July 10, 2018 | <1 min read

Better Dementia Care Through Music

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

Having your older patients listen to music can be an effective way to reduce dementia-related behavioral disturbances.

March 20, 2025 | 3 min read

Falling up 

By Emily Ma, medical student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The transition from pediatric to adult care poses significant challenges for patients with disabilities. Healthcare professionals can help by seeking to improve access and continuity of care. 

May 6, 2021 | 3 min read

Plus ça Change: The Rise And Rise of Syphilis

By Matthew Hamill, MBChB, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Syphilis cases have reached an all-time high. To turn the tide, the first thing we need to do is ask patients an open-ended question about sexual activity, like "When was the last time you had sex?"

May 7, 2019 | 2 min read

Finding Balance

By Danielle Johnson, MD, Lindner Center of HOPE, University of Cincinnati

Small gestures while supporting patients through trauma and grief can make a big difference.

June 23, 2022 | 2 min read

Reflections at The End of a Busy Clinical Year

By Madeline Rodriguez, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Outstanding clinicians are humble, curious, and nonjudgmental. 

January 17, 2024 | 1 min read

“I’m not comfortable”

By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine

Patients sometimes ask for interventions that conflict with clinical best practice. The most effective responses are ones that focus on patients’ needs and level of understanding rather than on the clinician’s discomfort with their requests. 

October 4, 2021 | 1 min read

Words Matter

By Leslie Miller, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When serving as an advocate for a family member, I noted judgmental language in the EHR. This reminds me as a clinician to consider how patients (and their families) will feel when they read my notes.

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.

March 20, 2018 | 2 min read

7 Things Clinicians Can Learn From Therapy Dogs

By Stephanie Cooper Greenberg, Johns Hopkins Pet Therapy Program

Dogs see the person in front of them only as people and not as patients.

October 28, 2020 | 1 min read

Preventing Dry Eye in the Zoom Era

By Sharon Solomon, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Increased online activities during the pandemic has caused higher rates of dry eye for many. All clinicians should encourage their patients to take regular short breaks from screens.

March 16, 2022 | 1 min read

How to Support Patients With Autism Post-Pandemic

By Ayman Mukerji Houseman, MS, MSW, New York City

When caring for patients with autism who are moving back to in-person interactions, suggest changes that are gradual with input from patients and their caregivers. 

December 27, 2018 | 2 min read

“Charm City” Movie Review

The upcoming film "Charm City" emphasizes that the struggles of each patient who comes to clinic extend far beyond a medical diagnosis. We must be conscious of our patients' many challenges and mindful to address them. Making time to ask about your patient's day-to-day concerns, worries, and fears about their homes, neighborhoods, and communities can help you to get a fuller perspective of their medical and social determinants of health. This will allow you to reach relevant goals of care together.

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 18, 2023 | 1 min read

Can a chatbot be a clinician’s friend?

By Adam Poliak, PhD, Bryn Mawr College, Eric Leas, PhD, Mark Dredze, PhD, Johns Hopkins University

ChatGPT can draft seemingly empathic answers to patient questions on medical portals. This may help clinicians respond more efficiently to their patients’ concerns. 

March 10, 2025 | 2 min read

The B12 fix

By Selvi Rajagopal, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Clinicians should remember to watch for fatigue in patients shifting to plant-based diets; a B12 test can reveal a significant, reversible cause of feeling poorly. 

June 22, 2022 | 1 min read

Explaining The Risks of Vaping

Prioritize discussions about the long-term consequences of smoking. Be aware that just because someone has quit doesn’t mean that they won’t relapse.

January 11, 2024 | 2 min read

Book review of “Changing how we think about ‘difficult’ patients”  

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

When caring for a patient whom I found challenging, I reminded myself that my negative reaction had less to do with the patient and more to do with me.  

September 27, 2021 | 2 min read

How to Communicate Clearly About Medication Directions

By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine

Always use simple language with patients when giving directions about how to take medication, and check for understanding.   

October 16, 2025 | 4 min read

Prescribing humility 

Standard of care is provisional—reassess therapies as evidence evolves. Be open to changing your thinking and practice as new data emerge. 

January 2, 2020 | 1 min read

A Commonly Uncommon Patient

By Jeffrey Trost, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Asking colleagues for help and re-reviewing data are essential in identifying clues to an accurate diagnosis.

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.

July 26, 2018 | 1 min read

A Taste of Their Own Medicine

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Videos spreading misinformation to patients, promoting unproven therapies, can spread like wildfire on social media. We are sharing another video to fight fire with fire.

March 10, 2022 | 2 min read

Balanced conversations about weight

By Colleen Schreyer, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Clinicians can treat weight as simply one more piece of health information that they incorporate into a holistic care plans. This can mitigate stigma and foster empathy. 

November 28, 2018 | <1 min read

Dr. Jim Black, A CLOSLER Look

By Gretchen Miller, Managing Editor

A favorite part of my job is telling patients when they, in fact, do NOT need surgery!

July 17, 2023 | 3 min read

Choreographing Clinical Care

By Hanghang Wang, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Exceptional patient care is akin to a ballet performance. Synergistic team interactions, thoughtful decisions, and deliberate actions are all critical steps in the dance of patient care. 

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 27, 2021 | 2 min read

Lessons Learned From Cancer During COVID

By Catherine Ling, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Encourage and support patients to schedule preventative screenings delayed during the pandemic. These are critical to ensure your patients’ health.

April 16, 2019 | 2 min read

4 Lessons From 12 Years as a Patient-Doctor

By Julia Michie Bruckner, MD, MPH, Children\'s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Our white coats are not shields; they could be traded in for a flimsy hospital gown at any moment. Keeping this in mind, we can think of how we want to be cared for when our time comes, and then give this level of care to others. We can honor our shared humanity and vulnerability in our practice.

June 13, 2022 | 2 min read

3 Tips from the ED For All Healthcare Professionals

By Rodney Omron, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Sharing appreciations with colleagues and learners is your superpower. Use it. 

January 9, 2024 | 3 min read

Dust and distrust

By Matthew Kelly, PhD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Infection-related epidemics, like AIDS and COVID, teach us much about caring. To provide humanistic care, clinicians must continuously endeavor to assess and build trust with patients. 

September 16, 2021 | 1 min read

Recognize, Synthesize, Execute

By Harisa Spahic, Medical Student, Johns Hopkins University

Reflecting about the inspiring clinicians that I’ve shadowed, I noticed that they have a gift for synthesizing information in a way that’s clear and appropriate for the patient.

October 13, 2025 | 2 min read

The word “want” may leave patients wanting 

When prior notes document that a patient doesn’t “want” a specific intervention, elicit the patient’s desired outcome and acceptable trade-offs. Then determine whether “I don’t want X” is absolute or conditional and align the care plan accordingly. 

December 16, 2019 | 4 min read

Top 10 Tips to be a Great Consultant

By Aline Charabaty, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Read these 10 tips so that next time your pager goes off, you can be an outstanding consultant!

November 2, 2022 | 2 min read

Psychedelics to Quit Smoking?

By Matthew Johnson, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Patients may ask about using psilocybin to stop smoking. While being actively studied, please remind them that it’s still illegal and not necessarily risk-free. 

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 12, 2020 | 1 min read

How to Have Healthy Holidays

Helping patients plan safe get-togethers can slow the spread of COVID-19. Following guidelines may allow patients to connect with their family.

March 8, 2022 | 3 min read

Tips For Assessing The Intensity of Pain

By Brian Lee, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, David Madder, DO, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When assessing pain, we often ask patients to assign it a number between 0 and 10. Asking about the effect of pain on behavior and functional status can often give us a more meaningful understanding. 

June 2, 2020 | 3 min read

“Flattening the Curve”

By Madeline Rodriguez, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

The pandemic is breaking down the traditional hierarchy of medical education. Opportunities are emerging for faculty to learn even more from residents.

July 13, 2023 | 2 min read

5 More Ways Social Workers Can Help Patients

By Abbey Becker, LMSW, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Hospital social workers can gather missing information essential to patient care. They can also assist patients in completing advance directives.  

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. 

April 21, 2021 | 2 min read

Opioid Monitoring in Primary Care

By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine

Discussions about opioid use with patients must be approached with curiosity and concern, rather than suspicion. Implemented with sensitivity, opioid monitoring programs can strengthen the clinician-patient relationship.

April 15, 2019 | 1 min read

7 Things I’ve Learned About Mentoring in 51 Years

By David Levine, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Helping others to achieve their full potential is the most incredible, wonderful, and exhilarating role one can undertake.

June 13, 2022 | 3 min read

On Wondering

By Crystal Favorito, pre-med, Johns Hopkins Medicine

To wonder is to acknowledge possibility and open the door for progress. As a pre-med, it will help me become a lifelong learner on my professional journey. 

January 8, 2024 | 3 min read

Combatting the syphilis epidemic 

By Zach Lorenz, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Rates of syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections are skyrocketing. It’s imperative that we have candid conversations with patients about their sexual behaviors. 

September 20, 2021 | 3 min read

Moving Beyond Tuskegee

By Imani McElroy, MD, MPH, Mass General

I was able to help my incarcerated brother understand the benefits of COVID vaccination. He appreciated my input and became an advocate to convince other inmates. Much was learned about interacting with those who are vaccine hesitant—read the piece for my pearls.

October 7, 2025 | 2 min read

The compass of care 

When the path is grey, reach out to your ethics committee for perspective. They help clarify options and provide guidance, which can improve communication with patients, families, and colleagues. 

December 2, 2019 | 2 min read

Improving Communication Between Inpatient Teams and PCPs

By Stephen Berry, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

While it's not always easy, hospital-based providers need to find a way to connect with the healthcare professionals who will continue their patient's care.

October 17, 2022 | 2 min read

Working With The Media For The Public Good

By Maria Simbra, MD

Clinicians can communicate health messages effectively by using memorable stories to share the main message and understanding the reporter’s constraints.  

July 10, 2024 | 2 min read

Lessons from earlier in life: bagging groceries 

The service industry principles I learned while working in a grocery store apply to medicine. These include prioritizing customer needs, actively listening, and appreciating colleagues. 

October 29, 2020 | 2 min read

Embracing Imperfection

By Swathi Raman, MD, MPH, LifeBridge Health, Maryland

To help with imposter syndrome, practice habits that increase your confidence.