September 12, 2023 | 2 min read

The Gift of Time

By Meshulam Twerski, medical student, Penn Medicine

Medical students have more time than doctors to get to know patients as people and uncover unspoken fears about their illness and treatment. 

March 5, 2018 | 2 min read

Introducing Monday Mission and Values Statements

By Gretchen Miller, Managing Editor

Begin with the end in mind. ~Stephen Covey

November 17, 2021 | 3 min read

Awe in The Midst of Medicine

Pausing, reflecting, and savoring moments of awe can balance the frequently overwhelming demands of clinical care.

June 4, 2019 | 3 min read

Haiku on Phone

By Crystal Jing Jing Yeo, MD, PhD, MassGeneral, Brigham and Women Hospital, Harvard Medical School

To be a true healer is to heal not just in life, but also through dying and death.

August 29, 2018 | <1 min read

Interview With Dr. Geetha: A CLOSLER Look

By Gretchen Miller, Managing Editor

On the importance of meaningful long-term patient-physician partnerships: enjoy a 3-minute video interview with Dr. Duvuru Geetha.

May 27, 2020 | 2 min read

The Weight of the White Coat

By Margot Kelly-Hedrick, MD, University of Washington

As the daughter of a frontline physician, and an incoming medical student, the pandemic raises questions about both personal and professional obligations. Open and honest conversations about such responsibilities are critical to professional identity formation.

December 29, 2020 | 4 min read

Lessons From “Diary of a Med Student”

By Howard Chang, Medical Student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Working in healthcare, we interact with people who can be offensive. A med student reflects on how best to respond to patients who are demeaning.

March 3, 2018 | 2 min read

Six Steps to Make Wellness Work

Our well-being as physicians is an essential part of professionalism. If we aren't well, we can't provide the best care to our patients, who deserve our best.

May 29, 2018 | 2 min read

Love At First Sight

By Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

A clinically excellent physician always takes the time to ask his/her patient about the history of substance use in their parents and siblings, as well as aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins; and always asks about adoption.

March 19, 2025 | 3 min read

Lessons from caring for Syrian refugees 

By Nagina Khan, PhD, University of Kent

Seek to understand the unique cultural context of patients who have undergone trauma. This is paramount to building trust and providing effective care—especially for vulnerable populations, like refugees. 

May 29, 2019 | <1 min read

Dr. John Sperati, A CLOSLER Look

By Gretchen Miller, Managing Editor

Uncovering your patients' individual health goals takes time, but is always worth it.

January 19, 2023 | 2 min read

With Only a Nod

By Becky Sansbury, MDiv, Raleigh, North Carolina

Sometimes the best care we can give is to be quiet, observant, and appreciative of our patient’s sharing a life-changing moment.

September 30, 2025 | 1 min read

More time

It is best for goals-of-care conversations to happen as early as possible. Clinicians can use these discussions to help guide shared decision making around end-of-life care.  

May 21, 2020 | 1 min read

The Importance of Writing For Popular Media Outlets

By Koushik Kasanagottu, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

In this era of misinformation, we have a moral responsibility as physician-citizens to write for media outlets that our patients read. Sharing accurate health information with the general public can inform decision-making and improve health.

April 30, 2018 | 4 min read

The 15 Values of a Pediatric Anesthesiologist

By Ivor Berkowitz, MBBCh, MBA, Johns Hopkins Medicine

A pediatric anesthesiologist shares the 15 values that have guided his career.

August 14, 2023 | 3 min read

Accentuate The Positive

By Megan Gerber, MD, MPH, Albany Medical College

Sometimes interactions with patients may feel challenging. Expressing gratitude to patients for positive encounters may help reduce stress and bring joy.

September 17, 2018 | 2 min read

Listening, Educating, and Giving Reassurance

By Sharon Solomon, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

By focusing on one patient at a time, 35-40 per day, my mission and approach to patient care is to listen, to educate, to intervene with treatment when I can, and to provide reassurance.

October 21, 2021 | 2 min read

Be a Team Player: Get Vaccinated

By Alexis Coslick, DO, MS, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Be a teammate to everyone in your community. Get vaccinated and encourage others to do so.

February 13, 2024 | 3 min read

Unsent letters from a palliative care doctor to a patient and her dog 

By Lingsheng Li, MD, MHS, University of California, San Franscisco

Sometimes we never get the chance to tell a patient what we admire about them. After my patient died, I realized I’d been inspired by the inner strength she showed by caring for her dog despite health and life challenges. 

May 22, 2019 | <1 min read

Dr. Jonathan Efron, A CLOSLER Look

By Gretchen Miller, Managing Editor

Do today's work well, so that tomorrow will take care of itself.

January 17, 2023 | 2 min read

Finding Meaning

By Jaime Jump, DO, Texas Childrens Hospital

When my seven-month-old-patient suffered severe neurological damage, despite having little to offer medically, I remembered I could still support her mother through this tragedy. Taking solace in this helps me to be present for my other patients. 

September 23, 2025 | 3 min read

Keeping humanity at the heart of surgery 

Exceptional care means seeing—and honoring—the patient behind every procedure. A few ways to achieve this can include compassionate communication, gentle touch, and taking time to clarify anything that is poorly understood. 

May 14, 2020 | 3 min read

Stay at Home When Possible as Restrictions Ease

By Nina Shapiro, MD, University of California Los Angeles

It’s important to remind patients and loved ones that avoiding unnecessary socialization and travel can save lives.

December 23, 2020 | 5 min read

Holiday Rounds

By Samuel Durso, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

If you're called on to work through Christmas and New Year’s, there's a bright side. This is typically a quieter period and may allow more time to learn from clinically excellent role models.

March 2, 2018 | 4 min read

The Joy of Mentoring

By Ivor Berkowitz, MBBCh, MBA, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Making time to mentor a high school student can be refreshing and rejuvenating for all clinicians.

May 24, 2018 | 2 min read

My Professional Totem

By Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

A psychiatrist shares her story of how a painting by Raphael has reminded her of of why she wanted to become a doctor and what the profession of medicine is all about.

August 27, 2018 | 1 min read

Practicing the Golden Rule

By Scott Newsome, DO, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

A key element in treating people with chronic illness is partnering with their family to develop an individualized management plan.

May 23, 2019 | 1 min read

The Orchid

By Susan Aucott, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The orchid: each time I see the growth of a new leaf, it reminds me of the hope that can come even in the midst of sorrow. And when a blossom appears, it reminds me of the hope and caring that I have the privilege of sharing with every family I have the honor to encounter.

January 11, 2023 | 3 min read

Joy in Primary Care 

By Jane Abernethy, MD, MBE, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Meaningful longitudinal primary care relationships with patients are fulfilling and rewarding. Modeling for trainees that this career path can be gratifying and fun is vital. 

September 17, 2025 | 2 min read

Medicine in shackles: reflections from the ICU

I advocated for our team to humanize the care of our patient—namely removing handcuffs at the end of life. Even if you cannot change the outcome, speaking up for patients is one way to uphold dignity and embody the values of our profession.

July 6, 2020 | 3 min read

Dropping Out, Surviving, or Thriving

By Jina Sinskey, MD, University of California San Francisco

The practice of medicine inherently involves intense emotional experiences. Instead of avoiding these feelings, we must embrace them if we want to grow.

April 25, 2018 | 1 min read

How To Maintain Joy In Practice

By Steve Kravet, MD, MBA, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

Maintaining joy in practice requires deliberate attention. The emotional and physical investments demanded by healthcare professions are additive and contribute to high levels of stress and burnout. Mitigating this trend requires effort and attention on the part of all stakeholders.  

August 3, 2023 | 3 min read

A Glass of Milk

By Kyle Glienke, MD, Buena Vista Regional Medical Center, Iowa

When I was working with my grandpa as a dairy farmer, he said what made it all worth it was knowing how many children needed the milk. As a doctor, I find meaning by reminding myself how many people need care. 

September 19, 2018 | <1 min read

Dr. Raf Llinas: A CLOSLER Look

By Gretchen Miller, Managing Editor

I try to teach using humor. I start by sharing with residents funny mistakes I made during my own training, so that they remember and learn from these poignant stories.

June 5, 2018 | 2 min read

Clinical Excellence: It Takes A Village

By William Greenough, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

The key to clinical excellence in long term care rests not solely on the physician, but also with hands-on bedside caregivers—the unsung heroes of healthcare—nurses, and in this patient story, a recreational therapist.

February 6, 2024 | 2 min read

Co-bearers of suffering

By Mike McCarthy, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Sometimes a patient’s pain can’t be eliminated. However, we can still walk with them as a co-bearer of suffering. 

February 13, 2025 | 2 min read

“Facul-tea” 

By Laura Tafe, MD, Dartmouth-Hitchcock

To deepen relationships with colleagues, intentionally cultivate community by establishing regular, shared experiences—like a tea—that encourage connecting. Such gatherings may improve the overall well-being of the team. 

May 8, 2019 | <1 min read

Dr. Cynthia Rand, A CLOSLER Look

By Gretchen Miller, Managing Editor

"It's our responsibility to speak up for patients who don't have a voice."

May 7, 2020 | 5 min read

Captivity and COVID-19

By Cesar Lopez, MD-PhD student, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Zackary Berger, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Severely ill incarcerated individuals will be hospitalized at disproportionately high rates during this pandemic. As always, healthcare professionals should treat them with dignity and respect. Better care of those who are imprisoned may help with our public health efforts and response.

November 2, 2020 | 4 min read

Prescription for a healthy future—vote!

By Deanna Behrens, MD, Advocate Children\'s Hospital, Elizabeth Mack, MD, Jenna Miller, MD, Katherine Hoops, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Clinicians have a responsibility to advocate for policies that can improve the health of all. We must take our civic responsibility seriously and make a plan to vote. 

July 27, 2023 | 2 min read

Book Review of “The Pastoral Clinic” 

By Juliana Fan, medical student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Garcia’s ethnography highlights the need for healthcare professionals to foster hope, particularly when working with patients with opioid use disorder. Remember to be kind, patient, and positive with those who are suffering. 

March 13, 2026 | 3 min read

Physician advocacy: myths versus facts

You do not need to be a policy expert or spend endless hours to be an effective clinician advocate. Simply sharing your stories with lawmakers about caring for patients can help improve care.

August 24, 2021 | 2 min read

5 Lessons From my Nonlinear Career in Medicine

By Thelben Mullett, MD, Seattle, Washington

Instead of asking medical students what specialty they intend to pursue, we should help them reflect on their natural strengths and values in planning their career.

January 2, 2025 | 2 min read

Gratitude and goodbyes  

By Leslie Miller, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The privilege of longitudinal care is witnessing patients grow and evolve over time. Saying goodbye to patients can be filled with both sadness and immense gratitude for the opportunity to have been a part of their lives. 

September 4, 2025 | 2 min read

To comfort always 

Providing compassionate companionship to patients can be as healing as any medicine when a cure is no longer possible. 

May 28, 2020 | 4 min read

Masking Safety

By Paul Nestadt, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Some patients are unable to understand the need for protective measures against COVID. Clinicians working with these patients are at increased risk, and may need to advocate for additional PPE for their healthcare team.

October 27, 2020 | 3 min read

Beyond The CV

By Kayla Eboreime, Medical Student, University of Texas Medical Branch

There will always be both accolades and critiques that come your way. Neither define who you are. Nourishing your whole self can maintain balance so that you can flourish professionally and personally.

July 19, 2023 | 2 min read

Sacred Spaces

By Eric Last, DO, Northwell Health, Wantagh, New York

Patients often experience the most vulnerable moments of their lives with clinicians. These shared intimacies refuel my passion for caregiving and are a fulfilling part of medical practice.  

September 12, 2018 | <1 min read

Dr. Judy Huang: A CLOSLER Look

By Gretchen Miller, Managing Editor

To be clinically excellent, you have to be able to put yourself in the shoes of your patient and their family.