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May 18, 2022 | 3 min read

A Matter of Interpretation

By Kathleen Page, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Practice, preparation, and intentionality are essential to mastering medical skills, including how to communicate effectively with an interpreter.

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.

February 28, 2022 | 4 min read

To Our Interpreters: Gracias, Shukriyah, Todah, Danyavad, Merci, Danke

By Cecilia Murach, Medical Interpreter, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Kamna Balhara, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Nathan Irvin, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When working with an interpreter, remember that they’re a person, not a machine. Saying “thank you” makes them feel like a valued member of the healthcare team.

September 4, 2018 | 1 min read

7 Tips for Working With an Interpreter

By Stephanie Nothelle, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Pause often, ask one question at a time, and avoid idioms when speaking through an interpreter.

September 23, 2021 | 2 min read

Best Practices for Cross-Cultural Communication

By Rebekah Fenton, MD, Northwestern University

When caring for patients with limited English proficiency, always use a licensed interpreter. Remember to direct your speech and body language to the patient.

April 11, 2022 | 6 min read

Effective Partnering With Medical Interpreters

By Cecilia Murach, Medical Interpreter, Johns Hopkins Medicine

A medical interpreter can support successful communication between limited English proficiency patients and the other clinical team members. This collaboration helps build cross-cultural connections with patients and improve care.

August 4, 2021 | 1 min read

Best Practices When Working With an Interpreter

When caring for a patient with limited English proficiency, understand that you’ll need to collaborate effectively with an interpreter. Speak naturally in the first person and maintain eye contact with your patient, not the interpreter.

August 26, 2024 | 1 min read

The medical Tower of Babel

Immigrant patients often face challenges when accessing healthcare because of language and cultural barriers. Certified medical interpreters can help reduce the likelihood of inequities in care.

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 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.

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.

March 14, 2019 | 4 min read

How to Help Your Patient Understand Genetic Testing Results

By Leslie Ordal, MSc, CGC

To help your patient with their direct-to-consumer genetic testing results, use skills that apply for any sensitive clinical encounter: listen, acknowledge, and reassure of your presence in the process. Then connect your patient with a genetic counsellor for follow-up as needed.

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.

May 20, 2025 | 1 min read

Lessons from the Dizi

Playing the Chinese bamboo flute has enhanced my ability to listen deeply and enriched my understanding of patients.

November 10, 2021 | 5 min read

Reading Between The Lines

We don’t always say what we’re thinking, particularly in difficult conversations. Sharing and exploring unspoken thoughts can lead to stronger connections with our patients and better care.

October 4, 2021 | 1 min read

Words Matter

By Leslie Miller, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When serving as an advocate for a family member, I noted judgmental language in the EHR. This reminds me as a clinician to consider how patients (and their families) will feel when they read my notes.

January 21, 2021 | 1 min read

Lost in Translation

By Sonal Gandhi, MBBS, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When you and your patient don’t speak the same language, clear communication is critical. When an interpreter is unavailable, reach out to staff and others for help.

Édouard Manet: "A Bar at the Folies-Bergère," 1881-1882. This is a faithful photographic reproduction of a two-dimensional, public domain work of art. The work of art itself is in the public domain for the following reason: Public domain This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 100 years or less.

August 6, 2019 | 7 min read

July Art Museum Challenge

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

The skills required in the clinic are the same as those in the art gallery: to examine, investigate, embrace ambiguity, consider multiple interpretations, reflect, collaborate, and learn.

October 11, 2022 | 6 min read

Learning About Your Patients And Their Communities

By Hailey Haffey, PhD, University of Utah

Receiving patient and community stories with thoughtful attention can help serve the aims of equity in healthcare.

Dr. Margaret Chisolm captures a photograph of the painting, "John, 1st Baron Byron," 2013, Kehinde Wiley (American, born in 1977), at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

April 8, 2019 | 5 min read

On Looking: March Museum Visit

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

Visual Thinking Strategies and the Personal Response Tour are two examples of museum-based pedagogical practice that build critical thinking skills, foster empathy, and allow for reflective space away from the clinic.

January 10, 2019 | 3 min read

How to Improve Your Physical Diagnostic Skills With a Digital Database

By Samuel Durso, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

To sharpen diagnostic skill, take a minute to cross check the physical exam against images and lab results in the electronic record - if not congruent, then why?

"An Infinity Room Installation," Yayoi Kusama. Wikivisually.com. Public Domain.

December 19, 2019 | 5 min read

November Art Museum Challenge

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

The reality of clinical practice can be complex and uncertain and these sessions away from the clinics in and around the art museum space allow students through haptic exploration to become more comfortable with ambiguity.

May 19, 2021 | 3 min read

Clinical Training Translating to Clinical Excellence

By Jennifer Spicer, MD, MPH, Emory University

Bias awareness achieved in teaching/learning can transfer to the clinic. Thus learners can help clinicians become aware of bias toward patients.

This is from "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down," written by Anne Fadiman. The art copyright is believed to belong to the publisher, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, or the artist. Public domain from wikipedia.org.

November 20, 2019 | 2 min read

“The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down”

By Laura Pugh, Medical Student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The gap between cultural systems can be wide. Openness, curiosity, and humility will improve cross-cultural care.

October 2, 2023 | 4 min read

Exclamation Points And Exhalations

By Ajibike Lapite, MD, MPHTM, Texas Childrens Hospital

Even when lab results are normal, some patients may still have concerns. Take time to address their fears and worries.

June 18, 2019 | 2 min read

Navigating the Uncertain: A Book Review of “The Laws of Medicine”

Siddhartha Mukherjee, MD, provides a framework to reconcile the uncertainties we constantly experience in our practice of medicine in his book, "The Laws of Medicine."

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.

March 8, 2022 | 3 min read

Tips For Assessing The Intensity of Pain

By Brian Lee, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, David Madder, DO, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When assessing pain, we often ask patients to assign it a number between 0 and 10. Asking about the effect of pain on behavior and functional status can often give us a more meaningful understanding.

WWI Battle of Verdun Cemetery, Verdun, France.

March 23, 2020 | 4 min read

Finding the Right Words—Lessons From Nurse Mary Borden

By Iro Filippaki, PhD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

WWI Nurse Mary Borden's autobiography provides inspiration to search for the right words to describe our experience, and perhaps, find solace as we face the challenges of medicine.

May 21, 2018 | 3 min read

Listening and Communicating

By Justin McArthur, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The clinical mission and values statement of a neurologist, sharing thoughtful tips on listening and communicating with patients and their families.

August 26, 2024 | 2 min read

The Argentinian way

By M. Carolina Musri, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

In Argentina, I learned that relationship-building in medicine is paramount. With patients, talking about anything non-medical can deepen a connection. With coworkers, sharing lunch every day can help reduce stress and improve well-being.

Encourage parents to support their teens in connecting with friends in physically-distanced ways.

March 3, 2020 | 3 min read

The Power of the “Ordinary”

By Gaye Cunnane, MD, PhD, Trinity College Dublin

Excellent clinicians recognize that sometimes the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of patients comes in the most unexpected moments.

May 17, 2021 | 1 min read

Validating my Patient’s Despair

By Avani Prabhakar, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When my young patient was struggling to accept the diagnosis of leukemia, I was reminded how important validating emotions is in the giving excellent care.

June 24, 2024 | 2 min read

Partnering with patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities in medical decision-making

By Sara Mixter, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When caring for patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities, explore supported decision-making options and prioritize communication needs. These steps should offer them more control over medical choices.

May 18, 2021 | 2 min read

A Question That Transformed my Care of Patients

By Rebekah Fenton, MD, Northwestern University

Asking patients, “What are you most worried about?” can bring to light unspoken concerns and allow fears to be addressed.

December 5, 2023 | 3 min read

Museums make me a better clinician

By Johannes Thorman, MD, Scania University Hospital, Malmo, Sweden

Museum-based health professions education is an emerging field. Studying visual art can help healthcare professionals become more patient, collaborative, rigorous, and appreciative of their colleagues.

December 16, 2019 | 4 min read

Top 10 Tips to be a Great Consultant

By Aline Charabaty, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Read these 10 tips so that next time your pager goes off, you can be an outstanding consultant!

May 6, 2021 | 3 min read

Plus ça Change: The Rise And Rise of Syphilis

By Matthew Hamill, MBChB, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Syphilis cases have reached an all-time high. To turn the tide, the first thing we need to do is ask patients an open-ended question about sexual activity, like "When was the last time you had sex?"

October 19, 2023 | 2 min read

Healthcare for every body

By Stephanie Pham Van, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

To make healthcare more welcoming, be sensitive to how patients prefer to be described. Also, find out what tools they might need to access information, for example, voice to text transcriptions.

November 27, 2019 | 3 min read

Clouds and Codes Aren’t Care

By Gisele Waters, PhD, Founder and President of Symbiotica Consulting

The promise of artificial intelligence is that it gives healthcare professionals the opportunity to improve the quality of care by allowing humans to focus on humans.

March 30, 2021 | 2 min read

Leveraging Your Professional Network For Your Growth

By Kevin Frick, PhD, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School

In your professional network, include those who challenge and question you. Peer feedback and coaching can help improve your care of patients.

October 23, 2019 | 4 min read

A Tale of Two Stents

By Frank Cacace, MD, North Shore University Hospital

We are all vulnerable to cognitive biases. The clinically excellent clinician takes time to slow down and steps back when working toward the definitive diagnosis.

March 26, 2021 | 5 min read

“The Danger of a Single Story”

By Jade Cobern, MD, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Margaret Hannah, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Rosemary Hawkins, MS, CCLS, Johns Hopkins Medicine

A single narrative creates biases, reinforces stereotypes, and can prevent us from seeing the full potential in ourselves and others. Appreciating multiple stories can deepen and broaden our perspectives.

Original painting by Dr. David Kopacz.

August 24, 2023 | 2 min read

it is internship year

By David Kopacz, MD, University of Washington

To give excellent patient care, healthcare professionals must prioritize their own mental health and that of their trainees. This could include self-help strategies, like writing, along with professional support.

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.

May 18, 2023 | 2 min read

Ballet And Medicine

By Maria Guinle, medical student, Stanford Medicine

Medicine is similar to dancing. Learning from mistakes and working as part of a team are necessary for success.

August 6, 2019 | 2 min read

3 Lessons From Your Patient’s Impatience

By Iro Filippaki, PhD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

The excellent clinician acknowledges their patient's impatience and frustration. In doing so, relationships with patients and clinical outcomes may be improved.

February 2, 2023 | 2 min read

We Just Disagree

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

When colleagues offer a conflicting opinion, remember to always put the patient first, check your facts, and be open to learning.

July 22, 2019 | 5 min read

5 Lessons From Visible Ink

By Anoushka Sinha, MD, Columbia University

It is humbling to remember we are merely characters in our patients' stories. We are neither the author nor the narrator, and certainly not the lead.

Boundary Waters Wilderness, Minnesota.

October 3, 2022 | 4 min read

Setting Boundaries in Medicine

Key to mitigating burnout is managing expectations of yourself and others, while still fulfilling our duties to patients.