January 5, 2022 | 1 min read

Bringing my nursing pearls to my doctoring (archives, 2022)

By Nina Wagner-Johnston, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

From my experience as a nurse, I always remember the importance of engaging the whole team. Each team member provides unique insights that can optimize the care of the patient. 

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.

January 2, 2019 | 3 min read

The Human Experience of Illness

By Tina Zhang, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Paintings, photographs, and poems can foster dialogue about the human experience of illness and allow learners to approach challenging topics in a more comfortable way.

February 3, 2021 | 3 min read

How to Cultivate a “Friendtorship”

By Jared Rubenstein, MD, Baylor College of Medicine, Liz Salmi, OpenNotes Communications, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

A “friendtorship” is an informal peer-mentor relationship between two people with shared interests but different careers. “Friendtorships” can help you develop new perspectives and ideas about your own field.

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.

May 17, 2022 | 1 min read

Word Choice Related to Substance Use Disorders

By Beth McGinty, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Words matter; calling patients with a substance use disorder an “addict” defines them by their addiction. We need to ensure that our patients feel comfortable and supported so that they will engage in treatment.  

November 20, 2023 | 1 min read

A surgical sojourn in China

By Hanghang Wang, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Engaging with healthcare professionals in other countries represents an invaluable learning opportunity. My clinician colleagues in Nanjing helped me to appreciate the value of teamwork across cultures. 

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.

July 20, 2021 | 2 min read

3 lessons on clinical excellence from the oncology clinic

By Sajya Singh, Medical Student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

While shadowing clinicians in cancer care, I learned the importance of spending time to gather the family history, building trusting relationships, and balancing treatment plans with quality-of-life considerations.

September 20, 2022 | 2 min read

When And How to Self-disclose

By Meher Kalkat, medical student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Sharing our own mental health experiences is often discouraged. Sometimes, disclosure may help you connect more deeply with others. 

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. 

May 21, 2024 | 1 min read

Time out 

By Haruka Torok, MD, MSc, University of Minnesota

When emotions run high in clinical situations, it can be helpful for everyone to take a break and come back together when feelings have cooled down.

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.

December 21, 2021 | 4 min read

How to Make New Habits Stick, Part 2 

By Howard Chang, Medical Student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We can build good habits in our own lives and help patients do the same by implementing the four laws of behavior change: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying. 

May 18, 2023 | 2 min read

Ballet And Medicine

By Maria Guinle, medical student, Stanford Medicine

Medicine is similar to dancing. Learning from mistakes and working as part of a team are necessary for success. 

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.

February 1, 2021 | 2 min read

The Emperor’s New Curtains

By Charlotte Squires, MBChB, Borders General Hospital, Scotland

Clinically excellent physicians consider the setting of private conversations with patients and families. Quiet rooms with a door that closes are ideal for sensitive discussions.

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.  

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.

May 9, 2022 | 2 min read

Talking With Patients About Their Online Research

By Rebekah Fenton, MD, Northwestern University

Patients’ online research may leave them wondering if they have a particular disease. Listen to their concerns, normalize their fears, and provide reputable resources. And remember, sometimes they’re right.  

October 19, 2023 | 2 min read

Healthcare for every body

By Stephanie Pham Van, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

To make healthcare more welcoming, be sensitive to how patients prefer to be described. Also, find out what tools they might need to access information, for example, voice to text transcriptions. 

July 22, 2021 | <1 min read

Responding Instead of Reacting

By Avani Prabhakar, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When confronted publicly by a colleague, I learned that it is helpful to respond calmly instead of reacting defensively. This strategy will allow us to move forward.

September 13, 2022 | 2 min read

Psychedelics and Health

By Mary Yaden, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Psychedelic therapies have long been feared and avoided. We must acknowledge that there are clinical indications where these treatments are profoundly beneficial.   

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. 

May 16, 2024 | 2 min read

Two coats in one small room: caring for another clinician 

Caring for another clinician is complicated and requires special thoughtfulness; false assumptions about what the “clinician-patient” understands may result in suboptimal care.    

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.

December 20, 2021 | 1 min read

What Patients With Serious Illness Want to Know Most

By Avani Prabhakar, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

After receiving a terminal diagnosis, many patients especially want to know how long they have to live, what symptoms to expect, and how to cope with impending decline.  

May 2, 2023 | 2 min read

Treating all patients with compassion (archives, 2023)

By Keisha Ray, PhD, McGovern Medical School

Physician bias is one driver of poor health outcomes among Black patients. A commitment to compassion and active listening can combat this trend. 

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!

January 27, 2021 | 2 min read

Gin And Tonic—Cultural Footprints of Disease

By Kittane "Vishnu" Vishnupriya, MBBS, Johns Hopkins Medicine

To mitigate incorrect assumptions about patients who have been infected with COVID-19, we must work to spread truths and to minimize inaccuracies—particularly those that may be shameful or demeaning.

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.

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.

May 5, 2022 | 1 min read

Lessons From Choosing a Specialty

By Howard Chang, Medical Student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Deciding on an area of practice during medical school reminded me to ask for help when needed and to be comfortable with uncertainty. These skills will help me when I care for patients in the future.    

October 17, 2023 | 1 min read

Partnering With Pharmacists in Ambulatory Care

By Heather Folz, PharmD, Notre Dame of Maryland University

Clinicians and pharmacists can work together to give holistic and comprehensive patient care. This requires understanding each other’s expertise. 

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.

July 15, 2021 | 1 min read

Honoring Patients’ and Families’ Goals of Care

By Shireen Heidari, MD, Stanford University

When supporting critically ill or dying patients, keep their care goals at the forefront of conversations and planning.

September 7, 2022 | 2 min read

“Hysteria”

By Tina Zhang, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We need to be aware of our own gender biases that could adversely affect women. To combat this, engage in shared decision-making with patients and be a lifelong learner of female health topics.   

October 2, 2025 | 2 min read

Don’t sleep on it  

Insomnia is a common condition that increases the risk of physical and mental health problems. Screening for it is an important part of patient care, and it can be quick and easy. 

May 14, 2024 | 1 min read

ED overcrowding: every clinician can help

By Catherine Washburn, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Collaboration between healthcare professionals across the hospital is crucial to reduce ED overcrowding and improve patient care. One thing clinicians can do is help patients leave the hospital as soon as they are ready. 

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!

December 7, 2021 | 3 min read

A Window Into a Patient’s World

By Deirdre Johnston, MBBCh, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Visiting a patient’s home environment, either virtually or in person, may shed light on the source of their distress.

April 24, 2023 | 1 min read

How CLOSLER Has Improved My Care of Patients: A Five-Year Retrospective

By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine

Through CLOSLER, I’ve learned about the power of active listening and how better to navigate challenging conversations. It has also provided many ideas for re-energizing myself both personally and professionally. 

May 2, 2018 | 1 min read

Top Tips To Improve Your Webside Manner

By Joshua Wadlin, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

You might think your bedside manner is excellent, but how’s your webside manner?

December 4, 2024 | 2 min read

The complexities of middle age 

By Alicia Arbaje, MD, MPH, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Mid-life is a period marked by multifaceted challenges, including physical, emotional, and social stressors. By adopting a holistic approach that addresses the whole patient healthcare professionals can provide more comprehensive and effective care. 

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. 

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.

August 29, 2022 | 2 min read

Takeaways From “The Making of a Surgeon”

By Richard Schaefer, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Reading this book while I was in training inspired me to pursue a surgical career. Rereading it years later, I’m reminded of the importance of treating all patients with dignity.  

September 18, 2025 | 3 min read

Continuity in ADHD care

Life transitions, such as starting college, can be especially challenging for patients with ADHD. Ensuring continuity of care during these times is essential.

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.

November 23, 2021 | 3 min read

Preventive Care And COVID

By Aline Charabaty, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

As a gastroenterologist, I’ve been encouraging people to continue with colon cancer screening through the pandemic. A delay may have serious health consequences.