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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.

April 22, 2025 | 5 min read

Let the language live

Daily clinical interactions, marked by honest communication and empathy, hold unique power for healing and justice.

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.

"Art and Surgery," by Janina Cerbetowitzc, Royal Liverpool Hospital.

October 4, 2023 | 1 min read

Art: The Universal Language of Healing

By Jonathan McFarland, Medical Humanist, Autonomous University of Madrid & University of Pompeu Fabra

Art has the capacity to heal. Both healthcare professionals and patients can benefit from art’s potential to reduce stress and restore hope.

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.

One way to fight ableism it to ensure that all conferences and events are wheelchair accessible.

October 14, 2020 | 2 min read

How Language Can Fight Ableism

By Harry Paul (he/him), MD/PhD student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The first step to being an ally for the disabled community is to educate yourself about the meaning of your word choice.

October 1, 2020 | 3 min read

3 Tips to Improve Your Body Language

By Adam Koenig, Medical Student, University of Toledo

To build a strong patient-clinician relationship, position your body with an open posture and make good eye contact.

May 17, 2022 | 1 min read

Word Choice Related to Substance Use Disorders

By Beth McGinty, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Words matter; calling patients with a substance use disorder an “addict” defines them by their addiction. We need to ensure that our patients feel comfortable and supported so that they will engage in treatment.

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.

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.

September 24, 2020 | 2 min read

Using Non-judgmental Language

By Nat Mulkey (they/them), Medical Student, Boston University Medicine

In order to minimize bias, it’s critical to use non-judgmental language when describing patients, both orally and in the medical record.

September 14, 2022 | 2 min read

The Hippocratic Oath’s Reminder to be Artful

By Ming-Hsien Wang, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Caring for diverse families, I remember the Hippocratic Oath: “. . . There is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.”

June 28, 2018 | 1 min read

Reciprocating At Esperanza

By Randy Barker, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, retired

Making an effort to learn words in the patient's first language can make a huge difference in the physician-patient connection.

November 7, 2023 | 3 min read

Speaking Our Patients’ Language

By Abbey Becker, LMSW, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Clinicians must meet patients where they are. Determining their health literacy levels is a critical part of care that sometimes gets overlooked.

March 29, 2024 | 4 min read

Using affirming language with LGBTQIA+ patients

By Christopher Clayton, MD, New York, New York, Lila Flavin, MD, New York, New York

To show respect for patients, consider asking them about their gender identity, sexual orientation, and preferred pronouns.

March 19, 2025 | 3 min read

Lessons from caring for Syrian refugees

By Nagina Khan, PhD, University of Kent

Seek to understand the unique cultural context of patients who have undergone trauma. This is paramount to building trust and providing effective care—especially for vulnerable populations, like refugees.

September 25, 2023 | 5 min read

Less is More

By Jonathan McFarland, Medical Humanist, Autonomous University of Madrid & University of Pompeu Fabra

The Japanese concept of wabi-sabi can help us appreciate impermanence and approach death as part of life.

January 14, 2025 | 3 min read

The vinyl sessions

Uncover and leverage patient passions—from Abba to Zappa—to enhance treatment. Personalizing care fosters deeper patient engagement and improved outcomes.

A shire in Shropshire. Author's photo.

January 29, 2019 | 7 min read

“Good Doctoring”

By Taylor Purvis, MD, St. Vincent Medical Center, Bridgeport, CT

Reflections from a medical student on the practice of medicine as captured in the novels "The Bad Doctor," by Ian Williams, and "A Fortunate Man," by John Berger & Jean Mohr.

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.

Bagels & Cream Cheese

April 28, 2020 | 2 min read

Cream Cheese and Kindness

By Ivor Berkowitz, MBBCh, MBA, Johns Hopkins Medicine

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou

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.

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.

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.

January 16, 2025 | 2 min read

Talk to her

By Uma Balachandran, medical student, Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

My blind aunt's encounter with a clinician highlighted the problem of ableism in medicine. Her experience is a reminder to always communicate directly with disabled patients and ask about their preference for identity-first or person-first language.

June 9, 2022 | 3 min read

Gender And Sexual History 2.0

By Rebekah Fenton, MD, Northwestern University

To help LGBTQIA+ individuals feel more welcome, I introduce myself with the pronouns I use. This seems to invite them to do the same.

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.

August 31, 2023 | 4 min read

You Are Safe With Me

By Alia Bodnar, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We must create safe spaces for all patients by listening closely and viewing their feedback as an opportunity to learn and give better care.

May 2, 2018 | 1 min read

Top Tips To Improve Your Webside Manner

By Joshua Wadlin, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

You might think your bedside manner is excellent, but how’s your webside manner?

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.

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.

July 11, 2022 | 5 min read

Navigating Power Relations in Healthcare

By Hailey Haffey, PhD, University of Utah

We must be aware of the power we have in relation to our patients. This imbalance must only be used in the service of care.

November 13, 2019 | 4 min read

The Art of Scaffolding Conversations

By Robert Trevino, MD, PhD, Medical College of Wisconsin

Scaffolding when communicating is meeting the other person where they are in their understanding. This is essential for healthcare discussions to best meet the needs of our patients.

March 11, 2025 | 4 min read

When sex isn’t binary

Providing exceptional care to intersex patients requires us to shed the outdated idea of sex as a binary. Instead, we should normalize diversity in sex presentation and encourage families to unconditionally love, support, and listen to their loved one.

February 10, 2025 | 2 min read

The weight of words, the power of presence

Effective care includes explicitly communicating empathy and compassion. This includes overcoming language barriers between patient and clinician by collaborating with a medical interpreter.

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.

June 22, 2023 | 2 min read

Caring with pride (archives, 2023)

By Corey Tapper, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

To ensure nonjudgmental and equitable care of LGBTQ+ patients, call and chart people by their preferred name and pronouns. I also wear a Pride flag lapel pin to show my support.

December 19, 2022 | 2 min read

Dismantling ableism in medicine

By Kerry Devlin, MMT, LPMT, MT-BC (she/her), Johns Hopkins Medicine

What does it mean to co-construct a plan of care with disabled patients? Their desires may not be what you expect.

May 15, 2024 | 2 min read

Removing barriers to physician mental health

Taking care of yourself by getting professional help when needed is essential to giving excellent patient care. You can also encourage coworkers to do the same.

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.

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.

Asking about stress levels, mood, sleep quality, and coping strategies in routine medical discussions can provide insight into a patient’s emotional well-being and open the door for further discussion.

March 31, 2025 | 2 min read

Care of the mind

By Paige Seegan, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

By proactively discussing mental health, using non-stigmatizing language, and having a list of resources on hand, healthcare professionals can help patients get the support they need.

February 23, 2021 | 3 min read

Tips For Giving Medical Updates to Families

By Joshua Budhu, MD, Mass General

A physician’s disappointment in hearing surprises about his loved one’s condition sparked new insights on the value of regularly updating families about the patient.

April 4, 2022 | 4 min read

Lessons From Puppies About Life And Medicine

By Ankita Sagar, MD, Brooklyn, New York

Adopting a pandemic puppy has reminded me of the value of play, curiosity, listening, perseverance, and vulnerability. This helps me be a better human and give better patient care.

February 11, 2025 | 6 min read

“The Tao of Medicine”

By David Kopacz, MD, University of Washington

The clinician's mindful presence and understanding of the patient's full humanity are as crucial to healing as technical skill. Let go of using language to define your experience; instead focus on the wisdom that can be found in the empty spaces between thoughts.

April 8, 2022 | 1 min read

“Better”

By Ben Roberts, CRNP, AGACNP-BC, ACHPN, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Using precise language can help us partner with patients in hoping for the best, without causing confusion.

March 23, 2022 | <1 min read

Keeping The Readers in Mind

By Vivian Altiery De Jesus, MD, MBE, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When documenting in the medical record, we must use respectful language. Both our patients and colleagues will appreciate and benefit from our thoughtfulness.

Employers must cultivate a nurturing culture that supports the emotional and physical needs of their employees.

February 9, 2021 | 3 min read

How to Support Patients With Chronic Pain and Substance Use Disorder

By Juliette Perzhinsky, MD, MSc, Central Michigan University

All patients must be treated with empathy. Those suffering with chronic pain and addiction may be especially deserving of compassion.