December 18, 2023 | 1 min read The healing power of story By Shwetha Mudalegundi, medical student, Johns Hopkins Medicine I used a narrative medicine technique when caring for a patient who mistrusted the healthcare system. By writing his story and reading it back to him, he understood that the care team was truly listening.
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.
April 14, 2022 | 1 min read “Don’t Worry” By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine General reassurances are often ineffective when they don’t address patients’ true concerns.
March 13, 2025 | 1 min read Wearing many hats By Jessica Park, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine Sharing parts of your identity, for example being a parent, may help you to connect with patients on a deeper level. Shared humanity can create a deeper relationship, which is essential for trust and service.
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.
February 15, 2023 | 2 min read Speaking from my heart By Leslie Miller, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine When deeply worried about the mental health of patients, make sure they feel heard, validated, and empowered.
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.
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.
December 6, 2023 | 1 min read Reality bites By Carolina Saldanha, MD, Massachusetts General Brigham Salem Hospital I constructed what I thought was a great care plan for my patient with diabetes. I later learned that he wasn’t allowed lunch breaks and had nowhere to store his insulin. I now ask the patient about their daily routine to create a realistic plan.
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.
April 14, 2022 | 1 min read Supporting Young Adults Who Use E-Cigarettes By Panagis Galiatsatos, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine When talking with young patients about tobacco dependence, first create a judgment-free zone and ask open-ended questions to understand why they use the product.
March 3, 2025 | 2 min read The power of small gestures Actions speak louder than words. Small gestures like listening closely to patients, getting tissues, adjusting the lights, and helping them get comfortable in bed is part of giving holistic 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.
February 1, 2023 | 1 min read Patience With Patients By Will Frye, PhD, Johns Hopkins All Childrens, St. Petersburg, Florida Consider the challenges you experience when trying to make changes in your daily habits. Remember to praise your patient’s progress no matter how small.
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.
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.
November 27, 2023 | 2 min read When the truth (literally) hurts By Eric Last, DO, Northwell Health, Wantagh, New York When our patients are facing surgery or other procedures, thoughtful questions can help allay their worries.
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.
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.
January 12, 2023 | 1 min read Pain Talk By Will Frye, PhD, Johns Hopkins All Childrens, St. Petersburg, Florida Chronic pain is sometimes a challenging topic to discuss with patients. I’ve learned that the most important thing is to validate my patients’ experience of suffering.
September 23, 2019 | 3 min read How to Manage Chronic Pain and Opioids By Ryan Graddy, MD, AbsoluteCARE Medical Center, Atlanta, Georgia Safe opioid stewardship is a key objective when managing chronic pain. Combining evidence-based strategies and compassionate care can help you to realize these goals.
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.
July 17, 2020 | 1 min read Person-Centered LGBTQ Care in the Pandemic Era By Justin Fontenot, MSN, RN Patient-centered care requires considering your patients’ wants and needs in their management. ALL patients deserve person-centered care.
February 28, 2018 | 4 min read Asking Patients About Adverse Childhood Experiences By Brent Beasley, MD, University of Oklahoma Ask. It's scary. But ask anyway.
November 4, 2020 | 3 min read It’s All Relative By Elisabeth Marsh, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine It's essential that we approach each patient with a fresh outlook. Bringing emotions, positive or negative, from a previous clinical interaction can adversely affect the next patient.
November 20, 2023 | 2 min read Honoring indigenous culture amid serious illness By Katie Nelson, PhD(c), MSN, RN, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing We must seek to understand the beliefs, rituals, and ceremonies of all patients and communities. Failing to honor these may erode trust.
September 19, 2019 | 2 min read The Importance of Partnering With Patients By Michael Crocetti, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians What patients and families need is a clinician advocate who is available to listen, translate complex medical language, and support both the physical and mental health of the patient.
July 14, 2021 | 1 min read How to Respond to Off-putting Comments from Patients By Elizabeth Steuber, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine Sometimes comments from patients are rooted in their own unmet fears or needs. Instead of reacting to your own discomfort in the face of such comments, remaining curious and asking open-ended questions may help you understand what’s behind such unpleasant remarks.
June 11, 2020 | 2 min read The Power of Accompaniment By Aidan Crowley, Medical Student, University of Pennsylvania When there are no further treatment options available, healthcare professionals can still compassionately accompany their patients until the very end.
September 30, 2020 | 2 min read Perspective-taking Through Poetry By Howard Chang, Medical Student, Johns Hopkins Medicine Creative writing may enhance our ability to recognize and understand conflicting perspectives in order to better empathize with our patients.
June 25, 2018 | 2 min read Identity Part II: Knowing Your Own Past By Panagis Galiatsatos, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine I’m not a doctor who engages with the community; rather, I’m a community member who became a doctor. This identity has helped me strengthen and maintain my relationships with my patients.
hearts September 10, 2019 | 1 min read 3 Reasons why Shared Decision-making Matters By Minas Chrysopoulo, MD, PMRA Plastic Surgery When patients and clinicians arrive at a treatment plan together, patients feel more involved, confident, and satisfied with their care.
June 29, 2021 | 2 min read Making Jewelry With my Patients By Deirdre Johnston, MBBCh, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine Some clinicians are lucky enough to interact with patients outside of medical encounters. In such settings, recognition of additional facets of their personalities may become evident, which will strengthen the patient-clinician relationship.
November 6, 2023 | 2 min read Believing Patients By Chloe Lee, MD, MPH, University of Rochester When patients share their traumatic experiences, trust that they are almost always telling the truth. We must be empathic and compassionate to build therapeutic connections.
"Facilitate finding new ways of having fun and staying busy. Recovery is not punishment." April 3, 2018 | 1 min read 10 tips to support patients with a substance use disorder By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine I’ve devoted my entire career to supporting patients with substance use disorders (SUD). Here are the top 10 tips that I’ve learned over the past few decades.
February 24, 2025 | 2 min read Listening to find answers By Michael Albert, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine To more accurately arrive at the diagnosis, it is generally wise to believe patients’ recounting of their symptoms and experiences. This can result in uncovering medical conditions that are sometimes labeled as being more generalized—like anxiety—and lead to improved patient outcomes.
December 14, 2022 | 1 min read Choosing The Right Words By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine, Lori Jia, medical student, Penn Medicine Using connecting language to seek deeper understanding of patients’ concerns may add richness to clinical encounters and help them feel safe.
September 3, 2019 | 2 min read “Hand-holding” By Colleen Leavitt, MD, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians Personalized care softens the edges of a one-size-fits-all medical system that perpetuates inequities. For some, clinicians and the healthcare system need to be able to step-up and take actions that support their patients' health.
June 25, 2021 | 3 min read “Tell me About Yourself” By Aidan Crowley, Medical Student, University of Pennsylvania During my recent experiences interviewing for med school, I learned that the best interviewers, like the best clinicians, focused on my comfort and let our conversation flow naturally. Such prioritizations promote deeper human connections
October 18, 2023 | 2 min read Have you done this before? By Scott Lifchez, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine Listen for a patient’s anxiety when they ask questions about treatment. Addressing all concerns builds a trusting relationship and helps them better tolerate procedures that may initially be painful.
July 9, 2020 | 1 min read The Return of House Calls By Sajida Chaudry, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine Listening and looking closely when visiting with patients virtually in their homes can give us a more holistic picture of their lives and support systems.
August 14, 2018 | 3 min read Seeing Your Patients Through New Perspectives By Patrick Hemming, MD, Duke University We can enhance our patient care if we incorporate the perspectives of life story and behavior.
December 7, 2022 | 4 min read The Road to Aequanimitas By Wes Ely, MD, MPH, Vanderbilt University Medical Center My medical training in the 80s and 90s taught me to be reserved and distant from patients. After many years in practice, I now know that they deserve a personal relationship with their doctor.
August 19, 2019 | 6 min read Holding Hope By Jennifer Goetz, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital By highlighting the strength and courage of our patients, we can sustain hope for our patients and their families.
June 24, 2021 | 2 min read How to Emotionally Support Patients Through Challenging Moments By Rebekah Fenton, MD, Northwestern University When I was a med student, I tried to “fix” how my patient was feeling. I learned that many patients need time to sit with their feelings and that listening empathically can be the best approach.
October 12, 2023 | 1 min read A Lesson Emphasized in Brazilian Medical Training By Thiago Mendes, MD, University of Pittsburgh In my medical training in Brazil, I learned to live by Theodore Roosevelt’s quotation, “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care."
July 7, 2020 | 1 min read Curbside Care By Marianne Fingerhood, NP, Johns Hopkins Medicine Whether seeing patients in-person or virtually, one of the most important aspects of care is the human connection.
August 14, 2018 | 2 min read Have Guitar – Will Travel By David Shih Wu, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine Consider how you might use your creative gifts—and your imagination—to connect more deeply with your patients and bring them joy.
December 5, 2022 | 2 min read The “List” By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine Reviewing patients’ lists of concerns is an opportunity to build trust and partnership. It may also make visits more productive and satisfying for both patients and clinicians.
July 24, 2019 | 3 min read Time, Talent, and Treasure By Jennifer Foster, MD, MBA, Florida Atlantic University Excellent clinicians always strive to make human connections with their patients. This creates the foundation of trust and respect essential to healing.
