What’s your favorite movie that makes you think about providing outstanding care?

Diana Anderson, MD, MArch, Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics

“Lorenzo’s Oil” is my all-time favourite movie about family perseverance in the face of illness and that anyone can contribute to health cures and solutions.

Carl G Streed, Jr, MD, MPH, Boston Medical Center

“Philadelphia” always hits me hard about providing compassionate as well as competent care.

Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Robin Williams was terrific in two movies that were particularly inspiring. In “Patch Adams,” he portrayed a doctor helping many with humor – one smile at a time.

In “Awakenings,” he played a patient in a catatonic state. The physician caring for patients on the special unit, who was predominantly researcher and somewhat disinterested in patient care, learns to be more caring and to connect with them. Ultimately, this physician sees a parallel with another condition (Parkinsonism), and discovers how to awaken Robin Williams’ character and the other patients.

Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

The play and movie “Wit” reminds me that all patients – even those we healthcare providers might, unfortunately, label as “difficult” – have strengths (in fact, patients may seem “difficult” because of our lack of recognition of them as a human beings with strengths) AND that all people – patients and providers alike – are capable of personal growth and change, right up to the end.