June 6, 2023 | 3 min read

Plant Straight Rows

By Kyle Glienke, MD, Buena Vista Regional Medical Center, Iowa

In farming, as in medicine, focusing only on daily tasks may keep us from seeing the impact we have.

October 11, 2021 | 2 min read

Helping Patients Share Disappointing Diagnoses With Loved Ones

By Ambereen Mehta, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Michelle McWhirter, LCSW-C, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Patients often want to share significant health news with loved ones. You can help them choose when and how to disclose this information.

June 28, 2019 | 1 min read

How to Improve Outpatient Handoffs

Consider performing outpatient handoffs and preparing patients when you will be away. This will make your time away easier for your covering colleagues and for your patients.

May 25, 2022 | 2 min read

Between The Lines

By Avani Prabhakar, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Sometimes patient questions aren’t something to answer quickly. Instead, they can create a space to explore underlying concerns. 

April 24, 2018 | 2 min read

Equality v. Equity

Working towards giving equitable care, not equal care, should be our focus, especially if we’re aiming to shrink the health disparities gap.

December 4, 2023 | 2 min read

More than a “picture” 

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

When explaining medical procedures to patients, use straightforward terms. Also, be mindful to maintain accuracy and clearly outline any risks. 

March 23, 2022 | <1 min read

Keeping The Readers in Mind

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

When documenting in the medical record, we must use respectful language. Both our patients and colleagues will appreciate and benefit from our thoughtfulness. 

June 12, 2025 | 2 min read

The strengths of neurodiverse healthcare professionals 

Neurodivergent healthcare professionals bring unique attributes to a medical team that can enhance patient care. We can foster inclusive environments that actively support these diverse ways of thinking and working.

August 4, 2020 | 2 min read

3 Tips for Talking With Patients About Advance Directives

By Ambereen Mehta, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

ALL clinicians can and should encourage patients to document their wishes regarding medical decisions in case they’re unable to make these decisions for themselves.

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.

May 13, 2021 | 2 min read

Talking with patients who are vaccine-hesitant (archives, 2021)

By Jade Cobern, MD, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

We must listen without judgment to patients who are vaccine-hesitant. We need to hear their worries and concerns to address them appropriately.

June 12, 2024 | 3 min read

Getting serious about citrus 

By Maureen Flood, NP, Johns Hopkins Medicine

In patients with chronic conditions and socially determined health risks, remember to consider vitamin C deficiency. 

January 27, 2026 | 3 min read

Mindset matters 

Adopt a growth mindset—treat setbacks and mistakes as data for learning. Ask “What can we learn?” rather than “Who failed?” to help build psychological safety within your healthcare team.

November 20, 2019 | 2 min read

“The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down”

By Laura Pugh, Medical Student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The gap between cultural systems can be wide. Openness, curiosity, and humility will improve cross-cultural care.

May 25, 2023 | 2 min read

Fighting The Feed

By Colleen Schreyer, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Limiting social media use and being selective about what you view can help cultivate a positive body image. 

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.

November 29, 2018 | 2 min read

Management Reasoning: Diagnostic Reasoning’s Underappreciated Sibling

By David Cook, MD, MHPE

Management reasoning is primarily a task of shared decision-making and monitoring, and is inherently more complex than diagnostic reasoning. A better understanding of management reasoning will offer insights into the causes and avoidance of medical error, clinical practice quality improvement, and training and assessment of health professionals.

May 24, 2022 | 2 min read

The Reflexive Practitioner

By Corliss Wong, MS4, The University of Hong Kong

Our own biases and judgements inevitably affect our care of patients. Deep introspection can help us overcome our prejudices and improve clinical practice. 

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.

July 31, 2018 | 3 min read

Waste Not, Want Not!

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

Keeping meat properly refrigerated is critical. Don’t forget to specifically ask patients if they have eaten roadkill if they present with diarrhea (especially in summer) & no other obvious source of infection is apparent.

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. 

June 9, 2025 | 3 min read

When care hurts 

Patients’ past healthcare experiences influence their ability to engage in care. Taking time to learn about their life stories builds trust and empowers them to participate in their healing. 

August 12, 2020 | 2 min read

Chief Complaint: Racism

By Syeachia Dennis, MD, University of Oklahoma

Patients are increasingly recognizing the impact of racism on their health. We should be prepared to help patients confront this and consider this core to our work to systemically address this public health crisis.

September 26, 2022 | 3 min read

Concerning Hobbits: On Middle-earth and Medicine

By Tina Zhang, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Zach Lorenz, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

J.R.R. Tolkein’s beloved trilogy offers lessons for life and medicine, including journeying with our patients through dark times and effectively engaging in teamwork. 

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 30, 2024 | 1 min read

Transparency and trust 

By Justin Colleran, patient, Ireland, Miriam Colleran, MD, St. Brigids Hospice & Naas General Hospital, Ireland

The delayed diagnosis of my brother's appendicitis highlighted the importance of honesty and accountability when medical errors occur. By openly acknowledging mistakes, doctors can rebuild trust. 

February 25, 2018 | 1 min read

Diagnostic Excellence Starts With an Incessant Watch

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

Feedback is the key to improvement of any craft. No one is born an expert. It is earned through deliberate practice and an incessant thirst for progress.

November 19, 2019 | 2 min read

Aging isn’t a dirty word

To many, "aging" and "old" are considered dirty words. Clinicians should fight ageism.

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.

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.   

November 12, 2018 | 3 min read

Insights From “A Whole New Mind”

Daniel Pink's "A Whole New Mind" highlights the importance of cultivating empathy, humor, and the ability to create meaning.

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 21, 2023 | 2 min read

“You’ll need someone to drive you home”

By Megan Murphy, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Transportation may be a barrier to healthcare, especially for procedures requiring sedation. Sometimes we need to think creatively and partner with others in order to find solutions.  

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. 

May 27, 2025 | 2 min read

Whose knowledge counts?  

Listening closely builds patient trust, which is fundamental to effective care. Dismissing a patient's self-reported observations, even unintentionally, erodes this trust and can prevent you from truly understanding their concerns. 

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.

April 1, 2019 | 3 min read

Practicing Medicine and Having a Ball

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

Hope our 2019 April Fool's piece makes you chuckle!

September 21, 2022 | 1 min read

Helping Patients Navigate Risk in The New Normal

By David Hurwitz, MD, MBA, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Using empathic listening to give COVID-related advice will help your patients balance the risks of the pandemic with enjoying the activities in their lives that matter most. 

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.

January 22, 2026 | 2 min read

Coaching patients to thrive

When caring for patients, listen closely, ask thoughtful questions, and partner with them to achieve better health outcomes. 

November 12, 2019 | 2 min read

The Early Bird Special

By Rebecca Hamburger, Medical Student, Central Michgan University College of Medicine

Timing is everything. Doing our best to optimize access to healthcare is a first step to serving our patients.

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. 

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.

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.  

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.

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. 

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. 

May 13, 2025 | 2 min read

The unseen front line: lessons from my military deployment  

In a field hospital, one learns quickly about clear communication and thoughtful decision making. These behaviors and working collaboratively with others are just as critical across all clinical settings. 

July 2, 2020 | 4 min read

3 Tips for Dismantling Anti-Black Racism in Academic Medicine

By LaShyra Nolen, Medical Student, Harvard University

White educators and learners must commit to doing the work and educating themselves on how to be antiracist. Black colleagues should not be responsible for educating those around them.