Amy Tan, MD
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amytanmd.bsky.social
Amy Tan, MD
@amytanmd.bsky.social
1.5K followers 340 following 180 posts
Human being, book dragon, thinker, disruptor + rebel, disabled, mom, wife, physician (palliative care & family med), writer, educator, scholar. Non-partisan, pro-humanity, pro-collective care+liberation. BC West Coaster. 🌊 Views my own. (she/her)
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amytanmd.bsky.social
Amy Tan, MD @amytanmd.bsky.social · Apr 6
Despite what they try to tell you, caring about others, fighting for the rights of ALL human beings, honouring differences amongst us all, are NOT threats to you, or to your way of life.

Striving to be better always is honouring your own humanity, while protecting others' humanity.

Imagine that.
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amytanmd.bsky.social
Amy Tan, MD @amytanmd.bsky.social · Sep 27
Pls help me prep for some education sessions I'll be giving; want to see what public perceptions are:

Without looking it up, what do you think the average life expectancy for a Canadian is?

Have you heard of the term "healthspan"?

What do you think the healthspan of the average Canadian is?

🙏🏽
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amytanmd.bsky.social
Amy Tan, MD @amytanmd.bsky.social · Sep 25
OMG. The world has lost a truly amazing, compassionate, and talented human being.

My condolences to his family and friends.

How devastating a loss to the Edmonton community, and the AB medical community.

RIP Darren. 💔💔💔
taniaspencer.bsky.social Tania J. Spencer @taniaspencer.bsky.social · Sep 24
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Many of us have followed this extraordinarily compassionate 🇨🇦 doctor throughout the pandemic. Dr. Markland was indefatigable in his advocacy for healthcare & patients, & so much more.

Rest in peace, Dr. Darren Markland -

www.westernstandard.news/news/beloved...
Beloved Edmonton doctor tragically passes away after mountain biking accident near Nordegg
Edmonton is mourning the sudden loss of Dr. Darren Markland, a highly respected intensive-care physician, who tragically died in a cycling accident on Sunday.
www.westernstandard.news
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Reposted by Amy Tan, MD
jackamatica.bsky.social
Jack - amatica health @jackamatica.bsky.social · Aug 19
🔬Interesting new brainstem and cerebellum study in Long COVID - new imaging findings

A new brain imaging study of Long COVID patients reveals major damage in key parts of the brain responsible for movement, balance, and automatic body functions like heart rate and sleep

Let’s break it down🧵
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Reposted by Amy Tan, MD
daniellebeckman.bsky.social
Danielle Beckman @daniellebeckman.bsky.social · Aug 15
Not all heroes wear capes. Incredible work from @putrinolab.bsky.social. They have created a *FREE* manual for clinicians treating chronic illnesses associated with infections.

#LongCovid #MECFS #LymeDisease and many others.
Title of the news: Mount Sinai publishes 1st US guide for infection-linked chronic illnesses
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Reposted by Amy Tan, MD
thetyee.ca
The Tyee @thetyee.ca · Aug 12
Starting Sept. 1, B.C.’s Medical Services Plan is capping all online group medical visits to just 20 patients, to “ensure there can still be a one-on-one interaction between each patient and physician,” the Health Ministry told The Tyee.
Funding Changes Might Leave BC’s Long-COVID Patients in the Lurch | The Tyee
The province has one main clinic offering care to more than 5,200 online patients.
thetyee.ca
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amytanmd.bsky.social
Amy Tan, MD @amytanmd.bsky.social · Aug 10
At 1st read, thought this was abt actual humans being dehumanized in the name of productivity.

Realizing AI is just extending what has been all along: Extract what you can. Discard. Rinse. Repeat.

And that's how we have society that only puts worth on ppl's productivity and not their humanity.
disabilitystor1.bsky.social Aparna Nair @disabilitystor1.bsky.social · Aug 10
👇
rhacodactylus.bsky.social rhaco_dactylus, phd @rhacodactylus.bsky.social · Aug 10
it is quite terrifying how eager people are to accept dehumanization - of others as well as themselves - as long as it's packaged in terms of "being more productive" or "more efficient"

there is zero humanity-acknowledging, much less enhancing, aspect to these technologies
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Reposted by Amy Tan, MD
disabilitystor1.bsky.social
Aparna Nair @disabilitystor1.bsky.social · Aug 10
👇
rhacodactylus.bsky.social rhaco_dactylus, phd @rhacodactylus.bsky.social · Aug 10
it is quite terrifying how eager people are to accept dehumanization - of others as well as themselves - as long as it's packaged in terms of "being more productive" or "more efficient"

there is zero humanity-acknowledging, much less enhancing, aspect to these technologies
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amytanmd.bsky.social
Amy Tan, MD @amytanmd.bsky.social · Aug 10
Yet, I also find it telling that the eulogies only list accomplishments (what institutions & organizations extracted from them) and not the actual type of human being they were.

I want to live in a world where how a person treats other people matters more than their accomplishments.
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amytanmd.bsky.social
Amy Tan, MD @amytanmd.bsky.social · Aug 10
It is so difficult and so confirmatory of the systems we are trapped in that you must watch people, organizations & institutions eulogize one of your abusers (an openly known "secret") as though they were a saint.

And the suffering without accountability, in silence, continues.
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amytanmd.bsky.social
Amy Tan, MD @amytanmd.bsky.social · Aug 7
Thank you. Yeah, it was off-putting, to say the least.
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amytanmd.bsky.social
Amy Tan, MD @amytanmd.bsky.social · Aug 7
Thanks. I've done a lot of tinkering over the last couple of yrs to help them work for me, especially at work.
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amytanmd.bsky.social
Amy Tan, MD @amytanmd.bsky.social · Aug 7
PS: Doctors can be visibly or invisibly disabled. Doctors can use mobility aids while caring for pts. In fact, more disabled doctors are needed in the profession, not less.

Thank you.
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amytanmd.bsky.social
Amy Tan, MD @amytanmd.bsky.social · Aug 7
I don't feel that I need to disclose my personal health info at work, but I gave her enough info that she then quickly said, "Oh wow, I'm so proud of you for being able to be a doctor!"

Shared to show the many forms ableism can come out in a 2 min interaction with a complete stranger.
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amytanmd.bsky.social
Amy Tan, MD @amytanmd.bsky.social · Aug 7
PSA: This afternoon, a visitor at one of the health facilities in which I work, and while I was rounding on my patients, came up to me and asked,

"Who are you? Are you using THOSE (pointing at my forearm crutches in pic) because you *actually* need them, or is it for some sort of performance?" (🤯)
Pic of iridescent rainbow carbon fibre wrapped aluminum forearm crutches with orange ferrules and black & orange accents propped against a car door.
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amytanmd.bsky.social
Amy Tan, MD @amytanmd.bsky.social · Aug 4
And we're not even going to delve into genetics, epigenetics and intergenerational trauma that impacts one's health and inherent predisposition to certain diseases, again mostly outside of one's control.
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amytanmd.bsky.social
Amy Tan, MD @amytanmd.bsky.social · Aug 4
On top of the fact that many ppl have chronic inflammation, trauma due to life circumstances, racism, systemic oppressive factors *outside their control* that impact their health.

Don't be deluded into thinking you can "morally" protect yourself from serious illness.
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amytanmd.bsky.social
Amy Tan, MD @amytanmd.bsky.social · Aug 4
I've been a palliative care & family physician for 20+ yrs. Marathon runners, organic food eaters, cross-fitters + whatever else is considered a virtuous "healthy" lifestyle have all unfortunately been subjected to (for many, early) life-limiting diseases, despite this.

No one "deserves" illness.
docmcohen.medsky.social Michelle Cohen @docmcohen.medsky.social · Aug 4
Love this framing for its black & white absolutism. You're either unhealthy or not, on Rx meds or not, have a bad lifestyle or not.

No in-between, no understanding that many ppl with virtuous lifestyles are on meds too.

Just another way of talking about morality and who "deserves" to be healthy.
jonathanstea.bsky.social Dr. Jonathan N. Stea @jonathanstea.bsky.social · Jul 31
Most clinical psychologists don’t prescribe medications.

But I do support patients who benefit from their use.

Relentlessly.

Enough with the patient-blaming and pill-shaming. 😊✌️
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amytanmd.bsky.social
Amy Tan, MD @amytanmd.bsky.social · Jul 30
Thanks for this! Resourceful, as always.
Reposted by Amy Tan, MD
yvrwxwatcher.bsky.social
Ryan Voutilainen @yvrwxwatcher.bsky.social · Jul 30
#TSUNAMI Watch has been issued by the National Tsunami Warning Center and it includes #BC Notification Zones A, B, C, & D.
If it materializes, expect it to begin around 2205 Langara BC and at 2330 PDT at Tofino.

For more and updates: go to tsunami.gov

#BCtsunami #BCstorm
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amytanmd.bsky.social
Amy Tan, MD @amytanmd.bsky.social · Jul 29
To think & act as though you're entitled to comfort, is in fact privilege.

Ppl must examine themselves & the world around them: who is materially at actual risk (of dying, losing health, autonomy, freedoms, losing their careers/livelihoods) in the given context, and why is your comfort worth more?
erikahall.bsky.social Erika Hall @erikahall.bsky.social · Jul 29
We need to teach people the difference between being uncomfortable and being unsafe. Because the discomfort of the safest people is endangering the most vulnerable, all day every day.
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Reposted by Amy Tan, MD
steverice.bsky.social
Steve Rice @steverice.bsky.social · Jul 24
TW: SA
Today's hockey trial in Canada underlines once again victims of sexual assault are not valued in society. The system is designed to protect perpetrators, mostly men, while harming the assaulted, mostly women and girls. This must change. Believe the victims.
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Reposted by Amy Tan, MD
julieslalonde.bsky.social
Julie S. Lalonde @julieslalonde.bsky.social · Jul 24
Oh and for all the armchair legal experts with their "Well, actually..." this is a reminder that not guilty does not mean innocent. You do not get found innocent in a Canadian criminal trial. ✌🏻
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amytanmd.bsky.social
Amy Tan, MD @amytanmd.bsky.social · Jul 24
My thoughts are with EM. I hope you are surrounded with love and care. You matter. Your story matters.
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amytanmd.bsky.social
Amy Tan, MD @amytanmd.bsky.social · Jul 24
Just like we in medicine must do better to provide trauma-informed care, the justice system must reckon with this too. The permitted use of sexist, victim-shaming tropes, the lack of awareness, let alone understanding of how trauma impacts actions in this trial will only deepen ingrained misogyny.
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amytanmd.bsky.social
Amy Tan, MD @amytanmd.bsky.social · Jul 24
Misogyny lives on, strong and clear.
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