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November 7, 2022 | 2 min read

Suggestions For Coping With Grief

By Justin Jeffers, MD, MEHP, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When you or others are grieving, give permission to be vulnerable and accept help. It may sometimes be helpful to work with a therapist.

January 29, 2024 | 2 min read

Life after grief

By Jaime Jump, DO, Texas Childrens Hospital

I was invited to a baby shower for the sibling of a baby who had died in my care. Talking with the parents taught me that beyond sadness, there can be hope and joy.

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.

December 20, 2023 | 3 min read

Unhappy holidays

By Larkin Corrigan, MSW, Portland, Oregon

During “the most wonderful time of the year,” we can remind patients, loved ones, and ourselves, that grief often sits side by side with joy at the holiday table, and that’s ok.

April 9, 2026 | 3 min read

When grief begins before death

When families seem confused or ask repetitive questions during end-of-life discussions, they may be experiencing anticipatory grief—processing loss before it happens. It can be helpful to acknowledge the emotional weight they are carrying.

July 2, 2019 | 5 min read

Shock, Grief, and Arrival

By Paulo Selber, MD, Columbia University

In the process of decisions regarding children’s welfare, listening to the parent’s feelings will always be the right thing to do.

April 27, 2022 | 2 min read

Listening to Your Patient’s Grief

By Avani Prabhakar, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

By listening to a patient’s story of loss, we bear witness and affirm their experience.

December 7, 2021 | 3 min read

A Window Into a Patient’s World

By Deirdre Johnston, MBBCh, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Visiting a patient’s home environment, either virtually or in person, may shed light on the source of their distress.

April 11, 2018 | 3 min read

Five Tips to Support Your Grieving Patient

By Jane Schindler, LCSW-C ACHP-SW, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

A licensed clinical social worker offers her top tips for supporting grieving patients.

December 22, 2021 | 4 min read

Maintaining well-being during the holidays

The holidays can intensify feelings of sadness. Ask patients about mood, sleep, and social support. Offer concrete guidance like maintaining regular sleep and exercise routines and limiting substance use.

December 22, 2022 | 2 min read

Bittersweet holidays

By Taryn Schuelke, MS, CT, CCLS, Texas Childrens Hospital

Many experience grief during the holidays. Make sure to acknowledge your patients’ feelings and consider encouraging them to heal through ritual.

January 21, 2026 | 3 min read

Holding the healers

Patient deaths leave a mark—acknowledge grief and lean on colleagues and loved ones. Seeking support sustains you and strengthens the care you provide.

August 4, 2020 | 2 min read

3 Tips for Talking With Patients About Advance Directives

By Ambereen Mehta, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

ALL clinicians can and should encourage patients to document their wishes regarding medical decisions in case they’re unable to make these decisions for themselves.

Serena Williams playing mixed doubles at Wimbledon, 2019. Public domain, Wikipedia. Photo by Brian Minkoff, London Pixels.

June 24, 2020 | 1 min read

3 Things You Can do to Fight Racism

By Christle Nwora, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We must each take personal responsibility for educating ourselves about racism. Increasing our understanding will allow us to improve health outcomes for all of our patients.

May 21, 2019 | 3 min read

Telling People Terrible Things

By Amy Caruso Brown, MD, SUNY Upstate Medical University

Learning to break bad news gently takes time and practice, with the goal of telling the most terrible things to our patients a little bit less terrible.

December 19, 2025 | 1 min read

Clinical reflections from the novel “My Friends”

Fredrik Backman's most recent book highlighted empathy—it can remind clinicians that every patient is a rich story waiting to be heard. In learning about our patients, our connections with them deepen and this makes the work more enjoyable.

December 4, 2025 | 1 min read

Missing voices

In the exam room, take a moment to look at a piece of art with the patient. Then ask a gentle, open-ended question to invite them to share openly.

May 6, 2025 | 2 min read

Healing from the emotional toll of a medical error

Mistakes in patient care are not uncommon. Clinicians can lean on their support systems to recover from stressful events at work. Taking care of yourself enables you to continue giving compassionate care.

"Primary Colors Ascending," by Janice Greenberg.

December 17, 2024 | 5 min read

The portal paradox

By Megan Gerber, MD, MPH, Albany Medical College

Communicating with patients electronically presents both benefits and challenges. I’ve cherished when patients have shared creative works with me—both in person and via the portal—although I recognize this may add to my message count.

November 16, 2022 | 2 min read

Supporting Patients During Medication Shortages

By Bradley Grant, DO, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When drugs are scarce, reassure patients that you’ll help them navigate this challenge. If you can’t find the medicine after searching, consider rationing when clinically appropriate.

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.

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.

"Sunflowers," Vincent van Gogh, 1889. Philadelphia Museum of Art.

May 2, 2019 | 4 min read

Grieving Unexpected Patient Outcomes

By Stacia Dearmin, MD, Akron Children\'s Hospital

Acknowledging and processing grief can bring healing to the clinician.

March 11, 2026 | 4 min read

The here and now

When caring for a patient with terminal illness, shift your orientation from explaining the past to being present and exploring how they want to spend their remaining time in the future.

August 15, 2022 | 2 min read

Role Modeling Vulnerability

By Daniel Saddawi-Konefka, MD, MBA, Massachusetts General Hospital

When a patient dies, sharing your emotions with trainees normalizes this response and highlights our shared humanity.

"Wheat Field with Cypresses," Vincent van Gogh, 1889. Metropolitan Museum of Art.

May 7, 2019 | 2 min read

Finding Balance

By Danielle Johnson, MD, Lindner Center of HOPE, University of Cincinnati

Small gestures while supporting patients through trauma and grief can make a big difference.

February 10, 2026 | 3 min read

The last appointment

In caring for a neurosurgeon facing probable Parkinson’s, perhaps the most healing act was to be fully present—to listen, bear witness, and acknowledge his reality. It also underscored that such empathy must be paired with suicide risk assessment, safety planning, and close follow-up.

December 4, 2025 | 3 min read

Winter humbles the leaves

Balance diagnostic exhilaration with goals-of-care conversations centered on the values of the patient and family.

November 6, 2025 | 2 min read

Hearing more, saying less

Asking patients “What are you most worried about?” may help you to understand their priorities. This can lead to the creation of a shared plan aligned with their values.

October 17, 2025 | 3 min read

Got religion?

Patients’ community participation can be a powerful determinant of health—an essential part of your assessment and care plan. Try asking, “Are you part of a faith community, and how is it affecting you right now?”

October 9, 2024 | 2 min read

Softening the “SPIKES”

When delivering challenging news, it is crucial to tailor the communication to the patient's preferences. Break down the message into small, spaced-out segments to allow for gradual processing.

February 21, 2023 | 1 min read

Lessons From The Novel “Sharks in The Time of Saviors”

By Margaret Olsen Hemming

This book may resonate with clinicians as it explores the complex process of healing—the rewards of its successes, as well as the toll of its limitation.

August 10, 2020 | 2 min read

Debriefing after death (archives, 2020)

By Christopher Bennett, MD, Stanford University

Reflecting on a patient's death as a team provides an opportunity to process emotions and strengthen team dynamics.

August 6, 2020 | 3 min read

5 tips for supporting people with autism

By Roma Vasa, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

It’s critical to make time to understand how your patient communicates best, learn their strengths, empathize with their challenges, and give them as much autonomy and choice as possible.

April 9, 2018 | 3 min read

Healing Through Compassion and Empathy

By Kristen Nelson, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Read Dr. Nelson’s clinical mission statement, reminding us that “no matter what, you’re not just treating the patient, you’re treating the whole family.”

July 28, 2020 | 4 min read

Transitional Objects During Physical Isolation

Encourage patients to identify items that remind them of people and places that they love but cannot be near right now. This may help ease feelings of loneliness and longing.

April 20, 2020 | 3 min read

Gender-Affirming Care During the Pandemic

By Carl G. Streed Jr., MD, MPH, Boston Medical Center, Liam Hein, PhD, RN, University of South Carolina, College of Nursing, Paula Neira, JD, MSN, RN, CEN, FAAN, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Postponing procedures safeguards public health but can be distressing, particularly for transgender patients. Be proactive and transparent about access limitations during the pandemic.

February 27, 2020 | 3 min read

How to Survive Medical Litigation

By Kimberly Turner, MD, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

Even excellent clinicians can be sued for malpractice. This stressful event can be managed and overcome.

February 26, 2020 | 2 min read

How to Process Emotions as a Team

By Peter Heikkinen, MDiv, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Excellent clinical teams support each other by reflecting on patient encounters and sharing their emotions.

Hippocrates featured in the interior of the old town hall in Gõttingen, Niedersachsen, Germany. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons.

February 20, 2020 | 3 min read

“Life is short, and art long”

By Jonathan Yeh, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

The art of honest and empathetic communication is fundamental to being an excellent clinician. And, it can be improved with intentional practice.

July 25, 2019 | 2 min read

3 Lessons From my First House Call

By Jessica Colburn, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

It is a privilege to be present with our patients, even during times of pain and loss. Meaningful connections, like those that naturally emerge during house calls, provide space for important decision making, comfort, and hope.

June 4, 2019 | 3 min read

Haiku on Phone

By Crystal Jing Jing Yeo, MD, PhD, MassGeneral, Brigham and Women Hospital, Harvard Medical School

To be a true healer is to heal not just in life, but also through dying and death.

May 23, 2019 | 1 min read

The Orchid

By Susan Aucott, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The orchid: each time I see the growth of a new leaf, it reminds me of the hope that can come even in the midst of sorrow. And when a blossom appears, it reminds me of the hope and caring that I have the privilege of sharing with every family I have the honor to encounter.

April 16, 2019 | 2 min read

4 Lessons From 12 Years as a Patient-Doctor

By Julia Michie Bruckner, MD, MPH, Children\'s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Our white coats are not shields; they could be traded in for a flimsy hospital gown at any moment. Keeping this in mind, we can think of how we want to be cared for when our time comes, and then give this level of care to others. We can honor our shared humanity and vulnerability in our practice.

April 11, 2019 | 2 min read

A Band of Sisters and Brothers

By Ivor Berkowitz, MBBCh, MBA, Johns Hopkins Medicine

It is difficult for new members to join an established tightly-knit team that has shared intense, life-altering, emotionally charged experiences with each other for many years.

February 26, 2019 | 4 min read

On “Great” Diagnoses

By Nathan Douthit, MD, Brookwood Baptist Health, Birmingham, Alabama

Making an accurate diagnosis and giving a name to our patient's illness is a crucial component of acceptance and healing for the patient and their family.

February 19, 2019 | 4 min read

On Feeling Helpless: A Psychiatrist Reflects on the Aftermath of a Patient Suicide

By Dinah Miller, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

If you've been distressed by the loss of a patient to suicide, I hope my story will provide a moment of relief as you begin the process of healing; I hope that you may feel less alone.

"Abstract Painting (726)" 1990, Gerhard Richter, Tate Museum.

December 6, 2018 | 5 min read

Lines Blurred

By Ekene Ojukwu, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Really taking care of a patient means making hard choices, saying things people don’t want to hear, and letting them decide if they will engage in their own care. At the same time, it means learning different ways of listening, looking for opportunities and strategies to trust our patients, believing their stories, and seeing them as full individuals

November 15, 2018 | 3 min read

You’re Always a Provider, Even in the Coffee Line

By Ishwaria Subbiah, MD, MS, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Opportunities to ease distress extend beyond the bedside and outside of the clinic to every interaction with our patients and also their caregivers.

April 2, 2026 | 1 min read

Armed with tenderness

When caring for patients affected by war, provide psychological first aid, address trauma's long-term physical and mental impacts, and connect them to available community supports.