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Moving Us Closer To Osler
A Miller Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence Initiative
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Creative Arts in Medicine
Connecting with Patients
Passion in the Medical Profession
Lifelong Learning in Clinical Excellence
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October 1, 2020 | 3 min read

3 Tips to Improve Your Body Language

By Adam Koenig, Medical Student, University of Toledo

To build a strong patient-clinician relationship, position your body with an open posture and make good eye contact.

Dr. Carl Streed and Jacob Tobia. Photo by Dr. Carl Streed.

January 6, 2020 | 2 min read

Book Review of “Sissy: A Coming of Gender Story”

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

Recognizing and validating the diversity of gender identities and expressions positively affects the health of our patients and our communities.

rainbow hearts

July 29, 2019 | 1 min read

Book Review of “Tomorrow Will Be Different”

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

Clinicians are well positioned to be advocates for transgender persons and communities. In listening compassionately to our patients' personal narratives, we can understand how to best meet the needs of each individual.

February 27, 2025 | 2 min read

Behind the mirror: teen eating disorders 

By Jasmine Reese, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

You don't have to be an eating disorder specialist to make a difference; every healthcare professional can play a vital role in early intervention. Knowing local resources and showing compassion can guide patients toward recovery. 

April 29, 2024 | 3 min read

A patient’s reflection on connecting with clinicians—what matters most 

By Jennifer Ball, BSJ, MA, Chicago, IL

Empathy and cultural competence are cornerstones of excellent patient care. Prioritizing these values can help each patient feel respected, empowered, and supported. 

"Letter to myself at age 12," copyright with the artisit.

January 22, 2024 | 1 min read

Letter to myself at age 12

By Ashley Minner Jones, PhD, MFA, Baltimore, MD

When I shared a work of my art at an exhibition, I was surprised how deeply people connected with it. This helped me have even more empathy and understanding for others. We all sometimes struggle with being human.

June 22, 2023 | 2 min read

Caring With Pride

By Corey Tapper, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

To ensure nonjudgmental and equitable care of LGBTQ+ patients, call and chart people by their preferred name and pronouns. I also wear a Pride flag lapel pin to show my support. 

June 26, 2018 | 1 min read

Harnessing Digital Technology for Clinical Excellence

By Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Digital technology can be leveraged for the greater good of clinically excellent patient care. Social media tools like Twitter enable you to connect with healthcare stakeholders from around the world.

The new 2018 members of the Gold Humanism Honor Society chapter at Georgetown University School of Medicine.

June 12, 2018 | 6 min read

Transcending Quality In Pursuit of Clinical Excellence

By Jack Penner, MD

This is an excerpt of the keynote speech given by Jack Penner at the 2018 induction ceremony for the Gold Humanism Honor Society chapter at Georgetown University School of Medicine. Dr. Penner will be entering residency in Internal Medicine at UCSF as a member of the UCPC Primary Care Track.

May 3, 2022 | 5 min read

10 Pearls From Clinician Exemplars

By Ralph Hruban, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We have much to learn from those who came before us. One example is working toward equity in healthcare, including fighting sexism and racism. 

June 1, 2018 | 2 min read

Fewer Assumptions, Better Care

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

Assumptions may speed our diagnoses, but they hinder our interactions with our patients. Our assumptions and expectations of what a patient wants from their care can lead to missed opportunities to providing comprehensive and compassionate care.

The author with Imam Hassan A. Aman, Johns Hopkins Ministry Advisory Board, sharing ideas about diversity.

May 23, 2018 | 2 min read

Identity: Knowing How Our Patients Describe Themselves Matters

By Panagis Galiatsatos, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The complexity of identity is what makes “getting to know your patient” important, and allows for deeper cultural engagement, exchange, understanding, and, ultimately, helps us to create a culturally competent health plan with our patients.

March 29, 2024 | 4 min read

Using affirming language with LGBTQIA+ patients

By Christopher Clayton, MD, New York, New York, Lila Flavin, MD, New York, New York

To show respect for patients, consider asking them about their gender identity, sexual orientation, and preferred pronouns.

January 5, 2021 | 5 min read

Seeing and Healing Social Isolation

By Katherine Otto Chebly, MD, New York University

Social isolation and loneliness are established risk factors for disease and early death. Routinely asking about patients about their social support system (or lack thereof) allows us to give more effective care.

March 22, 2018 | 7 min read

Fundamentals for Caring for Transgender Patients

By Paula Neira, JD, MSN, RN, CEN, FAAN, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Improve your skills as you work to support your transgender patients and interact with your transgender colleagues.

January 28, 2020 | 3 min read

Racism From Patients—an Ethical Dilemma

By Sonal Gandhi, MBBS, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

A cornerstone of clinical excellence is treating all patients with respect and dignity. This is true even when treating those patients who are not respectful to you.

July 9, 2019 | 5 min read

Pain, Opioids, and the Constant Shadow of Stigma

By Travis Rieder, PhD, Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics

When a patient reports pain, their words need to be met with listening, compassion, and a discussion of how best to address the pain.

May 30, 2019 | 9 min read

Confessions of a Female Doctor who Questions Gender Equity Movements Like TIME’S UP Healthcare

By Kali Cyrus, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We have to embrace humility and first accept that we have biases, prejudices, and privileges in certain contexts. We must then do the hard work of recognizing when our biases show up in interactions, examine our past experiences that contributed to the development of our biases, and acknowledge the hurt that may be caused by our biases to ourselves and others. If we truly want to stop harassment and create equity, we have to do this emotional work every day. And we should do it to stop harassment and create equity for not just women, but for everyone.

A crowd organized by the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee sang “We Shall Overcome” in Farmville, Virginia, in 1966, after a speech by Stokely Carmichael.

January 18, 2019 | 9 min read

From Clinic to Senate

By Kali Cyrus, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Advocacy does not have to mean changing legal precedents; it can also be taking a mentee out for coffee, giving feedback about your colleague’s stereotyping of a patient, or not patronizing restaurants with unfair wage practices.

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