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.
March 21, 2019 | 3 min read Sitting with suffering By Margaret "Molly" Hayes, MD, Harvard Medical School Sometimes just our presence is all we can do to comfort a grieving family. It never feels like enough and it never will be, but it is something. Silence is powerful and doesn’t need to be filled with empty words. Sit with suffering and silence.
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.
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!
February 5, 2020 | 2 min read A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words By Rafael Llinas, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine The clinically excellent physician knows that sometimes talking isn't enough. When possible, sharing information with patients visually can enhance their understanding.
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.
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.
May 3, 2021 | 6 min read Why we Must Learn About Our Patients’ Communities By Daniel Thomas, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine Make time to learn about and invest in the community you serve to deepen your connection with patients.
April 3, 2023 | 5 min read “Get Well Soon” By Aidan Crowley, Medical Student, University of Pennsylvania In the extra minutes I spent getting to know my patient, she shared a secret that allowed me to help her follow care recommendations.
January 9, 2019 | 1 min read The Disease of Loneliness By Shannon Scott-Vernaglia, MD, Mass General In an environment pushing us ever faster, making the time to listen will often lead to better patient outcomes and greater clinician fulfillment.
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.
February 6, 2020 | 2 min read Navigating Masculinity in Medicine By Kultaj Kaleka, MD, RN, Central Michigan University The clinically excellent physician understands that male patients may need support sharing their perspectives.
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.
June 11, 2025 | 1 min read What questions do you have? New medical information can be hard for patients to process, especially if it is bad news. Taking time to assess the impact of newly delivered information is an important step in clinical conversations.
April 26, 2021 | 2 min read Embrace Your Vulnerability By Jennifer Huang, MD, Oregon Health & Science University Sometimes sharing personal details about yourself helps forge a deeper connection with your patient.
Can I have some? March 28, 2023 | 2 min read A Prevention Partnership By Eliana Perrin, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine Obesity is a complex disease that can be hard to treat. Promoting healthy lifestyles while preserving and honoring cultural and family traditions can start with newborns.
December 19, 2018 | <1 min read Dr. Michael Carducci, A CLOSLER Look By Gretchen Miller, Managing Editor Patients with cancer are vulnerable. There are a lot of emotions associated with this diagnosis, and I want to make patients feel that they are not the disease.
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.
January 24, 2024 | 2 min read Grief in the season of joy By Eric Last, DO, Northwell Health, Wantagh, New York After the holidays, I think back on patients who passed in December, an especially hard time to lose a loved one. At this time of year, I make an extra effort to help loved ones process their feelings.
January 29, 2020 | 2 min read How to Give Patients Presence By Aidan Crowley, Medical Student, University of Pennsylvania Leaving your own worries at the door, sitting at eye level, and listening attentively are three important ways to connect meaningfully with your patients.
June 13, 2022 | 1 min read The Crooner And The Waltz By Frank Cacace, MD, North Shore University Hospital Music can convey feelings that are otherwise inexpressible. It can benefit the health, wellness, and healing of both patients and clinicians.
June 4, 2025 | 3 min read Letting the tea leaves breathe Kind gestures, like bringing a patient a cup of tea, may help bridge the gap between suffering and solace. Such thoughtfulness can offer comfort as powerful as any medication.
March 29, 2021 | 2 min read Validating Your Patient’s Experience of Chronic Pain By Jocelyn Fitzgerald, MD, University of Pittsburgh We must empathize with our patients who are suffering from chronic pain. Working with them to achieve a better quality of life may be a reasonable shared goal.
March 23, 2023 | 2 min read 5 questions I ask every patient (archives 2023) By Lillie Shockney, RN, MS, Johns Hopkins Medicine I talk with patients who have metastatic breast cancer about their hopes and worries at every visit. This allows me to give better, whole-person care.
December 20, 2018 | 9 min read You’re not getting my f-ing box cutter: paradoxical ways kids ask for limits By Hal Kronsberg, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine The most important lesson I’ve learned as a child psychiatrist is how badly kids want limits when they’re struggling, even when they keep that wish to themselves. Kids are smart, and when we catch them breaking a rule, we need to be curious about why it happened.
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.
January 18, 2024 | 1 min read “Please pray for me” By Youngjee Choi, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine When my longtime patient with chronic illness asked me to pray for her, I told her I would. Whether prayer is something one can offer, responding to emotional and spiritual requests can be an important part of care.
January 13, 2020 | 4 min read You are my Sunshine By Lingsheng Li, MD, MHS, University of California, San Franscisco The clinically excellent clinician understands that what we say and do may matter more than what we know.
June 8, 2022 | 1 min read I Wonder… By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine “I wonder . . .” is a phrase that triggers curiosity and empathy. It can help us support patients instead of labeling them as “difficult.”
May 1, 2025 | 2 min read Avoiding medical gaslighting Actively listen to and validate patients' experiences, recognizing their unique knowledge of themselves. Providing thoughtful support can earn patients' trust and help them feel better about their circumstances.
Humility—a graceful bridge over the abyss of self-doubt. April 7, 2021 | 3 min read Humility By Steve Bierman, MD, Del Mar, California In medicine, all too often the optimal approach for diagnosis or therapy is not entirely clear. Acknowledging uncertainty with your patient is a sign of a humility that can strengthen the connection.
March 20, 2023 | 4 min read Lazy gardening By Ken Koon Wong, MD, Cleveland Clinic, Naomi Tyree, MD, Summa Health, Ohio Talking about shared interests, such as gardening, is a wonderful way to deepen relationships with patients.
Infectious disease physician Amash Adalja, MD, often uses car analogies to concretize abstract concepts for his patients. December 17, 2018 | 1 min read How to Make Abstract Concepts Concrete By Amesh Adalja, MD, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health To explain complex subjects to patients, you take an abstract concept and concretize it. This is important for patient counseling, and as a method to check your own knowledge.
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.
January 16, 2024 | 2 min read “Too maternal” By Kimberlee Parker, DO, MPH, Baylor College of Medicine Being a mother has helped me to be a better doctor. Both roles require empathy, which I express toward my children and patients.
January 14, 2020 | 3 min read A Relationship Between Equals By Madeline Rodriguez, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine The clinically excellent practice is centered on core humanistic values rather than on efficiency or productivity.
June 2, 2022 | 2 min read ‘68 Chevy Camaro By Jennifer Eitingon, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine If we limit the way we view our patients, we will miss out on what makes them who they are. By taking time to learn more about them as people, we can connect and offer better care.
April 29, 2025 | 2 min read Soul gym Our culture frequently celebrates physical strength. In healthcare, the power of emotional fortitude is regularly called upon when encountering patients’ frustration or anger.
March 15, 2021 | 1 min read How to talk with patients who are vaccine-hesitant (archives, 2021) When speaking with patients reluctant to get vaccinated, listen to their concerns, and convey respect and empathy.
March 15, 2023 | 1 min read Einstein’s Relativity And Patient Care By Steve Kravet, MD, MBA, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians Conversations about the passing of time can stimulate meaningful reflections during patient visits.
"An Orchid," Georgia O'Keefe, 1941, Museum of Modern Art. November 13, 2018 | 2 min read Seeing the Unseen By Lauren Small, PhD To start seeing the unseen, carving out five minutes to sit down and just listen to your patient can make a difference.
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
January 3, 2024 | 4 min read Make a good stack By Kyle Glienke, MD, Buena Vista Regional Medical Center, Iowa Like baling hay, connecting with patients on a personal level requires intentionality and consistency.
December 12, 2019 | 2 min read When to Consider Making a House Call By Mattan Schuchman, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine House calls can offer insights and create opportunities that are not possible in the office. Go for it when you can!
May 12, 2022 | 2 min read The “Uninterested” Mom Who Wept By Precious Ndukwe, MD, Howard University When caring for an overweight infant as a medical student, I wrongly assumed the mother was overfeeding the baby. This experience will remind me in the future to leave my suppositions at the door.
April 16, 2025 | 1 min read Shared decision making 2.0 We need a new shared decision-making paradigm where all possibilities for care are out on the table, including unconventional ones. A clinician’s humility and openness are especially important now that patients are more emboldened to question the opinions of experts.
April 5, 2021 | 2 min read Slowing Down at The Bedside By Sanjana Mathur, MBBS, University of Central Florida Physically examining your patient takes time and cannot be rushed. Having a methodical approach will help you make accurate assessments when examining patients.
March 14, 2023 | 2 min read Laughter is The Best Medicine By Marion McCrary, MD, Duke Health A smile, a touch, eye contact, and a jovial laugh can be a lifeline for patients in a stressful situation.
September 30, 2019 | 1 min read Practicing Non-Judgement By Sophie Lanzkron, MD, MDH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine A key to persuading patients to make healthy choices is a strong therapeutic relationship.
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.
