September 25, 2026 | 2 min read

Catching malnutrition before it starts

Two short screening questions can uncover hidden food insecurity in patients. For those who screen positive, it is important to be ready with concrete resources available in your community.

April 4, 2019 | 2 min read

Top tips for talking with patients about food

You are what you eat! Making the time to talk to your patients about food and nutrition can help them achieve lasting health.

July 5, 2019 | 3 min read

Fun is fine, but it isn’t food (archives, 2019)

By Roxanne Sukol, MD, Cleveland Clinic

We ALL need to address the obesity epidemic by teaching our patients the difference between real food and manufactured calories.

April 6, 2026 | 2 min read

Nourish to flourish 

When patients have living situations that affect nutrition—like unstable housing or limited access to fresh produce—screen for food insecurity. Learn about available resources in your clinic and community, and refer patients as needed. 

May 20, 2026 | 3 min read

Hungry? 

Patients may be employed and insured yet still struggle to afford food. Universally screen patients for food insecurity and then connect them with resources as indicated. 

November 6, 2018 | 1 min read

Lessons From Paliambella, Greece

Working to cultivate community cohesiveness in the neighborhoods where we work and where our patients live could help community health achieve its fullest potential. Here are a few simple ways to get started.

June 24, 2025 | 4 min read

Unsheltered lives, unmet needs 

When caring for patients who are unhoused, addressing food and housing insecurity is just as important as providing medical treatment. Prioritize building trust and ensuring psychological safety through trauma-informed interactions and a nonjudgmental approach. 

March 6, 2026 | 4 min read

When GLP-1s meet eating disorders 

Use caution when prescribing GLP-1s to patients with eating disorders, or factors like rapid weight loss or restrictive eating. Screen for disordered eating and involve eating‑disorder specialists if risk is present. 

July 16, 2025 | 2 min read

Bowls of care 

Respecting patients’ cultural traditions—like families bringing food to loved ones in the hospital—can provide emotional comfort and strengthen the therapeutic alliance.  

December 10, 2019 | 2 min read

No Patience for Patient Violence

By Che Harris, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

The clinically excellent clinician prepares before intervening to de-escalate patients who may be behaving aggressively.

February 3, 2026 | 1 min read

Lessons in healing from abroad 

Working in Cameroon reminded me that poverty and stress can cause a range of symptoms. Listen deeply to the patient and screen for mental health conditions. 

August 7, 2023 | 3 min read

Insights from the book “Unreasonable Hospitality”  

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Healthcare delivery is complex, and hospitality may not be prioritized. As individuals and teams, small changes in behavior may improve patient experience. 

December 26, 2018 | 1 min read

How to Ensure Patient Access During the Holidays

By Michael Crocetti, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

The holidays can be a stressful time for both patients and clinicians. Here are a few ideas to ensure stress-free access to care for patients, and tips for everyone to stay healthy and rested.

December 13, 2018 | 2 min read

Interprofessional Collaboration Improves Care

By Vineet Arora, MD, University of Chicago Medicine

Improving teamwork in hospitals is key to giving clinically excellent care to our patients.

June 2, 2025 | 2 min read

Weight bias

Obesity is a common, complex, chronic metabolic disease with myriad etiologies. Taking steps to combat stigma can improve the care experience and health outcomes for patients.

June 23, 2021 | 6 min read

Aducanumab: The Clinical Wisdom of Being Conservative, Careful, And Transparent

By Constantine Lyketsos, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Clinicians frequently face thorny ethical dilemmas when caring for patients. Take time to reflect on all components of these issues before discussions with patients.

May 24, 2021 | 2 min read

In Sickness and in Wealth

By Eric Last, DO, Northwell Health, Wantagh, New York

When traveling to Denmark, I learned how much the Danes appreciate and value equitable access to care within their healthcare system. Countries can learn from one another, and clinicians can be impactful advocates for change.

May 26, 2026 | 3 min read

Plating the new 2025-2030 dietary guidelines 

While nutrition messaging changes over time, the core principles remain the same—prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods and help patients make small, sustainable changes that support long-term health. 

January 18, 2022 | 4 min read

How to Make New Habits Stick, Part 3

By Howard Chang, Medical Student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We can break bad habits in our own lives and help patients do the same by making them unattractive, difficult, unsatisfying, and removing triggers.

July 15, 2024 | 3 min read

A pinch of salt

Clinicians should acknowledge that restricted diets may feel like a loss of autonomy and freedom. Engage patients in discussions about challenges and find ways to balance food preferences with medical needs.

August 9, 2021 | 4 min read

Hiding in Plain Sight: Just Ask, or You’ll Miss Most Eating Disorders

By Angela Guarda, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Although five percent of the population has a clinically significant eating disorder, most aren't detected because clinicians don’t ask. Simply asking,“What is the MOST you would be comfortable weighing?” can help identify a restrictive eating disorder.

December 22, 2025 | 2 min read

BREATHE better at home 

To improve indoor air quality, counsel patients to combine source control with filtration. This includes eliminating smoking/vaping and avoiding fragrances like scented candles/incense. Recommend air cleaners with HEPA and carbon filters. 

November 22, 2021 | 4 min read

Noticing What We’ve Seen Without Seeing

By Ekene Ojukwu, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Carefully observing our patients can lead to clinically relevant insights. Sometimes what seems inconsequential at first glance may be surprisingly significant.

February 27, 2025 | 2 min read

Behind the mirror: teen eating disorders 

By Jasmine Reese, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

You don't have to be an eating disorder specialist to make a difference; every healthcare professional can play a vital role in early intervention. Knowing local resources and showing compassion can guide patients toward recovery. 

January 21, 2025 | 2 min read

Mood fuel 

By Ashli Greenwald, MS, RDN, LDN, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Healthful dietary choices can be a valuable component of managing symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. By prioritizing foods that support brain health and overall well-being, individuals can better navigate the darker months with more light in their lives. 

August 12, 2020 | 2 min read

Chief Complaint: Racism

By Syeachia Dennis, MD, University of Oklahoma

Patients are increasingly recognizing the impact of racism on their health. We should be prepared to help patients confront this and consider this core to our work to systemically address this public health crisis.

October 21, 2019 | 4 min read

Stepping Up to Climate Change

By Evans Brown, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The climate crisis is directly relevant to our work in healthcare. Healthcare professionals must step up and get involved.

July 11, 2019 | 7 min read

June Art Museum Challenge

By Flora Smyth Zahra, MA Clin Ed, DRestDent RCS, FHEA, Kings College London, Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Art captures both the ordinary and extraordinary moments of human lives throughout history, and offers insights into how to heal ourselves and one another.

February 13, 2019 | 2 min read

Disparities in New Treatments

By Utibe Essien, MD, MPH, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

When beginning new treatments, it's important to ask patients what they understand about the medication, what their expectations are, what barriers might exist to remaining on this agent, and what they value most out of their treatment plan.

August 10, 2026 | 2 min read

School absence as a vital sign

Frequent absence from school may reflect unmet health needs. Routinely asking about school attendance can allow clinicians to optimize care for younger patients. 

April 15, 2025 | 3 min read

The revolving door 

A patient’s familiarity with my hospital, even down to memorizing the cafeteria menu, highlighted the urgent need to address the factors driving readmissions. Read on to find out how you can do this in your own practice. 

March 10, 2025 | 2 min read

The B12 fix

By Selvi Rajagopal, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Clinicians should remember to watch for fatigue in patients shifting to plant-based diets; a B12 test can reveal a significant, reversible cause of feeling poorly. 

August 5, 2024 | 3 min read

Sunscreen under siege (archives, 2024)

There are many myths circulating on social media about the dangers of sunscreen. Clinicians should ask patients if they have heard any of these and remind them that SPF products are essential to protect from UV damage.  

July 30, 2018 | 1 min read

What’s a book club doing at a medical conference?

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Join a book club or start a book club - in either your professional or personal context. You'll be glad you did!

May 31, 2018 | 6 min read

Tips for Taking Care of Patients, From a Physician Who’s Been One

By Scott Vasher, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

The lessons I learned from being hospitalized have stuck with me and guided me in all of my practice.

December 2, 2021 | 3 min read

TikTok: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

By Colleen Schreyer, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

For patients who are on social media, encourage them to engage with pro-mental health content on TikTok by watching, liking, and sharing.

September 21, 2020 | 4 min read

Full-Body Under White Coat

By Kayla Eboreime, Medical Student, University of Texas Medical Branch

To increase the comfort level of all patients, it’s imperative to weigh people privately. Displaying inclusive images on our walls and avoiding stigmatizing language is essential to make all patients feel welcome.

September 8, 2020 | 1 min read

10 Ways to Cultivate Well-being During The Pandemic

It's important to make an effort to improve your sense of well-being to help prevent burnout, especially during the strain of the pandemic.

April 17, 2018 | 5 min read

Knowing Your Patient

By Khalil Ghanem, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Diagnostic excellence begins and ends with knowing your patient.

April 6, 2020 | 1 min read

Addiction Recovery During the Pandemic

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We are all stressed by the great uncertainty related to COVID-19, but for our patients with addiction, it is much greater. Check in with your patients and support them in finding healthy ways to cope.

March 20, 2018 | 2 min read

7 Things Clinicians Can Learn From Therapy Dogs

By Stephanie Cooper Greenberg, Johns Hopkins Pet Therapy Program

Dogs see the person in front of them only as people and not as patients.

October 15, 2019 | 5 min read

Simplicity, egalitarianism, and hygge

By Aidan Crowley, Medical Student, University of Pennsylvania

Danish clinicians appear to be clinically excellent. The key may be finding your hygge.

August 20, 2019 | 5 min read

How to Make Family Dinner Happen at Least Once a Week

By David Cohen, MD, Rutgers Health, Mital Patel-Cohen, MD, Summit Medical Group

Excellent clinicians have to make time for wellness and family bonding. Prioritizing a family dinner at least once a week is one way to do this.

March 11, 2019 | 2 min read

Know Your Resources to Combat Burnout

By Anne Walsh, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Burnout can feel overwhelming, but the first steps in approaching this growing problem are recognizing the symptoms and being aware of available resources to manage them.

February 11, 2019 | 5 min read

The Dots We Connect – An Interview with Dan Pink

Dan Pink distills pearls of wisdom for health professionals from his bestselling books "A Whole New Mind" and "When."

August 13, 2026 | 3 min read

Emotional hijacking

A stressful ED encounter left me feeling resentful and I fell behind on a critical discharge note. The experience was a reminder to name emotions in the moment—through self-talk, mindfulness, or stepping away—before they drive maladaptive behavior.

August 6, 2026 | 3 min read

What’s the beef with Alpha-gal?

This delayed allergy to red meat is making headlines and affecting people across the country. Alpha-gal can alter eating habits and cause life-threatening reactions that are sometimes difficult to pin down. 

July 31, 2026 | 2 min read

Connecting the dots

Smoking, uncontrolled blood pressure, or rising A1c may be signs of psychological distress—particularly in young women. Screening for anxiety and depression can help identify treatable mental and physical conditions.

January 23, 2026 | 3 min read

Unconscious bias in weight management 

Excellent weight management care includes asking what patients have already tried and what barriers they face. Then offer evidence‑based options, including behavioral supports.