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Friday's Digest - The Newsletter for Doctors & Scientists
Friday's Digest - The Newsletter for Doctors & Scientists
For two decades, I've been developing tools that have improved my practice in medicine, dentistry, and scientific research.
Join me every Friday to discover a new tool you can integrate into your workflow as a doctor, a scientist, or both.
I believe in sharing knowledge, embracing automation, boosting productivity, and finding joy in the process.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Life Update
Tools and Tips
Readers’ Favorite
Stuff
Life Update
Life Update
This week, I said goodbye to my beloved iPhone 12 Mini.
This week, I said goodbye to my beloved iPhone 12 Mini.
It served me faithfully for 4 years.
I loved its compact size (fitted into my shirt pocket)— and its excellent camera.
However, newer phones came out and now have something new— macro photography capabilities.
As a surgeon and scientist, I frequently need to take close-up photos.
Really close. 2-10 cm away from my subject. This is known as macro photography.
If I need to take a clinical picture, I typically use my dedicated camera. It’s a Canon RP body with a 100mm macro lens and ring flash.
The problem is that I don't always have my camera with me. So I either skip taking photos (always a bad choice) or rely on my iPhone 12 Mini.
But my iPhone 12 Mini's capabilities have become seriously outdated. The battery life also sucks, forcing me to charge it 4-5 times a day!
The final straw came this week: people couldn't hear me clearly while I was using it with my car's multimedia system. Not a good thing when you’re a doctor giving orders over the phone.
Time for a new iPhone.
Time for a new iPhone.
I knew I would go for the iPhone 16 lineup, but I needed to choose between the 16e, 16, and 16 Pro. The Max was out of the question— it was too big.
What made me choose the Pro version?
Simple: its camera.
The iPhone Pro offers 48-megapixel macro capabilities, while the standard version only has 12 megapixels.
That sealed the deal.
And that brings us to today's newsletter—why is photography so important for doctors and scientists?
Number 137!
Let’s dive in.
Tools and Tips
Tools and Tips
If you don't take a picture, you lose that opportunity forever.
If you don't take a picture, you lose that opportunity forever.
This applies to both social and professional life.
Today, we'll focus on the professional aspect.
In other words, why should you, a doctor or a scientist, use a camera for work?
🔵 The Best Camera Is the One You Have With You
🔵 The Best Camera Is the One You Have With You
I bought my camera when I was just a resident. And it was REALLY expensive.
I bought my camera when I was just a resident. And it was REALLY expensive.
I remember paying for it and thinking I went too far.
How wrong I was!
Buying this camera was one of the best investments I ever made!
The downside? It's big and heavy and takes about a minute to set up before shooting.
Many residents buy a dedicated camera during their residency but abandon it afterward. I haven’t. I use it almost every day.
My advice— keep your professional camera ready in your clinic or lab. When it's within reach, you'll use it.
My second piece of advice— get a phone with an excellent camera. It's the main reason I upgraded my phone; otherwise, I'd keep it for 6-7 years.
🔵 Taking Pictures as a Scientist
🔵 Taking Pictures as a Scientist
Most scientists aren't in the habit of doing this.
I'm not talking about photos of microscope slides, incubator contents, or gels— scientists do those ALL THE TIME.
I’m talking about taking pictures of your procedures: cultures, in-vivo models, or equipment.
Do you know what's great about this?
These photos can become "Figure 1" in your manuscript. They can boost your posters and presentations, and catch the eye of your audience.
🔵 Taking Pictures as a Doctor
🔵 Taking Pictures as a Doctor
In the beginning, it will require a significant effort.
It will prolong patient visits and demand extra time for positioning, lighting, and cleaning up instruments.
Using a dedicated camera makes it even more complex.
However, building an image portfolio will improve your practice over time. It will enable you to track your work long-term and, in some cases, substantially impact patient care. For instance, by monitoring changes in suspicious lesions.
Importantly, it will make your life easier. It simplifies creating book chapters, manuscripts, and presentations.
My advice?
If you're up to it, invest in a good camera and use it.
If not, get a phone with a quality macro camera (currently, the leading options are the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, iPhone 16 Pro, and Google Pixel 9).
But even without either— remember:
Any photo is better than no photo at all.
Readers’ Favorite
Readers’ Favorite
I've been taking professional pictures for more than a decade. I learned everything on my own, so I know exactly what it's like starting from scratch.
This is why I wrote this guide, which will walk you through everything you need to know.
Enjoy! 📸
Stuff
Stuff
📱Application I use - Ambient Music
Apple has added a great feature in the recent update to iPhones and iPads (iOS 18.4).
It's called Ambient Music.
The feature offers 4 types of background music (16 playlists in total) designed to help you focus or relax.
I previously paid for Brain.fm just to get focus music. Now, I have it built right into my phone.
Absolutely awesome!
Check out this video to see how it works.
Epilogue
Epilogue
That’s it for this issue.
If you received this newsletter from a friend and would like to join Friday's Digest, visit https://newsletter.shaysharon.com
See you next week!
Shay
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