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.

April 6, 2022 | 3 min read

The Last Inning

By Mark Duncan, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Sometimes, patients have the opportunity to write a beautiful concluding chapter to their lives. We can encourage them in this endeavor.  

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 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.

April 4, 2023 | 1 min read

Insurance Denial Fatigue

By Justin McArthur, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

After spending hours with patients deciding what tests or treatments are most appropriate, guess how many seconds it takes for an insurance doctor to reject the claim? 

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.

April 1, 2021 | 3 min read

April Fool’s Joke: The Text Message

By Roy Ziegelstein, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Don’t be a fool. IMHO, getting to know patients as individuals isn’t necessary. Is it rewarding? I’m ROFL.

November 15, 2023 | 2 min read

Rolling boulders uphill

By Jennifer Lycette, MD, rural oncologist in the Pacific Northwest

When my patient was incarcerated, I realized that I could still be present and caring despite challenging circumstances. 

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.

March 14, 2022 | 1 min read

A Woman of Faith in Medicine

By Kimberly Turner, MD, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

Having faith in something helps me mitigate burnout and give empathic care to all 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. 

April 30, 2024 | 2 min read

Taking the leap

By Jennifer Woodard, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin

Caring for those with dementia extends to their caregivers. Often, that means simply being there to offer support.

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.

March 29, 2023 | 1 min read

Remarkable Human Spirit

By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine

In the aftermath of my patient’s devastating consequences of illness, his reaction was anything but what I expected.

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.

March 18, 2021 | 5 min read

The 24 Notes of Taps

By William Wright, DO, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Let us honor the bravery of clinicians who have sacrificed everything in this pandemic to serve others.

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.

November 14, 2023 | 3 min read

Authenticity

By Charlene Gamaldo, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Bringing your full self to work is a purposeful strategy for flourishing. This may also allow you to connect more deeply with patients and colleagues. 

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.

February 23, 2022 | 1 min read

Why we Must be Mentors

Mentoring is essential to supporting trainees. Helping learners find their passion and grow will ultimately allow them to find happiness and meaning in their work.   

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.

April 24, 2024 | 1 min read

The power of teamwork

By Joanne Shay, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Our multidisciplinary team collaborates to deliver excellent patient care. Shared problem-solving from diverse perspectives is critical when facing complex issues. 

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.

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.

March 11, 2021 | 1 min read

How to Create Sanctuaries for Patients

By Michelle Ogunwole, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

To create safe spaces for historically marginalized patients, slow down and gather more information when conflicts arise. Be aware of your biases and give patients the benefit of the doubt.

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. 

November 13, 2023 | 2 min read

How clinicians can address housing insecurity

By Craig Pollack, MD, MHS, Johns Hopkins Medicine

For patients with housing insecurity, clinicians can connect them with a social worker and share a list of community-based resources. We must also advocate for policies that increase access to safe and affordable housing.

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."

February 14, 2022 | 2 min read

Patients Admitted to Hospitals May be Sicker Than Ever 

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Because of the pandemic, some patients have avoided healthcare settings and professionals. Outreach to these patients is needed. 

April 23, 2024 | 1 min read

Outside the clinic walls: making Narcan accessible to everyone

Addiction is a chronic disease that requires a combined approach of medical treatment and community engagement. Clinicians must work to educate their community about addiction and provide them with resources like Narcan.

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.

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.

September 2, 2020 | 4 min read

A Call for Advocacy in Medicine

By Sara Wallam, Medical Student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Systemic racism is prevalent throughout our society. To dismantle disparities in health outcomes for minority patients, clinicians must advocate for their patients at the local level and for communities on a regional and national scale.

May 8, 2018 | 3 min read

Compassion is Contagious

By Colleen Christmas, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Patients are observing us while we interact with others in the hospital, and this can have a tremendous impact on the trust they put in our care.

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. 

June 4, 2018 | 2 min read

Giving My Best to Each Patient

By Ross Donehower, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

An oncologist shares his clinical mission statement, with the ultimate goal of making sure that each patient feels deeply cared for.

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. 

April 22, 2024 | 2 min read

Mentorship—a lifelong dialogue   

By Jane Abernethy, MD, MBE, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Rani Nandiwada, MD, MSEd, Penn Medicine

In our long-lasting mentor-mentee relationship, we’ve learned it’s helpful to put a regular check-in time on the calendar and to brainstorm questions and goals for the session ahead of time. 

April 2, 2018 | 2 min read

Being a Guide on the Journey to Health

By Manisha Loss, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

As a guide on this journey with our patients to health, we must serve as an example of hope, understanding, and direction.

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.

April 16, 2018 | 2 min read

Giving Humanistic and Empathetic Care

By Michele Manahan, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Dr. Michele Manahan's Clinical Mission & Values Statement on supporting her patients through conversation, active listening, a receptive ear, and an incisive mind.

May 7, 2018 | 2 min read

The 5 Core Beliefs of a Hospitalist

By Daniel Brotman, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

As a hospitalist, I'm in a position to establish intense relationships with patients. Here are my five core beliefs, values, and premises that govern my approach to clinical care in this setting.

August 15, 2018 | <1 min read

A CLOSLER Look: Interview with Dr. Ziegelstein

By Gretchen Miller, Managing Editor

"Patients let you into a part of their lives that they often don't let anyone else into." Enjoy a short 4-minute YouTube to learn how Dr. Ziegelstein became attuned to the emotional health of his heart patients. 

November 1, 2023 | 2 min read

Lean on me

Upon learning of my patient’s death, I called their spouse to offer support. Realizing my need to talk with someone, I turned to my colleague, who was able to help me refocus on giving excellent care to other patients.  

May 1, 2019 | <1 min read

Dr. Ed Kraus, A CLOSLER Look

By Gretchen Miller, Managing Editor

"Whenever I sit with a patient, I try as hard as I can to see the world through their eyes." ~ Dr. Ed Kraus

February 1, 2022 | 2 min read

Finding my Voice

By Jennifer Eitingon, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

As a trainee, a distressing clinical experience taught me that I must always be the patient’s advocate. Now as a teacher, I help my learners to feel confident speaking up for what they know is right. 

August 20, 2025 | 2 min read

Surfing through setbacks  

Like surfers, we all need to get back on the board after falling. My patient with new significant physical limitations showed great courage in greeting each day with humor and gratitude.

April 15, 2024 | 1 min read

When the end is near 

By Avani Prabhakar, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Shubham Tomar, MBBS, MPH, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

At the end of life, loved ones often must make difficult decisions. Healthcare professionals can help ease this burden by showing empathy and compassion.