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doctor

The doctor will see you now. No cap.

Because time stands still for no one, the eldest among Gen Z are now the ripe old age of 28…making them old enough to be doctors. And not in a Doogie Howser kind of way (talk about aging ourselves). In a legit, this is a perfectly normal thing to see kind of way. If you can believe it.

And if it’s one thing Gen Zers are known for—besides stealing millennial fashion—it’s that they feel no need to conform to any preconceived notion of what a professional sounds like. You won’t be getting any “warm regards” in their email signatures, and, apparently, you shouldn't expect the typical hospital jargon we all might have grown accustomed to.

That was certainly the case for a millennial named Mandi, who detailed her funny experience in a now mega-viral TikTok.


“So yesterday I had my first experience with a Gen Z doctor, and if you have not had one yet, brace yourself,” she joked in the clip.

Mandi recalled going to Urgent care after having yet another fainting spell (for reasons she did not specify) within the span of a few days. And, while her healthcare provider gave her sound advice, their delivery definitely caught her off guard.

Quoting them verbatim, Mandi said, 'Yo dawg! You passed out four times in the past 48 hours. You need to go to the emergency room by ambulance!'"

To make matters even more *chef’s kiss* when Mandi told her doctor that she couldn’t afford an ambulance, their solution was “just don’t pay it.”

Mandi’s story incited a whirlwind of comments from other folks who have had equally outrageous encounters with Gen Z medical providers.

“Told a Gen Z doctor I have anxiety, adhd, and autism and without even looking up at me she just said ‘we love a AAA battery.’”

gen z, gen z doctor, doctor, doctor near me, urgent care urgent care near me, funny doctor, funny doctor storiesWho knew we needed this in health care@sabocat/TikTok

I had a get an ultrasound and my Gen Z ultrasound tech was like ‘girl your uterus is cute.’ I felt so bonita.”

“I passed out from hemorrhagic shock and when I woke up, there was a Gen Z doctor in my face saying ‘hey welcome back, so that was super scary.’”

“My first Gen Z doctor I was telling her how I was anxious and she said she was team ‘live, laugh, Lexapro” herself.”

“I have a Gen Z doctor now. He went over my file and said, ‘holy sh*t girl…how are you still alive?”

“”My Gen Z doctor told me ‘I don’t know the general dosing plan for that, let's google it together’ i love her.”

gen z, gen z doctor, doctor, doctor near me, urgent care urgent care near me, funny doctor, funny doctor storiesIs there a Gen Z doctor in the house?!@sabocat/TikTok

“I had a Gen Z nurse tell me in the ICU that my pancreas has left the chat. Still laugh about that.”

“I had a Gen Z OBGYN and I told her I got my tubes cut and she said ‘yes Queen. No more kids.’”

It’s not just that the nonchalant language is a funny juxtaposition to typical doctor-speak. By and large, people have found this kind of openness incredibly warm and refreshing compared to the often sterile, even gaslighty way some healthcare providers of yesteryear have treated their patients.

As one person put it, “I’d rather have Gen Z doctors saying ‘yo dawg’ than Boomer doctors who are extremely rude.”

Obviously there are plenty of very kind doctors of all ages, as well as not-so-great ones. But it’s really interesting to see firsthand how younger generations bring in sweeping changes to the way we approach health—from being more transparent than ever about mental health to dropping the pomp and circumstance at the doctor’s office. And honestly, it’s refreshing.

As Mandi put it, “I for one welcome our Gen Z overlords.”

You’re not alone Mandi. You are not alone.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
a man holding a baby in his arms

This time of year, the pediatrician is a parent's best friend. Moms and dads are making *frequent* trips with their sick kids. So when the usual 'parent on duty' (which according to Pew Research Center, is more commonly mom) delegates the trip to dad, it can lead to an amazing feat of teamwork–thanks to meticulous and thorough instructions and notes she prepares for her spouse on their kid's symptoms meant to be shared with the doctor. Dr. Greg GulbransenGreg Gulbransen, DO, a pediatrician in Oyster Bay, Long Island, shared a hilarious compilation video on Instagram featuring the dads that come to his office strapped with lists, notes and details from their wives to get the best care for their sick kiddos.

"Dear Mothers, have you ever wondered what your husbands look like when they arrive at the pediatrician’s office with your instructions? They read your lists like legal documents, terrified of making mistakes. True confession; SO AM I🤪," Dr. Gulbransen writes in the video's caption.

The video begins with with Dad #1 reading from his phone exact notes from his wife. "Woke up in the middle of the night. Felt warm. Had a headache and stuffy, runny nose." Dad #2 enters the chat: "So he started not feeling well on the 8th. Diagnosed with Mono on the 15th. He had a high fever and sore throat." In another clip, Dad #3 is holding his sick daughter while reading from his phone: "Past couple days has had a fever, congestion, a bad cough and a rattle in her chest." Dad #4 follows suit: "Please tell them that he went to school complaining of small tummy ache." And Dad #5 explains, "She told me 2 o'clock he had a fever...can we still go to Florida?!" And Dad #6 ends the clip with a zinger: "My wife sent me in with a list. If you like I can just send it to you and you can read it," as Dr. Gulbransen jokes, "Just give me this thing", as the dad hands his phone to him.

Dad lifeSick Get Well Soon GIF by All Better Giphy

The interactions are praised by Dr. Gulbransen, who focuses on encouraging the dads who come into his office for stepping up and stepping in to help their families–even if it's with assistance. "So this is particularly true on the weekends when dads do the chores," Dr. Gulbransen explains. "We want them to be happy, so we give them fist bumps and 'Dad, we've got this!' We run all sorts of tests, give them prescriptions. They leave happy, and at the end of the day it's an honor to be a part of the whole thing and it's a privilege to be taking care of your children. So let's hope all we have ahead of us is good health and happiness!"

#1 dadCelebrate Fathers Day GIF by Adventure CommunistGiphy

And Dr. Gulbransen's video garnered an emphatic response from wives. "I have even sent my husband with a list of instructions for when he goes to the doctor for himself! #SooooTrueeeee," one wrote. Another added, "So accurate 😂 Good on these dads!" And another wrote, "lol this is sooo accurate! And if you ask a question that’s not on the list ie:’would you like your child to get cuz vaccine while you’re here?’ Blank stare from dad. Along pause. Then, ‘let me call my wife.’ 😂😂😂" Another viewer noted, "Then mom calls the clinic to clarify after care instructions lol."

Pap smears aren't exactly a picnic.

Ah, the Pap smear. Most women's least favorite routine medical procedure, when your doctor uses tools that look like torture devices to take a sample from your cervix to screen for cervical cancer. While the procedure is important (we'll get into why in a moment), it's also a less-than-pleasant experience for reasons that are difficult to explain to someone who's never had one. It's not like you can just show someone a video of the procedure, considering the sensitive nature of it. And the basic description of "Imagine someone prying open one of your private orifices with a cold, pinchy tool and then scraping around in there for a bit," doesn't quite cover it.

A nurse has done the impossible, however, with a video that hilariously depicts what a Pap smear and pelvic exam feel like. Using a padded envelope, a pair of tongs, a whisk, and a pepper grinder, she shows the steps of a Pap smear in a way that everyone who has ever had one can feel while they watch. It's disturbingly accurate, with only one small detail missing.

Watch:

A repost of the video has been shared over 1 million times, with women everywhere howling about the accuracy. The only thing missing? The lubricating jelly. If you know, you know.

"And they basically want you hanging halfway off the table… “scoot down some more?” Ma’am. I’m already in hip thrust position, how much further down can I go?😩😂"

"'Just relax and let your legs fall open.' *as you are clenching and shaking*🥴"

"My body was tense the whole time watching this. I just don’t believe they’ve made any advancements on Pap smears and I don’t understand why!!!! there HAS to be other ways. Somebody lyin!!!"

"💀You forgot the super cold lube. 🥶"

"It was the turn of the tongs that got me. 😂🤣 I felt that."

Commenters also commiserated over the ironic reality of having a doctor be all up close and personal in your business, yet feeling compelled to hide your underwear from them.

"Did we all fold our undies and then IMMEDIATELY hide them because GAWD FORBID they see that whilst canoeing through our lady bits!?"

"All this while your clothes are folded neatly on the chair in the corner of the room with your underwear hidden in your pants."

"You can explore my birth canal but I won’t dare let u catch a glimpse of my panties… girl math. 🤣"

"Then they step out so you can dress … like umm 🙄 you just seen all I had to offer lol."

But the video also prompted some awareness over the importance of cervical cancer screenings. After all, they're not spelunking into your birth canal for nothing.

"Please go for them ladies, my wife has just finished extensive chemo and radiotherapy," shared one commenter. "A smear was the first step in finding the disease. PLEASE, go! So many women put off this vital appointment. 😪"

What happens during a Pap smear? Why is it important?

According to the National Cancer Institute, a Pap smear is "a procedure in which a small brush is used to gently remove cells from the surface of the cervix and the area around it so they can be checked under a microscope for cervical cancer or cell changes that may lead to cervical cancer. A Pap smear may also help find other conditions, such as infections or inflammation."

metal speculumA speculum allows doctors to access the cervix.Photo credit: Canva

However, this description doesn't mention the speculum, which is what's used to hold open the vagina so the doctor can access the cervix. Sometimes metal, sometimes plastic, the speculum is about as comfortable as it looks and the reason many women choose to put off their Pap smear appointments. The procedure only takes a few minutes, though, and it's more uncomfortable than it is painful—definitely worth some temporary discomfort to screen for cancers and other pelvic health problems.

Pap smears are able to detect cervical changes before they become cancerous, which is why they've been the gold standard for cancer screenings. The current recommendation is that anyone with a cervix who's between 21 and 30 years old should get a Pap smear at least once every three years, and 30 to 65-year-olds should get one every five years.

We may not love them, but Pap smears are a part of good health maintenance. Let's just hope that they find screening method that's not quite as uncomfortably invasive in the future.

Doctor in India runs 45 minutes to hospital.

Usually when someone has to go into the hospital for surgery, they expect their surgeon to be on time and in place for their procedure. There's very little thought that goes into how the doctor's morning is going or what obstacles they faced to make it to your bedside. Dr. Govind Nandakumar from Bengaluru, India, was having a bit of a rough start due to increased traffic from bad weather. But the doctor didn't let standstill traffic stop him from going to work. Nandakumar hopped out of his car and ran to get to the operating room on time.


That's some pretty intense dedication. There are probably plenty of doctors that would've resigned themselves to the traffic and informed the hospital their patients would need to be rescheduled to later times. But Nandakumar, a gastroenterology surgeon, was having none of that. He told The Times of India, "I did not want to waste any more time waiting for the traffic to clear up as my patients aren't allowed to have their meals until surgery is over. I did not want to keep them waiting for long."

The area that Dr. Nandakumar spent more time than he cared for in his car is known for its traffic jams, according to The Times of India, but the doctor didn't have time to wait. He told his Twitter followers that the patient he was operating on was in pain and while she could've waited for a few hours, he wanted to get there as quickly as possible.

But if you ask Nandakumar, he didn't do anything special. He told his Twitter followers, "Most of us try and do our best for our patients. This run has got a lot of attention but there are so many hospital workers who go above and beyond every day."

The doctor told his followers that he didn't plan on his story blowing up and that he only recorded himself running to show to his kids at dinner. But it's not often that you find out that a doctor abandoned their car and took off running just to get to their scheduled surgery. Nandakumar has been a surgeon for 18 years according to The Times of India, and a pile-up due to heavy rains was holding up his commute.

Running through the city on your way to perform surgery is one way for him to make sure he got his cardio in. The doctor jokes about his cardio workout on his Twitter account but he continues to praise other doctors. "I would say that most doctors take care of patients. Most, if not all of us, wish the best for our patients. Like all professionals we need to earn a living. We never take decisions with money in mind. The run is nothing compared to the work I have seen many doctors and HCW do," he wrote.

Let's hope Dr. Nandakumar's subsequent commutes are much less eventful or at the very least, the run into work is planned so he can be prepared with proper footwear.