContentWriting #BrandVoice #VoiceAndTone #ContentCreatorTips #MarketingWriting
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The dead giveaway of AI writing? that "but here's the thing..." pivot 🚩 You know the pattern: "X...
@aalapshahmd
@aalapshahmd
February 5
CREDENTIALING SCAMS

It’s frustrating how being really good at your job still isn’t enough—you can deliver results, but you’re still forced to pay just to be allowed to keep working.

Many professions now work like a subscription service. You pay for the first credential or license. You pay yearly dues to stay in good standing. Then come the extra charges—association memberships, MLS access, state fees, continuing education—just to maintain access to the work you’re qualified for.

In real estate it’s especially visible: national REALTOR® dues for 2026 are $156, and that’s before local board dues, state association fees, and MLS costs stack on top.

Your skills matter, but so does the annual renewal fee that lets you keep using them professionally.

Save this if you’ve ever paid a bill simply to hold onto permission to do what you already know how to do.

#professionaldevelopment #workplaceculture #futureofwork #careergrowth #credentialing #gatekeeping
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CREDENTIALING SCAMS It’s frustrating how being really good at your job still isn’t enough—you can...
@aalapshahmd
@aalapshahmd
February 4
When was the last time you left a meeting feeling like your voice didn't actually matter? That hollow feeling isn't about you. It's about broken decision-making.

Does Your Input Actually Matter?

Real trust doesn't come from gathering everyone's input. It comes from clarity about who decides, what matters most, and why we're even discussing this.

Before your next team vote, ask: Do people know who owns this decision? Have they seen the criteria? Did they get real time to think, or are we ambushing them? Can someone disagree without risk?

These aren't nice-to-haves. They're the difference between people feeling heard and people quietly checking out.

Stop trying to include everyone in everything. Start making the path from input to decision something they can actually see and trust.

Share this with the person on your team who keeps wondering why engagement feels so low.

#communication #leadership #teamwork #trust #hospitalculture #frontliners #anesthesiologist
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When was the last time you left a meeting feeling like your voice didn't actually matter? That...
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Dr. Aalap Shah in scrubs

About Dr. Shah

Dr. Aalap Shah is a board-certified anesthesiologist specializing in general adult and pediatric anesthesiology. He attended medical school at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, completed his residency at the University of Washington, and fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School.

Passionate about introducing process improvement strategies in perioperative healthcare, Dr. Shah holds Six Sigma and LEAN certifications and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications on topics ranging from nerve injury to evidence-based practice compliance.

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Whether you need expert witness services, medical consultation, or want to discuss collaboration opportunities, I'd love to hear from you.