July 31, 2023 | 3 min read

Dungeons and Dragons and Medicine

By Lillian Houston, MD, Southern Illinois University

D&D teaches us that the team is our most important asset. Interdisciplinary and diverse teams that communicate openly are most successful. 

July 18, 2018 | 2 min read

The Bell Curve

By Lee Akst, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

The difference between a 99.5% and 99.95% success rate isn't necessarily in knowledge or training, but in physician attitudes towards adapting and changing to evolving information.

June 5, 2018 | 3 min read

5 Things Residency Taught Me About Parenting

A general internist reflects on insights gleaned from residency applied to parenting.

May 30, 2023 | 2 min read

Artificial Intelligence: Artificial? Intelligent? Neither or Both?

By Matthew Peters, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

AI can complement the work of mental health professionals, in addition to performing clerical tasks and analyzing big data for insightful trends.

October 20, 2021 | 3 min read

Rethinking the Routine in the Pursuit of Inclusion

Interprofessional team members bring a rich variety of perspectives about patients that can lead to better whole person care. Using first names among our team helps minimize power differentials.

April 30, 2025 | 2 min read

Aging and autonomy 

Many older patients struggle with losing independence. Healthcare professionals can partner with them and their loved ones to ease challenging transitions. 

December 13, 2021 | 1 min read

Grace

By Farah Ali, DO, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Faith plays a significant role in many patients’ lives. Learning more about their beliefs can help us to understand them better and allows us to serve our patients in line with their values. 

October 31, 2024 | 3 min read

The human cost of toxic work culture 

Healthcare professionals often experience unrealistic work expectations. If this becomes too much, clinicians can seek support, set boundaries, and even consider making a change. 

April 8, 2021 | 3 min read

How to Support Teens’ Mental Health During The Pandemic

By Leslie Miller, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Now more than ever, it's critical for parents to check in with their teens on a regular basis. Encourage parents to ask their children directly how they’re doing and to validate that these are hard times.

December 9, 2021 | 4 min read

3 Lessons From Coach Ted Lasso

By Claire Crawford, MSW, PhD, Texas Childrens , Jared Rubenstein, MD, Baylor College of Medicine

Apple TV’s “Ted Lasso” shares a simple message—be kind. We can never truly know what it’s like to walk in another person’s shoes. Curiosity, instead of judgment, helps us give better patient care.

August 12, 2025 | 2 min read

Safe and sound care   

Now more than ever, create an affirming healthcare environment for LGBTQIA+ patients by using respectful language and addressing unique care needs.  

July 11, 2024 | 2 min read

Protecting the most vulnerable from heat-related illnesses (archives, 2024)

By Joanna Cohen, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When caring for patients during heat waves, healthcare professionals should be aware of social determinants of health—like no air conditioning at home. Clinicians should know the available resources to recommend, such as cooling centers within the communities they serve. 

November 3, 2020 | 4 min read

Beyond Resilience: Fighting the Causes of The Burnout Pandemic

By David Kopacz, MD, University of Washington

Clinician wellness should be a shared responsibility between individuals and institutions. Beyond facilitating clinician resilience, institutional transformation is needed.

March 6, 2024 | 2 min read

Both sides 

By Joanne Shay, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

I realized that I didn’t truly understand my patients’ pain until I experienced pain myself. This has allowed me to give even better care. 

May 23, 2019 | 1 min read

The Thinking of a Clinical Problem Solver

By Reza Manesh, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

We aren't expected to know everything. Identifying the salient features of a case can lead you to the diagnosis.

January 5, 2019 | 2 min read

Acceptance

By Neda Gould, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When we practice acceptance in the present moment, we free up energy to see more possibilities. We may notice some clarity in our minds and even less tension in the body. There is freedom in acceptance.

April 2, 2019 | 5 min read

Connecting to Historical Roots

By Lee Akst, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

There are a number of important physicians in history, and an appreciation of our past can further our quest for clinical excellence in the present.

February 3, 2022 | 2 min read

Perspective Matters

By Souvik Chatterjee, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

As the pandemic continues, I remind myself that my job is to give selflessly to those who are sick. It’s helpful to lean on my team when situations feel especially challenging.

March 31, 2022 | 2 min read

A Lesson in Cultural Humility

By Mengyi "Zed" Zha, MD, Othello, Washington

Working at a community health clinic serving migrant workers from Mexico, I was confronted with a pervasive stereotype that the female patients were “dramatic.” I learned how important it was for patients’ concerns to be taken seriously.   

July 20, 2020 | 6 min read

Art and Connection During COVID-19

By Kamna Balhara, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Sarah Clever, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

In a time of physical distancing, stepping out of our comfort zone to find creative and unconventional ways to connect with patients and colleagues can bring us together.

February 11, 2025 | 6 min read

“The Tao of Medicine” 

By David Kopacz, MD, University of Washington

The clinician's mindful presence and understanding of the patient's full humanity are as crucial to healing as technical skill. Let go of using language to define your experience; instead focus on the wisdom that can be found in the empty spaces between thoughts. 

November 28, 2022 | 2 min read

What to Know About RSV

By Shannon Scott-Vernaglia, MD, Mass General

Let caregivers know that if symptoms are mild, they can watch children at home and encourage fluid intake. If having trouble breathing, the child should be seen right away. 

November 7, 2018 | 3 min read

How to Reduce Caregiver Burden

By Jessica Colburn, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Healthcare providers have the ability to provide support, connection, and resources that can help to reduce caregiver burden and increase caregiver joy.

February 6, 2025 | 2 min read

Code blue 

By Ursula Gately, medical student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Extreme heat often dominates the climate change conversation, however the dangers of extreme cold may be more perilous. Support patients, particularly those who are unhoused or with housing insecurity, by making sure they know about local warming shelters and advising them to limit exposure to the elements. 

November 8, 2021 | 1 min read

Lessons Learned From 30 Years of Night Shifts

By Kimberly Turner, MD, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

Patience, stamina, and fortitude are important traits to cultivate in medicine at any and all times.

November 21, 2019 | 2 min read

The Chosen One

By Ryan Chippendale, MD, Boston University School of Medicine

As a geriatrician, it was still difficult to facilitate compasstionate patient-centered end-of-life care for my grandmother. Honoring patients' goals of care can be challenging when we are intimately invested.

January 27, 2020 | 3 min read

Ethical Dilemmas in Dementia Care Design

By Diana Anderson, MD, MArch, Clincial Geriatrics Fellow, University of California, San Francisco

Innovative dementia care designs raise moral questions about whether deception of patients is ever ethical. The clinically excellent physician tries to avoid deception at all costs.

October 21, 2025 | 2 min read

Stroke, breath, care

Swimming taught me the importance of rhythm and breath. During difficult conversations with patients and families, I make room for quiet pauses to give them time to process.

September 8, 2020 | 1 min read

10 Ways to Cultivate Well-being During The Pandemic

It's important to make an effort to improve your sense of well-being to help prevent burnout, especially during the strain of the pandemic.

September 8, 2021 | 2 min read

How to Mitigate Caregiver Burnout

By Simone Lescott, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Caring for a loved one can be emotionally exhausting. Remind caregivers to prioritize self-care and encourage them to seek support from others.

May 10, 2022 | 2 min read

Supporting Underrepresented Trainees

By Vivian Altiery De Jesus, MD, MBE, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When witnessing racism, we must support those affected to foster an environment of safety and respect.

February 7, 2024 | 2 min read

Vacations: a “how-to” guide 

Vacations have been shown to reduce burnout, but sometimes it can feel hard to take time off. Blocking vacation time at the start of the year and getting coverage in place early may help. 

October 5, 2023 | 2 min read

When Medication is an Empty Promise (Sudafed) 

By Charles Flexner, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Communicating uncertainty effectively is part of being an excellent physician. This is especially true when it comes to the medications we recommend to patients. 

February 25, 2021 | 2 min read

How You Can Help With Intimate Partner Violence

By Lisa Geller, MPH, Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health crisis and most deadly when a gun is involved. Clinicians should screen patients for IPV, ask about firearm possession, and refer those at risk of IPV to appropriate services.

March 17, 2025 | 7 min read

Caring and uncaring in medicine and beyond 

By David Kopacz, MD, University of Washington

Every moment in medicine, and in life, we have the choice to base our actions in caring.  

February 18, 2021 | 2 min read

Art is Integral to Healthcare

By Kamna Balhara, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Sarah Clever, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Engaging with art can address some of medicine’s greatest challenges, including recognizing our common humanity.