David A. Marcus, MD
David A. Marcus, MD is a dual-boarded physician specializing in Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine, practicing in New York City. He serves as a Clinical Ethicist and Residency Director for a combined EM/IM and Critical Care program.
Clinical Interests
- Bedside sonography
- Critical Care
- EMS
- Primary care
- Wilderness medicine
- Disaster and search-and-rescue medicine
- Narrative Medicine
Non-Clinical Interests
- Physician professionalism
- Activism
- Clinical ethics
- Health care disparities
- Social determinants of health
- Photography
- Reading
About This Site
This blog is intended for physicians, mid-level providers, nurses, EMTs and medics, students, and anyone interested in emergency medicine, internal medicine, and medical education. All opinions expressed are solely those of the author. No medical advice is provided; readers should consult their own physicians.
Learn more about the blog or explore FOAM resources.
The combined practice of Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine represents a deliberate commitment to caring for patients across the entire arc of illness. Emergency physicians see the acute presentation, while internists manage the chronic trajectory, and the dual-trained physician is uniquely positioned to bridge that divide. This site explores that intersection, drawing on clinical experience, teaching, and the broader conversations happening across medical education. The goal is to offer practical insight for trainees, attending physicians, and anyone curious about how these two disciplines inform one another in real-world practice.
Beyond the clinical work, the site reflects a longstanding involvement in the free open-access medical education community. The author has contributed to conferences, shared slide presentations, and written about topics ranging from procedural sedation and delirium to immunotherapy complications and end-of-life care. The emphasis is on honest, practical content that acknowledges the messiness of medicineā€”the difficult conversations, the ethical questions, and the administrative realities of academic practice. Readers will find material that is useful at the bedside and in the classroom, presented in a straightforward, readable style.
The personal dimension of this work is never far from the surface. Balancing the demands of residency directorship, clinical ethics consultation, and emergency and internal medicine practice requires intention and a willingness to reflect on the rhythms of professional life. The site also touches on the broader human side of medicineā€”family, books, photography, and the habits that sustain a long career. In that spirit, the writing here aims to be both informative and personal, a record of the combined life that gives the site its name.