"Chrysantheme und Biene." Hokusai, K. (ca. 1832). Public domain, Wikimedia. September 22, 2021 | 8 min read The Role of Visual Thinking Strategies Coaching in Clinical Excellence By Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine Take an appreciative approach when giving feedback to learners. It will not only build clinical skills, but will also foster a healthy community of learning and practice.
November 6, 2019 | 3 min read Songs From Hospice By J Lind, Dale Fellow and touring songwriter, Nashville, Tennesse It's the details of the patient's story that transforms them into a person.
April 29, 2024 | 3 min read A patient’s reflection on connecting with clinicians—what matters most By Jennifer Ball, BSJ, MA, Chicago, IL Empathy and cultural competence are cornerstones of excellent patient care. Prioritizing these values can help each patient feel respected, empowered, and supported.
August 23, 2022 | 1 min read Supporting Patients When Their Previous Physician Has Left The Practice By Carol Bernstein, MD, Montefiore Medical Center, Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine Thoughtful communication with new patients whose longtime clinicians have recently left positions can reduce stress and help develop rapport.
August 26, 2025 | 2 min read A cultural safety-centric approach Ask patients, especially those who have been historically marginalized, if they feel safe, heard, and respected. Take time to learn about their background and healing practices to deepen trust and improve health outcomes.
May 9, 2023 | 3 min read Interpreting Patients’ Goals By Adela Wu, MD, Stanford Medicine While caring for a patient who spoke a different language than I, the medical interpreter translated more than words. She also explained cultural differences that proved invaluable.
December 14, 2020 | 2 min read Lessons From a Zoom Thanksgiving Applied to Patient Care By Ambereen Mehta, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine Zoom made it possible for me to connect with many friends and family for Thanksgiving. Patient video visits that include family members from far away may enhance goals of care discussions.
September 14, 2021 | 3 min read The Healing Power of Music By Brian Garibaldi, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine Connecting with a patient around a shared interest can be mutually fulfilling. For me, my guitar helps me to be present and give excellent care to patients.
October 30, 2019 | 13 min read Partnering With Parents—An Appraisal of Familial Feelings By Monique Webber The clinically excellent clinician understands that each family responds to and copes with chronic illness or disability differently. Being open-minded when partnering with families, and especially parents, is critical for ensuring a trusting relationship and providing support.
April 18, 2024 | 1 min read Anger: a sign of trauma By Lucia Ponor, MD, MBA, Johns Hopkins Medicine Healthcare professionals can move beyond simply treating the physical condition by creating a safe space for patients to share traumatic experiences.
August 17, 2022 | 2 min read Listening to The How Can Reveal The Why By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine, Meshulam Twerski, medical student, Penn Medicine The way patients express their reluctance to pursue screening can help uncover truths that guide meaningful conversations and build trust.
September 15, 2020 | 3 min read How to talk with patients about sexual health (archives, 2020) By Matthew Hamill, MBChB, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine Sexual health can be a sensitive topic to discuss. Asking open-ended questions and allowing time for your patient’s story to unfold can create a safe space for conversations about sexual health.
August 6, 2025 | 1 min read A better way to care A patient’s anger showed me I needed to recognize his suffering and not simply offer a diagnosis. True care means moving beyond technical skill to connect with the whole person.
"A return to 'normalcy' may be a return to challenging situations–school or workplace bullying, for example." May 8, 2023 | 1 min read “How are you?” By Rheanna Platt, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine When asking patients and others how they are doing post-pandemic, consider opening with, “I know the transition back to ‘normal’ hasn’t been easy for everyone.” Then leave time for responses other than “fine.”
April 26, 2018 | 1 min read Forming True Partnerships In Care: Listen To Your Patient By Michael Crocetti, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians Reflecting on caring for a 12-year-old with a complex neurological condition, I was humbled by the parents’ definition of clinically excellent patient care.
August 31, 2021 | 1 min read Finding Common Ground By Faisal Nawaz, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, UAE Connecting with patients through shared interests or hobbies can help to strengthen and deepen relationships. For many, this adds to the joy of medicine.
October 29, 2019 | 4 min read Curiosity, Connection, and Comfort By Margaret "Molly" Hayes, MD, Harvard Medical School Curiosity is an essential part of our humanity and a foundation of the doctor-patient relationship. By remaining curious, we remain faithful to the words of Hippocrates: “Cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always.”
April 10, 2024 | 1 min read Toxic positivity By Avani Prabhakar, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine A stage 4 cancer patient taught me how constant encouragement can be emotionally draining for someone facing their mortality. Presence, love, and understanding may be better received.
August 11, 2022 | 2 min read A Mother’s Death By Avani Prabhakar, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine Including a patient’s words in your empathic response is affirming and creates connection.
September 9, 2020 | 1 min read We’re All in This Together By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine With the added stress caused by the pandemic, make an extra effort to screen your patients for anxiety and depression. Empathizing about shared concerns may facilitate patient expression.
July 14, 2025 | 2 min read Patient-directed discharge When a patient decides to leave the hospital earlier than advocated for by the medical team, many factors may drive their decision. Understanding their perspective and partnering on care plans can help them feel safe to stay and complete treatment.
May 4, 2023 | 2 min read The Power of Stories By Flora Kisuule, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine A recent grand rounds by Dr. Kimberly Manning illuminated how stories give meaning to why we do what we do.
December 1, 2020 | 4 min read When Patients Trust Only You By Howard Chang, Medical Student, Johns Hopkins Medicine Through empathic listening, all members of the healthcare team can build rapport with patients in their most vulnerable moments.
The author with Imam Hassan A. Aman, Johns Hopkins Ministry Advisory Board, sharing ideas about diversity. May 23, 2018 | 2 min read Identity: Knowing How Our Patients Describe Themselves Matters The complexity of identity is what makes “getting to know your patient” important, and allows for deeper cultural engagement, exchange, understanding, and, ultimately, helps us to create a culturally competent health plan with our patients.
October 8, 2019 | 4 min read Can you hear me now? By Mariah Robertson, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine The onus may be on the clinically excellent doctor to overcome a the patient's disability that interferes with care. A pocket talker can make a big difference for patients with hearing impairment.
March 27, 2024 | 1 min read Deepening connections: takeaways from David Brooks’ “How to Know a Person” By Gretchen Miller, Managing Editor Healthcare professionals can enhance their connections with patients and coworkers by truly understanding others. Looking beyond the surface, cultivating empathy, and mastering the art of paying attention can help clinicians build deeper relationships.
August 4, 2022 | 2 min read Processing The ICU Experience By Avani Prabhakar, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine When my patient felt overwhelmed from an ICU stay, I realized what she needed most was to have her feelings validated after this near-death experience.
November 5, 2020 | 3 min read Cultivating Compassion By Aidan Crowley, Medical Student, University of Pennsylvania Compassion—acting on the desire to relieve suffering—is central to giving clinically excellent care to those in need.
July 2, 2025 | 2 min read Lead with listening When a patient’s fears and misinformation create barriers to care, start with listening and validating concerns rather than beginning with facts. Shifting the conversation to what matters to them builds trust and can open the door to effective treatment.
April 27, 2023 | 1 min read Love Lessons By Jennifer Plotkin, MD, Los Angeles VA I was afraid to connect on a deep level with my patients, concerned that my heart would overpower my head. Such relationships are what make practicing medicine meaningful.
November 25, 2020 | 2 min read Naming Chickens By Claire Crawford, MSW, PhD, Texas Childrens Incorporate laughter and joy where you can, giving yourself, your patients, and their families, moments of respite.
August 12, 2021 | 1 min read Beyond Language—Closing the Gaps By Vivian Altiery De Jesus, MD, MBE, Johns Hopkins Medicine Caring for a patient who didn’t speak English showed me that all patients can benefit from a compassionate facial expression, eye contact, and a soothing tone.
October 7, 2019 | 2 min read 5 Tips for Effective Shared Decision-Making By Mary Catherine Beach, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics The clinically excellent physician practices effective shared decision-making with patients routinely. Select recommendations outlined include using decision aids, and establishing a relationship that is egalitarian and respectful.
February 28, 2024 | 1 min read Socks and ties (archives, 2024) By Richard Schaefer, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine Something as simple as wearing a unique article of clothing, like colorful socks, can help build connections with patients.
July 25, 2022 | 2 min read Think Positive! By Joan Naidorf, DO Reframing negative thoughts about my inebriated patient would have helped me to care for him with more compassion.
August 20, 2020 | 2 min read 2 Minutes of Presence By Zara Latif, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center When talking with your patient, dedicate at least two minutes to pure listening. During that time, try to not think about the next question you want to ask and just hear your patient’s perspective.
July 1, 2025 | 3 min read Dancing back to himself Caring for patients with delirium requires coordinated medical management—like early mobilization, minimizing sedation, and consistent re-orientation. Integrating familiar activities, like listening to music, may aid their recovery.
April 12, 2023 | 1 min read Still Working After All These Years By Avani Prabhakar, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine When I empathized with my older patient about the hardships of colon cancer, she began sharing many of the good things in her life, like still being able to work.
April 26, 2019 | 2 min read Building Authentic Rapport By Leslie Ordal, MSc, CGC Building rapport is about meeting patients where they are and showing that you’re putting their concerns first. Strong rapport transforms a clinical interaction into a human interaction, which is the heart of patient-partnered care.
November 18, 2020 | 1 min read She’s Only 24 By Rakesh Patel, MD, University of Nottingham Listening to patients’ fears and concerns builds understanding about the potential impact of disease on their long term goals. This may be especially important for younger patients.
August 10, 2021 | 2 min read Cancer, Combat, And Patient-Centered Care By Richard Schaefer, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine While caring for a pregnant soldier diagnosed with cancer, I was reminded that learning patients’ stories is vital. Doing so facilitates patient-centered care and meaningful relationships.
October 1, 2019 | 4 min read Developing a Complete Culture of Interpretation By April Lugo, Program Coordinator, Johns Hopkins Medicine Office of Diversity and Inclusion The clinically excellent clinician prioritizes training for themselves and their staff on the proper role of an interpreter. They work to empower interpreters to translate not only the patient's words, but also the patient's tone, cadence, and meaning.
February 27, 2024 | 1 min read Anybody but the Chiefs By Benjamin Vipler, MD, MEd, University of Colorado Was Osler a sports fan? I don’t know, but I do know that connecting over a shared love of sports has helped me be “closler” to my patients. Maybe it can for you too!
July 13, 2022 | 2 min read “Sorry About That Football Game!” By Richard Schaefer, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine Talking about sports with patients and colleagues is one fun way to build interpersonal connections.
August 5, 2020 | 2 min read Discomfort as Your Internal Compass By Preetha Hebbar, MPH, medical student, Medical University of South Carolina There are situations that can make us feel uncomfortable when caring for patients. Acknowledging these feelings may result in deeper and more meaningful relationships with patients.
February 26, 2018 | 3 min read Creating a welcoming experience for LGBTQ patients and families By Carl G. Streed Jr., MD, MPH, Boston Medical Center Doing what has been done before will only lead to more of the same for patients who have been discriminated against in society and in healthcare. Be prepared to enter uncharted territory, seek to educate yourself about the unique healthcare needs of your patients.
April 5, 2023 | 2 min read Big “S” And Not Much “OAP” By Emily Rodriguez, medical student, Johns Hopkins Medicine I could offer no medicine, but I was able to give my patient the best treatment possible just by listening and validating.
January 22, 2020 | 2 min read How to Help Patients who Feel Angry By Leslie Miller, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine Asking your patient open-ended questions about how they're doing can lead to a much deeper conversation that not only illuminates the origin of their anger and suggests treatment strategies, but can also be therapeutic in itself.
Maintain eye contact with your patient if and when you're typing in the electronic medical record (EMR). December 15, 2020 | 1 min read Embracing the EMR By Alice Rothchild, MD, Seattle, WA The best gift we can give our patients is our undivided attention. Maintain eye contact with your patient if and when you’re typing in the electronic medical record during the encounter.
August 3, 2021 | 1 min read Patient-Family Conflict By Avani Prabhakar, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine When your patient and their family disagree about medical decisions or goals of care, remember that your primary responsibility is to the patient. Skillful facilitation of family meetings may be necessary, and allowing each person to voice their concerns may be helpful.
