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. 

December 11, 2024 | 2 min read

Taking the call 

By Stasia Reynolds, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

It is a privilege to bear witness to the suffering our patients endure and to share in the joy that comes in honoring a dying wish.   

November 10, 2023 | 2 min read

Final journeys

By Elizabeth Gundersen, MD, University of Colorado

Today, we remember patients who have served our country. We are grateful for the honor and privilege of caring for these veterans through their final journeys.

May 30, 2018 | 2 min read

Staying Engaged

By David Feller-Kopman, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

The opposite of burnout is engagement—here are three things you can do to stay engaged.

August 15, 2025 | 3 min read

Detained!!!

When a patient is held by law enforcement, quickly coordinate to send a medical necessity letter to ensure uninterrupted access to vital treatment. Immediate action may protect patient health and prevents avoidable complications. 

July 8, 2020 | 2 min read

Appreciating ALL Healthcare Workers

By Gaye Cunnane, MD, PhD, Trinity College Dublin

All healthcare workers contribute meaningfully to the care of patients. Taking the time to offer a kind word to those who may be underappreciated can make an enormous difference.

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

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.

December 3, 2024 | 3 min read

Musical rounds

By Melanie Ambler, medical student, Stanford University

Music is healing. Ask patients about favorite songs or listen to a streaming service together and sing along. If you play an instrument, bring it to work to perform for patients.

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.

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.

August 13, 2025 | 2 min read

Gaining perspectives 

Travel fosters curiosity and open-mindedness. Encountering diverse cultures can encourage healthcare professionals to remember the value of asking better questions, avoiding assumptions, and appreciating the individuality of each patient.

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.

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.

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.

November 20, 2024 | 1 min read

A view from the starting line 

By Ismaa'il Eaddy, undergrad student, Cornell University

Before I begin my career as a healthcare professional, I am working to understand what it means to be clinically excellent. Showing empathy to all and a commitment to continuous learning are essential for providing outstanding care. 

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.

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.

August 11, 2025 | 5 min read

The push, the pull, and the leap 

Major career transitions can bring up complex emotions; reflection can guide you toward choices that honor your values. Embrace these changes as opportunities to rediscover purpose and help you better care for patients. 

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.

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 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.

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.

November 19, 2024 | 2 min read

Fellow humans: lessons from Dr. White’s “Seeing patients” 

By Richard Schaefer, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Providing humanistic, equitable care benefits patients, medical practitioners, and society.  Reminding ourselves that we are all in this together may help decrease stigma and bias in clinical settings.

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.

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. 

August 4, 2025 | 3 min read

Bearing witness 

We often see the disparities in our world on display in the exam room. While we can’t make life fair, we can listen to patients’ stories and honor their experiences. 

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

November 18, 2024 | 3 min read

Starting from scratch  

By Erica Richards, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Eliciting detailed stories about patients’ experiences is invaluable in healthcare. Approaching history-taking in a thorough manner allowed me to discover that a brain tumor was causing a patient’s psychiatric symptoms. 

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.

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.

July 24, 2025 | 1 min read

The healing power of Tai Chi 

Embracing cultural exchange opens new pathways to patient motivation, connection, and healing. Integrating Tai Chi into rehabilitation can transform routine exercises into experiences that foster engagement and well-being. 

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.

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. 

August 13, 2018 | 1 min read

How I Uphold My Hippocratic Oath

By Marcia Canto, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

I try to take care of each patient as if he or she is my close relative or friend. I believe this is the only way that we can uphold our Hippocratic oath in the modern era of medicine, which tends to depersonalize physician-patient interactions. 

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.

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. 

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."

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. 

July 23, 2025 | 2 min read

Denial difficulties 

Patients are often faced with automatic denials from insurance companies. When advocating for patients, healthcare professionals can stay calm, present facts clearly, and prioritize the patient’s best interests. 

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.

June 27, 2024 | 2 min read

Lessons from earlier in life: from public school teaching to doctoring  

By Tyler Mains, MD, University of California, San Francisco

I apply the principles I learned as a public school teacher to patient care: asking insightful questions, seeing the whole person, and fostering motivation for positive change.