November 13, 2024 | 2 min read

Cada persona es un Mundo 

All clinicians need to spend more time listening to patients. Not doing so limits our ability to understand patients’ perspectives and needs. 

August 6, 2020 | 3 min read

5 tips for supporting people with autism

By Roma Vasa, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

It’s critical to make time to understand how your patient communicates best, learn their strengths, empathize with their challenges, and give them as much autonomy and choice as possible.

April 25, 2023 | 1 min read

A Common Goal

By Diane Ghanem, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Playing soccer taught me skills that are applicable to medicine. I learned how to listen and work collaboratively with the entire care team. 

August 27, 2019 | 3 min read

Letting the Laughter In

By Michelle Gyenes, MS, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health

Excellent clinicians know that laughter can be a powerful tool in enhancing communication and building trust, particularly when working with older patients.

October 10, 2022 | 3 min read

“What Else?”

By Matthew McEvoy, MD, Houston, Texas

Asking these simple two words and showing genuine concern can bring out a richer story and promote healing. 

May 18, 2022 | 3 min read

A Matter of Interpretation

By Kathleen Page, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Practice, preparation, and intentionality are essential to mastering medical skills, including how to communicate effectively with an interpreter. 

July 21, 2025 | 5 min read

Listening past the barriers 

When caring for veterans in civilian healthcare settings, recognize that stoicism, brief answers, or emotional distance often reflect military culture—not disengagement. Building trust starts with patience and listening, opening the door to better understanding and care. 

February 14, 2023 | 3 min read

Caring For Patients by Listening

By Shari Lawson, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Treat every patient with respect and address all their concerns.

August 30, 2018 | 1 min read

The Importance and Psychology of Facial Expression

By Patrick Byrne, MBA, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Carefully noting your patient's facial expression consciously helps you "be" with your patient more effectively, to meet them where they are in their emotional state.

November 11, 2022 | 2 min read

Is that so?

By Sarah Radtke, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Patients and families may share experiences that we feel are inaccurate, improbable, or impossible. Discussing their statements nonjudgmentally helps to form trusting relationships.  

July 11, 2023 | 5 min read

Partial Listening is Partial Medicine

By David Kopacz, MD, University of Washington

Sometimes we hear only what we're listening for, and if we divide attention, we can miss critical information. We must strive to Iisten with the "third ear" to hear not only what's said, but also what's unsaid. 

July 5, 2023 | 3 min read

What brought you in today?

By Hailey Haffey, PhD, University of Utah

Asking my patients open-ended questions about how they physically traveled to the appointment can reveal important information.

February 4, 2021 | 2 min read

The Clinician as Patient

By Neha Pidatala, MD, New York, New York

When you’re a patient, use your medical knowledge to clearly communicate your goals of care. When treating a patient who works in healthcare, consider their unique perspective to facilitate meaningful discussions.

June 8, 2023 | 3 min read

The Swiss Army Knife

By Cory Rohlfsen, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Sometimes clinicians’ wellspring of empathy runs dry. Unfolding a few simple tools—like mirroring patients’ nonverbal communication—can improve therapeutic relationships and allow us to provide compassionate care even when we are not at our best.

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.

June 20, 2024 | 2 min read

Don’t touch me 

While caring for a patient who was agitated, I witnessed the power of communicating gently and compassionately. In helping a patient to feel safe and respected, healthcare professionals can gain a more complete understanding of patients’ needs. 

August 11, 2020 | 3 min read

Insights From Practicing Telemedicine

By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine

To make the most of video visits, stay attuned to your patients' nonverbal cues and avoid any background distractions in your environment.

January 20, 2021 | 3 min read

How to Repair Patient-Clinician Relationships

By Shara Nauth, MD, Western University, Ontario, Canada

To rebuild a patient-clinician relationship, apologize and acknowledge your patient’s feelings.

February 28, 2023 | 1 min read

Mitigating social isolation

By Mfon Umoh, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

All medical specialties need to screen for isolation. Asking patients who their social supports are and who they feel close to is a good starting point.  

February 27, 2018 | 2 min read

On Discrimination, Transparency, and Mutual Respect

By Anika Hines, PhD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Patients' past experience with discrimination may influence how they interact with you. Acknowledging this may improve communication and patient care.

June 10, 2020 | 2 min read

6 Lessons Learned From One Month as a Journalist

By Heather Kagan, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Clinicians—like journalists— must communicate in an open and straightforward manner.

April 13, 2022 | 2 min read

The Role of Disclosure in Medicine

By Rebekah Fenton, MD, Northwestern University

Carefully considered clinician self-disclosure can forge a more personal connection between patients and healthcare professionals.     

August 22, 2019 | 3 min read

Leveraging Your Patient’s Strength

By Keri Bischoff, MA, WellBeing Coach partnering with Johns Hopkins

Excellent clinicians discover their patients talents to best deliver both recommendations and personalized care.

August 6, 2019 | 2 min read

3 Lessons From Your Patient’s Impatience

By Iro Filippaki, PhD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

The excellent clinician acknowledges their patient's impatience and frustration. In doing so, relationships with patients and clinical outcomes may be improved.

May 4, 2020 | 2 min read

Connecting With Teens Via Telemedicine

By Michelle Munson, LMSW, PhD, Nadia Jenefsky, MPS, LCAT

Suspending judgement is critical to building a trusting relationship, especially with teens.

November 21, 2022 | 3 min read

The Angry Daughter

By Bill Bachman, MD, Albany Medical College

When working with patients or loved ones who are confrontational, recognize your own feelings, try to understand theirs, and know when to ask for help from colleagues. 

April 7, 2020 | 3 min read

The Personal Responses Tour in Medical Education

By Howard Chang, Medical Student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Arts-based medical education improves fundamental clinical skills, including ambiguity tolerance, reflective ability, bias awareness, and empathy. It can also enhance the well-being of healthcare professionals.

December 3, 2020 | 4 min read

The Other Side of the Glass

By Michelle Sharp, MD, MSH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Having a loved one in the ICU is one of the hardest things someone can experience. Timely and compassionate communication from clinicians to families is invaluable.

January 11, 2022 | 1 min read

How to Share Disappointing News

By Simone Lescott, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When sharing bad news with patients, acknowledge their response and validate their emotions. Allow for time to address concerns and answer questions.    

February 18, 2020 | 3 min read

4 negotiating tips from “Never Split the Difference”

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We regularly negotiate with patients en route to shared decision making. Tips from Voss' book "Never Split the Difference" can improve your communications with patients.

September 28, 2020 | 2 min read

Practicing the Art of Listening

By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine

Listening is essential for humanistic patient care. Listening without interrupting may strengthen the patient-clinician relationship.

September 17, 2020 | 3 min read

Talking about autopsy results with the patient’s family

By J. Stephen Nix, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Managing loved ones’ expectations before the autopsy is critical. Ensuring there's ample time to privately review and explain the results can help bring meaning and closure to their loss.

October 1, 2020 | 3 min read

3 Tips to Improve Your Body Language

By Adam Koenig, Medical Student, University of Toledo

To build a strong patient-clinician relationship, position your body with an open posture and make good eye contact.

June 22, 2018 | 2 min read

Ars Medica: The Art of Medicine

By Javier de la Maza, MD, Johns Hopkins University

Storytelling is a powerful tool that can be used to shape our reality and reconnect with our patients. Building meaningful relationships with our patients reminds us the importance of the human experience in providing clinically excellent care.

January 7, 2025 | 3 min read

“Hope is the thing with feathers” 

By Karen Abernathy, CRNP, MSN, Johns Hopkins Medicine

By acknowledging patient emotions and actively listening without judgement, clinicians can improve communication barriers. This can build trust and may be especially important for those who are resistant to our care recommendations. 

July 3, 2024 | 1 min read

More than fireworks

By Steve Kravet, MD, MBA, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

The patient-doctor relationship is strengthened through conversation. In discussing holidays with patients, clinicians can sometimes gain valuable insights into patients’ physical, social, and emotional health. 

July 1, 2024 | 3 min read

The power of honesty

By Keshav Khanijow, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Prioritizing clear communication with patients and using plain language to explain clinical information helps to build trust.

December 19, 2024 | 1 min read

In the aftermath  

By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine

The murder of a health insurance company CEO has drawn attention to a swell of frustration with America’s healthcare system. Clinicians can extend empathy to patients who suffer simply trying to receive care. 

September 3, 2025 | 2 min read

“Ronaldo! Ronaldo!”

Healthcare professionals can build genuine relationships with patients by recognizing and responding to the cultural touchstones patients use to express themselves.

January 21, 2021 | 1 min read

Lost in Translation

By Sonal Gandhi, MBBS, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When you and your patient don’t speak the same language, clear communication is critical. When an interpreter is unavailable, reach out to staff and others for help.

March 27, 2023 | 10 min read

Ever forward: caring for patients who are transgender and gender-expansive

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

Treat all patients with dignity and respect and ask how they’d like to be addressed. 

January 26, 2021 | 2 min read

How to Talk With Patients About Misinformation

By Stephanie McGann Jantzen, Strategic & Crisis Communications Professional

Educating yourself about misinformation circulating on social media will help you talk with your patients about false claims. This may prevent dangerous behaviors and promote health.

June 6, 2024 | 2 min read

Attention please 

By Carol Vidal, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

To connect more meaningfully, clinicians need to be more interesting than a young person’s phone. Finding creative ways to engage these patients will improve the relationship. 

July 16, 2020 | 3 min read

Being Human

By Kamala Tamarisa, MD, Southlake, Texas

When you notice that something is amiss with a patient or your reaction to them feels off, this is a clue to dig deeper. With time and enhanced trust in the doctor-patient relationship, things usually become clear.