Articles
Day In The Life : Daybreak
Join practicing neurosurgeon Dr. Mark McLaughlin on the way to the hospital. It's the dawn of a neurosurgeon's day. Learn the thoughts and the process.
Day In The Life Episode 2
Mental preparation, Med Student Teaching Rounds, Patient preparation. There's a lot more to surgical preparation than hand hygiene. Join Dr. McLaughlin for this glimpse into a neurosurgeon's day.
Back to School, 30 Years Later
I recently attended the 30th reunion for my medical school class at Virginia Commonwealth University. The trip included great memories and some reflections on the future of medicine.
Cutting For Stone
I just finished Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese and my mom is smiling down from Heaven above. Twelve years ago she gave me an autographed copy that she got when Dr. Verghese was passing through Short Hills, New Jersey
Day In The Life Episode 1
A Neurosurgeon's Day... from early morning start, through a long day of surgery, teaching, and patient care, to making a contribution to the lives of others on a daily basis.
8 Meditations : Mark McLaughlin Wrapped 2021
Here are eight of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations that I found great meaning in over the course of 2021. He is foundational in Stoic thought and philosophy, and Roman Emperor in his spare time.
Journal : Year 1
2021 was the first year I ever took up journaling. Here are the top ten pearls that I found when I reviewed it. It was well worth the effort and time, and I heartily recommend it to anyone.
2021 Book Challenge
In 2021, I set a goal/challenge of reading 2 #books a month. Happy to say that I achieved the goal. My reading list is here.
Eight Lessons From 2021
Another year of Covid has made many of us reflect and review our approach to life. My Eight Lessons From 2021.
Jacob Brawler And His 22 Sons
A tale of the War of Independence. An article by my father Dr. John J. McLaughlin. The story of Jacob Brawler And His 22 Sons
The Power Broker
What Robert Caro’s The Power Broker Taught Me about Linking History and Current Events. Book Review and More.
All The Light We Cannot See
A short book review of All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Limitless April 14 2021
LIVE STREAMING at 7:00 pm on April 14th
Living Your Limitless Life: A Brain Surgeon's Approach to Longevity - A virtual presentation. Dr. McLaughlin shares tips for a happy, healthy, and productive life. He uses actual cases to illustrate how you can take control over many of the risks to your well-being.
Mercer-Presentation-May19
Living Your Limitless Life: A Brain Surgeon's Approach to Longevity - May 19th at Noon : Mercer County Surgery Center
Matterhorn Book Review
A review of "Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War" by Karl Marlantes. With a son of my own following a career as a Marine, this was an intriguing and challenging book.
High Performance for Athletes
December 8, 2020: High Performance for Athletes. A motivating presentation for Dakine Warriors. Dr. McLaughlin joins the competitive athletes from the Dakine Warriors..., a top volleyball club in the Pacific Northwest.
William & Mary Tribe Speaker Series
Dr. McLaughlin with the Womens' Soccer Team at William & Mary. An inspirational message about seizing the moment and retaking control. Because it's important to believe something good will happen.
Virtual Event With Dr. McLaughlin
How do we make sense of the senseless? On July 15th, 2020, people from as far afield as Russia and Canada came together to listen to Dr. McLaughlin help us make sense of it all.
Your Best Life - Spine, Brain, and Mind Health
A powerful presentation at the CentraState Healthcare Foundation Workshop in the spring of 2016. Living a full and rich life. Actionable intelligence from Dr. Mark McLaughlin.
COVID-19 Reflections
A strategy for thinking about COVID-19 and coping with these challenging times. Using the IRISE method to guide your thinking. Dr. McLaughlin applies Cognitive Dominance methods to the problem.
The 3 Secrets to Cognitive Dominance
Watch presentation to the Old Guard of Princeton. It's a stage previously occupied by Albee, Dyson, J Seward Johnson, Kahneman, Reinhardt, Tilghman, Anne-Marie Slaughter, and Albert Einstein!
The Power of Platforms Full Presentation
Video of The Power of Platforms - Complete Presentation. this is a powerful message for Executives, Athletes, Entrepreneurs, and anyone facing challenges and decisions. Here are the tools you need.
20 Years a Neurosurgeon
On this twentieth anniversary of my graduation from the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurosurgery Residency program. What have I learned? What will I do differently in the years ahead?
3 Essential Skills for Elite Performance in Health Care
Review of Christopher Ahmad’s book SKILL: 40 Principles That Surgeons, Athletes, And Other Elite Performers Use to Achieve Mastery, along with my pick of the top three skills for neurosurgeons to adopt.
Psyched Up by Daniel McGinn - Book Review
Psyched Up: How the Science of Mental Preparation Can Help You Succeed, written by Harvard Business Review journalist Daniel McGinn, covers the entire landscape of mental prep for high achievement. I thought I knew the whole story on this topic, but Psyched Up taught me new techniques that I can use in my daily life.
Health Crisis On a Plane
A while back, my wife and I were on a transatlantic flight when a passenger fell into a coma. As a doctor, I rushed to her side. I soon learned she was diabetic and had overdosed on insulin. I’m a neurosurgeon and her situation was outside my specialty, but it was a pretty basic medical emergency: get glucose into her system STAT.
NWCA 2015 National Convention Keynote Ft Lauderdale
NWCA 2015 Keynote - Your performance in sport, in work and in life is the outcome of decisions and approaches that you take. Neurosurgery has taught me ways to control and shape a fraught environment. Cognitive Dominance is critical.
The Traveler's Gift : Andy Andrews
I became a huge fan of Andy Andrews, a New York Times Best Seller author, seven years ago. If you haven’t read any of his books, I urge you to pick up a copy of The Traveler’s Gift. It won’t disappoint. An Entertaining and Inspiring read.
Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield - Review
My review of Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield. A worthwhile new book to add too your reading list. How can we glimpse the world of the gods with more frequency, even regularity?
Speechless
Liver surgeon Simon Bramhall marked his initials on patients during surgery. I'm at a loss for words.
Death is Certain - Eventually
Who was Brittany Maynard? I was invited to contribute an article to LinkedIn discussing the question of "assisted death". She was a young California woman who was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor in 2014.
Time, Carla, and Peak Performance
This presentation was made at the Hunterdon Healthcare Foundation Annual Lecture and tells the story of meeting Carla..., a young girl with a life ahead of her..., if she could only survive the next few minutes. Life is measured by momemts.
Jannetta Symposium
Dr. Mark R. McLaughlin delivered opening remarks on the occasion of the Inaugural Peter Jannetta Symposium. A video created by the University of Pittsburg.
Wedemeyer Lecture Series
The General Albert C. Wedemeyer Strategic Lecture Series Endowment is a part of West Point’s Center for Enhanced Performance. This endowment honors the intellectual and strategic legacy of General Wedemeyer through a series of lectures, think tanks, or roundtable discussions.
From Do No Harm to Do Harm: A Neurosurgeon’s Path to Madness?
Texas neurosurgeon Christopher Duntsch, was sentenced to life in prison for what headlines described as “botched’ surgery. I'm saddened to learn that patients suffered injury at the hands of a doctor they had trusted to help them, and by the pain and suffering of his patients, their families and friends.
5 Lessons I Re-learned Courtesy of Ryan Lochte
I’m pretty sure that after the dust settles, Ryan Lochte will be fine. Sure, he tarnished his reputation in action and words, but ultimately he fessed up to his big fish story. I'm reminded of some key lessons about life.