You searched for Teaching - CLOSLER

September 25, 2018 | 1 min read

Teaching Maintains Clinical Excellence

By Michael Crocetti, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

Engaging with learners keeps you dedicated to lifelong learning, and teaching helps to maintain clinical excellence and the joy of medicine.

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.

May 19, 2021 | 3 min read

Clinical Training Translating to Clinical Excellence

By Jennifer Spicer, MD, MPH, Emory University

Bias awareness achieved in teaching/learning can transfer to the clinic. Thus learners can help clinicians become aware of bias toward patients.

November 13, 2019 | 4 min read

The Art of Scaffolding Conversations

By Robert Trevino, MD, PhD, Medical College of Wisconsin

Scaffolding when communicating is meeting the other person where they are in their understanding. This is essential for healthcare discussions to best meet the needs of our patients.

August 15, 2019 | 1 min read

The Circle of Whole Health

By David Kopacz, MD, University of Washington

You can use the Circle of Health to support veterans in coming home in heart, mind, body, and spirit.

June 12, 2019 | <1 min read

Dr. Jamie Wright, A CLOSLER Look

Making the time to ensure that patients understand what you are teaching them about their bodies will help them make better decisions about their care.

September 13, 2018 | 2 min read

The Core of Compassionate Care

By Ayelet Kuper, MD, University of Toronto

When I have trouble bringing my focus back to the patient, I remind myself that this patient was once a baby that someone held as I have held my own babies.

June 15, 2023 | 1 min read

Lessons From a Humble Mentor

By Rafael Llinas, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

My mentor, Dr. Martin Samuels, modeled outstanding communication skills with patients, colleagues, and trainees. He discussed times when he was wrong so that others could learn from his mistakes.

June 29, 2018 | 1 min read

Getting Into Character

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Working as a primary care provider for the last 24 years, I can say without a doubt that reading fiction has expanded my capacity to connect with my patients with a greater level of empathy.

"Chrysantheme und Biene." Hokusai, K. (ca. 1832). Public domain, Wikimedia.

September 22, 2021 | 8 min read

The Role of Visual Thinking Strategies Coaching in Clinical Excellence

By Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Take an appreciative approach when giving feedback to learners. It will not only build clinical skills, but will also foster a healthy community of learning and practice.

September 20, 2023 | 2 min read

Sharing Our Stories

By Hailey Haffey, PhD, University of Utah

Stories we’ve internalized about healing may direct our approach to patient care. Find the one that resonates most with you.

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.

July 5, 2019 | 3 min read

Fun is fine, but it isn’t food (archives, 2019)

By Roxanne Sukol, MD, Cleveland Clinic

We ALL need to address the obesity epidemic by teaching our patients the difference between real food and manufactured calories.

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.

The author, far right, with colleagues.

October 23, 2018 | 2 min read

Master Clinicians – The Early Years

By Vivek Murthy, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

It’s no surprise that it takes hard work to become a great clinician. This is a glimpse of what the first steps on that road might look like.

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.

February 23, 2018 | 2 min read

Mindfulness and Diagnostic Acumen: Inversely Related?

By Sharon Solomon, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Far from being inversely related, physician mindfulness provides the foundation upon which diagnostic acumen is built.

June 30, 2025 | 4 min read

Finding flow and joy in medicine

Finding professional flow requires assessing your inner values and the work environment. Finding harmony between who you are and what you do may help to prevent burnout and restore your joy in medicine.

June 25, 2025 | 4 min read

Who’s visited you?

The presence of loved ones at the bedside can anchor and orient older patients. In their absence, the medical team should collaborate thoughtfully with the interprofessional team to provide social and emotional support.

June 18, 2025 | 2 min read

The heart of the practice: a PA’s reflections on teamwork

Exceptional patient care is a team endeavor, built on trust and a shared commitment to addressing every patient's unique needs. This is especially true when navigating complex health disparities.

Plato, Greek philosopher. A disciple of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle, he founded the Academy in Athens. This is his statue, located before the Academy of Athens, Greece.

June 29, 2022 | 3 min read

Being PerfecT in Healthcare

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Moral questions often arise in healthcare. Contemplating how our efforts might translate into the most good deserves our thoughtful consideration.

July 12, 2018 | 1 min read

Storytelling in Medicine

By Susan Lehmann, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The ability to learn your patient’s story from their words is the essential skill for developing a comprehensive understanding. This is crucial for accurate diagnosis and for establishing a therapeutic bond with each patient.

"Ángel M. Felicísimo from Mérida, España," Pablo Picasso, 1923. Creative Commons via Wikimedia. Public domain.

June 27, 2023 | 3 min read

Book Review of “Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life”

By Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Wanting what others desire contributes to dissatisfaction and rivalry. Learning how to separate your wants from those of the crowd will bring you greater happiness and life satisfaction.

Crystal Favorito

Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, I moved to Baltimore to study neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University. I discovered my passion for writing my freshman year and joined the CLOSLER team. When I am not studying, I am teaching Zumba, training Jiu-Jitsu, or wrestling. I still have all my teeth (for now).

March 22, 2023 | 2 min read

Beautiful Bodies

By Drea Burbank, MD, Putumayo, Colombia

I chose to leave healthcare to become a hot yoga instructor. Now I help heal patients in a different way.

December 7, 2022 | 4 min read

The Road to Aequanimitas

My medical training in the 80s and 90s taught me to be reserved and distant from patients. After many years in practice, I now know that they deserve a personal relationship with their doctor.

June 25, 2018 | 2 min read

On The Professional Formation of Doctors

By Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

By getting out of the business of knowledge and skills and returning to the work of professional formation, not only will medical schools and their patients win, but doctors—and the profession of medicine as a whole—will too.

March 17, 2020 | 3 min read

Medicine is Like Poker

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

In medicine, uncertainty abounds. Poker can teach us how to make smarter decisions when we don’t have all the facts.

April 10, 2018 | 3 min read

Finding Beauty In Your Inbox

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Sometimes, beauty and inspiration are inches away from our eyes, glowing at us from the blue light of our screen. Dr. Wright shares a moving story from a recent email exchange between a resident and attending.

August 13, 2019 | 2 min read

How Does Bullying Relate to Clinical Excellence?

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

There is no place in medicine for bullying. It interferes with growth of individuals and collaborations among team members – both of these are critical for serving our patients.

July 5, 2018 | 1 min read

Getting the Most Out of Your Eyes

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

If you look at your patients as you would a piece of art in a museum, you will notice many details that would otherwise be missed.

April 21, 2020 | 2 min read

“Jiro Dreams of Sushi”

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Role models can be found on Netflix. Jiro, the master sushi chef, is aiming for perfection, and we must also continuously try to get better in our work with patients.

January 9, 2023 | 2 min read

Questions Raised by “There, There”

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Reflecting on our own “there” (the place where we grew up) can trigger conversation that helps us to understand our patients’ “there.” This can strengthen the patient-clinician relationship.

December 26, 2018 | 1 min read

How to Ensure Patient Access During the Holidays

By Michael Crocetti, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

The holidays can be a stressful time for both patients and clinicians. Here are a few ideas to ensure stress-free access to care for patients, and tips for everyone to stay healthy and rested.

May 17, 2018 | 2 min read

How To Avoid Complacency in Diagnosis

By Michael Crocetti, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

Top tips to avoid complacency when faced with a common clinical presentation that may have an uncommon medical diagnosis.

November 14, 2018 | 2 min read

How Clinicians can use “Wait, what?”

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Asking good questions is fundamental for learning about our patients. Five great questions, assembled by University of Virginia President James Ryan, can help you to connect with, understand, and serve patients better.

June 16, 2021 | 1 min read

Why we Must Talk About E-cigarettes with Teen Patients

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Proactively counseling adolescents about the risks of e-cigarette use is essential. The message should acknowledge both the health implications and the pressures that they may feel from their peers.

October 17, 2018 | 1 min read

When?

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Timing is everything! Daniel Pink's book, "When," will make you a believer!

May 4, 2021 | 1 min read

Love as a social determinant of health (archived 2021)

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Many feel happier and healthier when feeling loved and sharing their love. Encouraging our patients to share love through meaningful personal relationships will improve their health and well-being.

March 1, 2018 | 2 min read

Most Physicians Sit Down at the Bedside When Entering a Patient’s Room

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Choice architecture, framing, herd behavior, and feedback—how to nudge your patient towards healthier choices.

May 11, 2018 | <1 min read

Share A Story In One Tweet

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Hope you’re as moved as we were by these touching short stories from both healthcare providers and patients.

September 20, 2018 | 2 min read

Review of ‘Attending: Medicine, Mindfulness, and Humanity’

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Dr. Ronald Epstein's book, "Attending," offers insights into mindfulness and connecting with our patients.

April 26, 2018 | 1 min read

Forming True Partnerships In Care: Listen To Your Patient

By Michael Crocetti, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

Reflecting on caring for a 12-year-old with a complex neurological condition, I was humbled by the parents’ definition of clinically excellent patient care.

April 2, 2025 | 2 min read

“Alchemy”—book review

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Sprinkling a little bit of magic into whatever you are doing can make it better and more fun. The world, in general, and healthcare are both in need of plenty of magical transformation—read on for ways to get started yourself.

Encourage parents to support their teens in connecting with friends safely.

October 7, 2020 | 1 min read

CLOSLER Together

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Discussing CLOSLER pieces in groups may yield more insights than simply reading on your own. Consider adding a discussion of a piece to your next staff, practice, or division meeting.

February 20, 2025 | 2 min read

Insights from the book “Be water, my friend”

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Marvel at the adaptability of water—perhaps you may be able to embrace, rather than resist change. Accepting that healthcare is continuously changing might allow for less frustration.

February 12, 2025 | 1 min read

Insights from the book “Decoding Greatness”

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Achieving greatness in any field is not only about talent or practice; it’s also about studying the successes of those who are exemplary. In medicine, observing and analyzing the approaches of admirable colleagues can allow us to grow and evolve toward being more clinically excellent.

Trichomonas vaginalis

December 12, 2024 | 3 min read

Home testing: a new era in sexual health

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

At-home sexually transmitted illness (STI) testing allows easier patient access. It’s crucial for healthcare professionals to talk with patients about the limitations of these tests and discuss when follow-up care is needed.

December 10, 2024 | 1 min read

A breath of fresh air

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Healthcare professionals can prioritize ongoing conversations about the risks of smoking and vaping with young patients, tailoring their approach to address specific concerns and misconceptions.

August 21, 2018 | 1 min read

Talking With Young Adult Patients About Alcohol

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Clinicians need to be vigilant to discuss alcohol use with patients and remember that the legal drug, alcohol, causes more morbidity and mortality than opioids.