April 2, 2024 | 3 min read

A dose of reality (TV)  

By Maria Fazal, MD, Baltimore, Maryland

A patient who had severe anxiety and depression told me that watching “The Great British Bake Off” was a helpful relaxation technique. She taught me that shows like this may provide a therapeutic escape.  

June 20, 2019 | 2 min read

Be Brave Enough to Start Conversations That Matter

By Manasa Ayyala, MD, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

"Between the World and Me" is a must read. At 152 pages, it's a small investment of time that leaves a large impact. I invite you to read this book with the intent to ask curious questions, to be ok feeling uncomfortable, and to continue this important dialogue.

November 9, 2021 | 3 min read

Giving Exceptional Care Without Exception

A one-liner works in comedy but leads to biases in medicine. Listening, getting to know, and learning from each patient will allow you to serve them best.

March 6, 2023 | 1 min read

Supporting Menopausal Patients

By Talia Sobel, MD, Mayo Clinic

Women often receive misinformation about menopause and even experience medical gaslighting from healthcare professionals. Clinicians should validate patients’ symptoms, and work with them to improve quality of life. 

February 19, 2026 | 2 min read

When less is more

When caring for older adults, limit tests and interventions where possible, spot cognitive red flags, and create clear and pragmatic care plans. Small steps like these can improve health outcomes, experiences, and be more rewarding for healthcare teams as well. 

October 17, 2024 | 2 min read

Gaming for mental health 

By Barry Bryant, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Understanding the therapeutic potential of video games is important. Clinicians may elect to recommend them for certain young patients struggling with mental health challenges.

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.

April 12, 2022 | 2 min read

Describing the Scribe: How We Help Clinicians

By Dean Chien, CLOSLER team, Baltimore, Maryland

Medical scribes allow clinicians to focus more fully on the patient in front of them. 

September 11, 2023 | 2 min read

AI And Humanistic Care

By Daniel Brotman, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

In a clinical world that is increasingly algorithmic, what AI can NOT do is truly understand human emotions. Computers will never appreciate the joy and privilege of connecting with patients. 

January 14, 2019 | 2 min read

We’re Getting CLOSLER to the Super Bowl!

By Wilma Ferthler, MD, Rural Country Doctor, Northeast Kingdom, Vermont

Football-inspired clinical pearls from Vermont family physician Dr. Wilma Ferthler teach us how to be better clinicians.

June 15, 2021 | 4 min read

How Art History Can Improve Your Care of Patients

By Siobhan Conaty, Art History Professor, La Salle University

Focusing on visual cues from our patients can help us to better understand them. Closely looking at art is one way that a clinician can improve their observation skills.

June 30, 2020 | 1 min read

Learning to be Antiracist

By Ashlyn McRae, Medical Student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We must acknowledge the ways in which we have been, and are racist. This will allow us to provide the most equitable care to all of our patients.

July 28, 2022 | 2 min read

Passing Tests And Failing my Family

By Emily Rodriguez, medical student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Book knowledge about addiction offered me little to support my family members and others affected by this illness. To holistically serve, we need to take the time to connect and genuinely understand each person.

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.  

March 25, 2024 | 1 min read

Graphic medicine: a picture is worth a thousand words 

By Benjamin Vipler, MD, MEd, University of Colorado

Pictures can often be a more effective way to explain complex medical concepts to trainees and patients than words alone. 

June 18, 2019 | 2 min read

Navigating the Uncertain: A Book Review of “The Laws of Medicine”

Siddhartha Mukherjee, MD, provides a framework to reconcile the uncertainties we constantly experience in our practice of medicine in his book, "The Laws of Medicine."

October 27, 2021 | 4 min read

Digital Media Addiction: It’s Complicated

By Natalie Gukasyan, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

It’s tempting to resort to simple explanations for complex behaviors like digital media use. Deep relationships with patients can help you understand what’s behind the behavior. 

February 16, 2026 | 2 min read

Supporting all during cognitive decline 

Families facing a loved one’s cognitive decline need help planning for the future, including support to nurture their interpersonal relationships. 

October 10, 2024 | 1 min read

Trust and truth

Nonjudgmental communication can help us understand the true nature of a patient’s condition and motivations. Connecting more deeply with a patient over time allowed us to learn more of the story. 

March 27, 2018 | 2 min read

12 Things I Wish I’d Known 50 Years Ago

By Randy Barker, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, retired

Twelve things I would tell my younger self—all the things I didn’t know then, but wish I had.

September 7, 2023 | 2 min read

“Wild Problems” Book Review

By Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When it comes to the big decisions in life, abandoning a rational, algorithmic approach—and going back to guiding principles—may be the secret to happiness. 

March 18, 2019 | 2 min read

The Truth About Sex

By Khalil Ghanem, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

How you phrase questions when obtaining a sexual history can mitigate the impact of social desirability bias and enhance the accuracy of the information that is obtained.

June 7, 2021 | 2 min read

It’s Not About Weight

By Nicole Cifra, MD, MPH, University of Rochester

Approaches employed by eating disorder specialists can be applied to support all patients. This includes emphasizing healthy behaviors and acknowledging your own assumptions about weight.

July 13, 2020 | 2 min read

Eklavya and the Power of Online Learning

By Mrinali Shetty, MD, University of Chicago, Yuvraj Chowdhury, MD, SUNY Downstate Medical Center

During the pandemic, there has been an increase in educational offerings that can enhance our clinical skills. This expansion of virtual learning opportunities, (like open-access Zoom lectures and grand rounds, and #MedTwitter #tweetorials on countless topics), can be a boon for all.

June 19, 2018 | 2 min read

Sleep solutions (archives, 2018)

People see sleep as a luxury, but it's a basic human need. As clinicians, we should ask patients how they're sleeping. Here are nine things you can recommend to help them feel more rested.

March 21, 2024 | 2 min read

Young LGBTQ+ patients deserve more 

By Brady Hanshaw, medical student, Harvard Medical School, Thara Nagarajan, MD, UCSF

36% of LGBTQ+ youth are unsure they’ll live until the age of 35. These mental health outcomes are even more severe for LGBTQ+ youth of color. It’s critical that clinicians create a safe space to talk about anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. 

June 6, 2019 | 7 min read

May Art Museum Challenge

By Flora Smyth Zahra, MA Clin Ed, DRestDent RCS, FHEA, Kings College London, Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The art museum is a space that has lessons to teach about clinical excellence, and fosters both the personal development and professional identity formation of clinicians.

November 2, 2021 | 2 min read

What All Clinicians Must Know About End-of-Life Care

By Pringl Miller, MD, San Francisco, California

Initiating and withdrawing life-sustaining medical treatment is the patient’s or their surrogate's decision, not ours. We must always honor their wishes.

February 6, 2026 | 2 min read

O clinical excellence (A nod to O Canada)

Canadian Prime Minister Carney delivered a speech for the ages in Davos. Though focused on world order, his forward-thinking call to action also applies to health systems seeking to better serve patients. 

November 19, 2020 | <1 min read

Quitting Smoking During The Pandemic

Remind patients that quitting smoking is hard and takes time. This will help them take a first step toward better health.

October 3, 2024 | 2 min read

Patient time 

By Katherine Majzoub Morgan, MD, Brigham and Womens Hospital

Ask patients if they are concerned about the amount of time it takes to engage with health care systems. For those who are, include time as a factor in shared decision-making conversations. 

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.

March 30, 2022 | 3 min read

Mitigating maternal mortality (archived piece, 2022)

By Kimberly Turner, MD, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

A more diverse clinical workforce brings greater variety of perspectives in patient care which may improve clinical outcomes. 

August 30, 2023 | 2 min read

Containing Chaos Through Dance

By Shreya Srivastava, medical student, Albany Medical College

The strength, stamina, emotional understanding, and situational awareness that dancers develop over time can also benefit healthcare professionals.  

May 27, 2021 | 2 min read

How to Support Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Patients

By James Wu, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin, Neurofourier, MD, New York, New York, Yuemei Zhang, MD, University of Washington

Currently, AAPI people are facing a wave of discrimination. Clinicians need to be sensitive to patients’ experience of racism and educate themselves on how to best offer support.

June 24, 2020 | 1 min read

3 Things You Can do to Fight Racism

By Christle Nwora, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We must each take personal responsibility for educating ourselves about racism. Increasing our understanding will allow us to improve health outcomes for all of our patients.

July 26, 2022 | 2 min read

Sharing One More Pint

By Avani Prabhakar, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When caring for a cancer patient who lived days longer than expected, I learned to be humble in my prognostications and to help patients receive “extra” moments of life as gift. 

March 19, 2024 | 2 min read

Caring for transgender and gender-expansive patients, Part 2

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

Transgender and gender-expansive patients often feel uncomfortable in healthcare settings and avoid care. Be sure to use every patient’s chosen name/pronoun and take care not to misgender.

October 14, 2021 | 1 min read

Caring During Death

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

It’s a privilege to care for patients and their loved ones, especially at the end of life. Even when we can’t cure, we can always comfort.

February 2, 2023 | 2 min read

We Just Disagree

By Eric Last, DO, Northwell Health, Wantagh, New York

When colleagues offer a conflicting opinion, remember to always put the patient first, check your facts, and be open to learning.  

February 5, 2026 | 2 min read

Stop, look, and listen 

I find the railroad crossing rule helpful when caring for patients. I stop to consider how best to help the patient reach their health goals, truly see the person before me, and listen to their story. 

November 24, 2020 | 2 min read

Women clinicians and women’s bodies (archives, 2020)

By Colleen Christmas, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Constant critiques on women’s bodies and dress means physicians who identify as female must spend energy ensuring they look as they “should” to patients and colleagues. This energy is better focused on giving clinically excellent care.

August 23, 2018 | 4 min read

How To Incorporate Students Effectively Into Clinic

Making the time and effort to integrate students into clinic cohesively can be associated with both improved clinical productivity and educational value.

January 15, 2020 | 1 min read

Extra Minutes

By Scott Newsome, DO, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Every extra minute a clinician spends with a patient is worth it.

June 6, 2018 | 1 min read

Open Arms: The Welcoming Spirit of the Osler Residence

By Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Although we might not all live in a “substantial Victorian house” like William Osler’s, we can all embrace the welcoming spirit of “The Open Arms,” and invite more of our learners into our homes for informal meetings, mentorship, and maybe even tea.

January 31, 2019 | 1 min read

How to be Mindful About Infection Prevention

By Clare Rock, MBBCh, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

To be mindful of preventing the spread of infection, embrace change in procedures with an open mind when it is for the greater good.

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.

July 20, 2022 | 2 min read

“I’ll do your abortion.”

By Jill Edwardson, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We enter every patient encounter with our own unique experiences, judgements, and values, as do our patients. Only when we acknowledge this can we truly connect with compassion.

July 17, 2025 | 3 min read

Cricket and the cadence of care  

Like playing cricket, the art of medicine demands patience, teamwork, and a willingness to redefine victory—not every win is a cure. Sometimes success is helping a patient find comfort and dignity. 

March 18, 2024 | 2 min read

Caring for transgender and gender-expansive patients, Part 1 

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

Clinicians must be aware that transgender and gender-expansive patients face widespread discrimination in healthcare settings, including harassment and denial of care, and work to mitigate this disturbing trend.