The opioid crisis, tuition handouts, flu severity, ACA battles and gun issues were the topics that resonated with the medical community most this year, according to a Medscape survey.
Medscape asked 1,789 readers — including 1,704 physicians — what stories or topics inspired, excited, frustrated or impacted them most.
Here are the topics that stuck with Medscape's audience:
Most inspiring
1. A physician defibrillated a juror in his own malpractice trial: 52 percent
2. Clinicians joined the March for Our Lives to protest gun violence and call for more research: 50 percent
3. Active NFL player for Kansas City Chiefs graduated from Montreal, Quebec-based McGill University medical school: 32 percent
4. Emergency room nurse mobilized during flight attendant's dramatic in-flight crisis: 23 percent
5. A nurse alone in clinic treated himself for a heart attack: 20 percent
Most exciting
6. New York City-based New York University offering free tuition to all current and future medical students: 54 percent
7. Chemotherapy found not to be needed for most early breast cancer: 30 percent
8. CDC recommends new, more effective shingles vaccine, Shingrix: 29 percent
9. Medicare deciding to pay physicians for telemedicine: 28 percent
10. FDA approves first cannabis-based drug for two of the most debilitating types of epilepsy: 21 percent
Most frustrating
11. U.S. suicide and overdose deaths rising at an alarming rate: 56 percent
12. Drug shortages called an urgent public health crisis: 40 percent
13. IV bag shortages forced hospitals to scramble: 29 percent
14. Three STDs hit all-time high in the United States: 24 percent
15. Widespread valsartan recall due to contamination with a probable human carcinogen: 21 percent
Most memorable
16. New legislation passed to combat the opioid crisis: 49 percent
17. Surgeon General urged everyone to carry overdose antidote naloxone: 33 percent
18. Record high number of hospitalizations due to influenza: 29 percent
19. Passage of ballot measures to limit or ban access to abortion in two states: 22 percent
20. New HHS Conscience and Religious Freedom Division created to protect clinicians with religious objections: 19 percent
Most surprising
21. Studies found aspirin not useful for primary cardiovascular disease prevention: 63 percent
22. Suggestion that even one alcoholic drink per day increases cancer risk: 41 percent
23. Finding that omega-3 fatty acids don't prevent cardiovascular disease: 35 percent
24. Acetaminophen use alters sex hormones: 25 percent
25. Little evidence shown to support use of the digital rectal exam: 22 percent
Most shocking
26. Mysterious symptoms in U.S. diplomats in Cuba deemed neurologic injury: 41 percent
27. Former CDC Director Tom Frieden arrested and charged with sexual assault: 40 percent
28. Endocrinologist allegedly ran pill mill with bike gang, murdered his wife: 35 percent
29. License suspended for physicians who danced, rapped in surgeries: 34 percent
30. CDC Director Fitzgerald resigned after reportedly purchasing tobacco stock: 25 percent
Click here to read the full list of top stories.