September 22, 2025 | 1 min read Touchdowns, “trash talk,” and treatment Conversing about sports with patients and colleagues, even if you cheer for rival teams, can be a light and fun way to build connections.
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.
May 23, 2023 | 3 min read “Both And” By Jennifer Lycette, MD, rural oncologist in the Pacific Northwest As the only oncologist in a small rural town, I must often care for patients who are also my friends.
February 7, 2019 | 3 min read 8 Tips From a Psychiatric Emergency Nurse By Andrea Strawther, RN, Johns Hopkins Medicine We are all patients. The golden rule of treating others as you would like to be treated can help patients and healthcare providers build more trusting relationships.
November 3, 2021 | 2 min read Diagnosing And Treating Pain By Rebekah Fenton, MD, Northwestern University Always listen to your patients and make sure that they understand that you believe their experience of pain.
July 17, 2024 | 1 min read Building bridges Some patients have strong preferences that may not align with best practices of care. Empathy, active listening, and kindness can build trust and guide patients toward making informed medical decisions.
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.
September 28, 2022 | 1 min read The Fist Bump By Avani Prabhakar, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine My patient and her family showed me how to celebrate and enjoy each moment, even in the face of a terminal diagnosis.
September 16, 2025 | 2 min read Lessons from quiet care True bedside presence isn’t about answers or interventions; it’s about recognizing when silence, observation, and steadfast company are the most meaningful forms of patient care.
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.
May 17, 2023 | 2 min read Art Cart By Laura Castillo, pre-med, Johns Hopkins University Arts and crafts in the hospital can provide simple joy to everyone. Sometimes a colored sheet of paper and a few well-placed folds go a long way.
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.
November 1, 2021 | 1 min read “Routine Visits” By Eliana Perrin, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine Taking the time to explicitly welcome new patients to your clinic may help them feel comfortable. This can dramatically influence their experience.
June 17, 2024 | 2 min read Beyond superficiality By Eric Last, DO, Northwell Health, Wantagh, New York A few minutes genuinely listening to a patient's story can make a world of difference. It can foster authentic connections and translate into enhanced trust.
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.
September 19, 2022 | 1 min read What I’ve Learned as an ESL Physician By Ming-Hsien Wang, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine Growing up with non-English speaking parents, I know first-hand the challenges that these patients face. Being able to communicate is imperative for connecting and creating effective treatment plans.
August 28, 2025 | 3 min read Listening for faith Inquiring about patients’ spiritual lives can help us deliver more compassionate, holistic care. Noting the diversity of religiosity can help us to respect the outlook and perspectives of all patients.
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.
May 11, 2023 | 1 min read Life is a Rollercoaster By Lucia Ponor, MD, MBA, Johns Hopkins Medicine When my patient told me about how chemotherapy was affecting his family, I realized that sometimes we need to set aside medical facts and just listen.
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.
September 30, 2021 | 1 min read The Cancer is Back By Anonymous Physician, Johns Hopkins Medicine I recently lost a young patient to cancer. I was reminded that even when we cannot cure our patient’s illness, we can always show empathy and compassion.
June 5, 2024 | 2 min read Near death By Aurora Grutman, medical student, Johns Hopkins Medicine Overcoming anxiety about the end of life allows one to explore concerns with empathy and openness. A willingness to learn about patients’ spiritual beliefs can help clinicians provide compassionate and holistic care.
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.
August 25, 2022 | 3 min read Hugs Are Medicine By Aidan Crowley, Medical Student, University of Pennsylvania Showing genuine warmth is a compassionate way to comfort our patients.
August 27, 2025 | 2 min read “Did you have the baby?” Self-disclosure by the clinician had long been discouraged in medical training. Often, it can significantly enhance the patient-doctor relationship.
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.
May 10, 2023 | 1 min read Coming Back Later By Tetsuyuki Kawai, medical student, Texas Tech I learned from my patient with terminal lung cancer that it’s often helpful to give time to process bad news before making a medical plan together.
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.
Autumn leaves October 5, 2021 | 1 min read The Sound of Silence By Michelle Warncke, MBBS, MSc, North Carolina Creating silent moments when talking with patients gives them time to process and the opportunity to share concerns that may not otherwise be spoken.
May 22, 2024 | 1 min read Why the well visit? By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine There is often a reason for an office visit beyond just “well-check.” It can be challenging and rewarding to skillfully create space for concerns to come out.
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.
August 24, 2022 | 2 min read Conversations with those who are vaccine-hesitant (archives, 2022) By Joan Park, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine Talking about vaccines with patients can sometimes feel challenging. Extending empathy, sharing your own story, and being honest about potential side effects can be helpful.
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.
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.
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 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.
"Planting The Seed of The Heart," by David Kopacz. September 21, 2021 | 7 min read How are you . . . really? By David Kopacz, MD, University of Washington A helpful practice to connect and understand your patient is to ask, "How are you doing . . . really?” If they’re hesitant to respond, consider sharing something you’ve found stressful lately to open the conversation.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
"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.”
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.
"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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
