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C L O S L E R
Moving Us Closer To Osler
A Miller Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence Initiative
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Creative Arts in Medicine
Connecting with Patients
Passion in the Medical Profession
Lifelong Learning in Clinical Excellence
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January 5, 2023 | 1 min read

Quiet Quitting in Healthcare

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The past three years have been difficult in healthcare and some are now doing less than we used to. Because this may be a temporary strategy, patience and understanding may be the most considerate approach.  

December 23, 2020 | 5 min read

Holiday Rounds

By Samuel Durso, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

If you're called on to work through Christmas and New Year’s, there's a bright side. This is typically a quieter period and may allow more time to learn from clinically excellent role models.

July 30, 2019 | 3 min read

Searching for Bicarb in July

By Camille Petri, MD, Mass General

To succeed in clinical practice, be humble and open to learning from all members of your team.

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.

October 29, 2019 | 4 min read

Curiosity, Connection, and Comfort

By Margaret "Molly" Hayes, MD, Harvard Medical School

Curiosity is an essential part of our humanity and a foundation of the doctor-patient relationship. By remaining curious, we remain faithful to the words of Hippocrates: “Cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always.”

March 3, 2018 | 2 min read

Six Steps to Make Wellness Work

By Laura Hanyok, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Our well-being as physicians is an essential part of professionalism. If we aren't well, we can't provide the best care to our patients, who deserve our best.

December 3, 2020 | 4 min read

The Other Side of the Glass

By Michelle Sharp, MD, MSH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Having a loved one in the ICU is one of the hardest things someone can experience. Timely and compassionate communication from clinicians to families is invaluable.

January 28, 2020 | 3 min read

Racism From Patients—an Ethical Dilemma

By Sonal Gandhi, MBBS, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

A cornerstone of clinical excellence is treating all patients with respect and dignity. This is true even when treating those patients who are not respectful to you.

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.

"The Starry Night," Vincent Van Gogh, 1889, Museum of Modern Art.

May 16, 2019 | 5 min read

Starry, Starry Night

By Juliette Perzhinsky, MD, MSc, Central Michigan University

There are times that as clinicians we become patients ourselves, needing compassionate care for injuries entirely unrelated to our chief complaint.

April 28, 2021 | 4 min read

The Social Determinants of Clinician Health

By David Kopacz, MD, University of Washington

When half of clinicians are burned out, we clearly need to fix our workplaces. In the meantime, we also need to care for ourselves, our patients, and each other.

May 8, 2018 | 3 min read

Compassion is Contagious

By Colleen Christmas, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Patients are observing us while we interact with others in the hospital, and this can have a tremendous impact on the trust they put in our care.

June 13, 2022 | 3 min read

Pause, Relax, Open

By Avani Prabhakar, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

In these politically polarizing times, we must continue to practice loving kindness toward our patients. This includes patients who share prejudiced and/or judgmental opinions with us. 

"Couple in the Park," John Russell Clift, 1961, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

January 17, 2019 | 5 min read

Do You See? The Power of Pictures

By Elizabeth Gundersen, MD, University of Colorado

Photographs capture the essence of who we are. When we ask to see pictures, patients and families are reassured that we value the wholeness of their lives.

April 19, 2018 | 3 min read

Becoming a Mindful Clinician

By Patricia Dobkin, PhD, McGill University Department of Medicine

Most healthcare professionals maintain high standards, perfectionistic tendencies, and critical minds. This appears to be an advantage in a high stakes-high risk work environment. However, these habits of mind may backfire when held too tightly and lead to emotional exhaustion. Being mindful can offset this problem.

Evelyn in her nursing uniform.

December 18, 2018 | 4 min read

Evelyn’s Story

By Mariah Robertson, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Keeping in touch with patients and their families in the days, weeks, and months following an encounter makes the practice of medicine meaningful and rewarding.

May 3, 2018 | 5 min read

Challenges, Choices, and Changes

By Catherine Parrish, MD, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

CHALLENGE yourself to be a lifelong learner—make CHOICES in your career that make you HAPPY, and use the CHANGES in your personal life to inform and enrich your work.

August 7, 2024 | 3 min read

“Far from the madding crowd” 

By Kittane "Vishnu" Vishnupriya, MBBS, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Every extra hour that a patient spends in the ER worsens mortality. Clinicians can make changes to address this problem, like reorganizing rounding to see potential discharge-ready patients first.

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.

March 14, 2023 | 2 min read

Laughter is The Best Medicine

By Marion McCrary, MD, Duke Health

A smile, a touch, eye contact, and a jovial laugh can be a lifeline for patients in a stressful situation. 

February 23, 2023 | 3 min read

Embracing Care Partners

By Ariel Green, MD, PhD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When caring for older adults, collaborate with and support their care partners – their loved ones. Their vital roles are often overlooked. 

November 4, 2019 | 3 min read

Top Tips to Make the Best of Night Call

By Kittane "Vishnu" Vishnupriya, MBBS, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Working nights in healthcare is tough. Five tips highlighted in this piece are related to self-care, and the last one reminds us all to support our colleagues who are covering the night shift.

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.

A drive-in BINGO game during the pandemic,

November 9, 2020 | 2 min read

Supporting Older Patients’ Emotional Health During The Pandemic

By Art Walaszek, MD, University of Wisconsin

We can support our patients’ well-being by encouraging safe social interactions and addressing psychiatric illness.

October 31, 2022 | 2 min read

Dinner Table Wisdom

By Elizabeth Reynolds, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Our mealtime companions can be a source of strength, support, and motivation. My childhood dinner table provided the roots for my compassion and dedication to serving patients.  

February 11, 2020 | 2 min read

Moving Mountains

By Susan Huff, RN, MSN, Johns Hopkins Homecare Group

In end of life care, excellent clinicians can and should move mountains to get patients home if that's where they want and need to be.

May 25, 2018 | <1 min read

“The Secret of Quality is Love”

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Connecting with patients, caring deeply, and remembering your sense of calling will bring joy and fulfillment to the practice of medicine.

April 30, 2025 | 2 min read

Aging and autonomy 

Many older patients struggle with losing independence. Healthcare professionals can partner with them and their loved ones to ease challenging transitions. 

Mattan Schuchman and colleague caring for a patient in her home.

June 21, 2018 | 6 min read

How Home Ventilator Care Helped My Patients

By Mattan Schuchman, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Learning how to work with patients on ventilators at home has been a gratifying challenge.

April 7, 2025 | 2 min read

The connective cure 

By Allison Pugh, PhD, Johns Hopkins Univeristy

The art of genuine human interaction is a vital clinical skill that no algorithm can replicate. This building of connection can foster trust, enable healing, and facilitate holistic care. 

Boundary Waters Wilderness, Minnesota.

October 3, 2022 | 4 min read

Setting Boundaries in Medicine

By Laura Hanyok, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

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

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.

January 7, 2025 | 3 min read

“Hope is the thing with feathers” 

By Karen Abernathy, CRNP, MSN, Johns Hopkins Medicine

By acknowledging patient emotions and actively listening without judgement, clinicians can improve communication barriers. This can build trust and may be especially important for those who are resistant to our care recommendations. 

April 27, 2021 | 2 min read

Lessons Learned From Cancer During COVID

By Catherine Ling, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Encourage and support patients to schedule preventative screenings delayed during the pandemic. These are critical to ensure your patients’ health.

September 28, 2020 | 2 min read

Practicing the Art of Listening

By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine

Listening is essential for humanistic patient care. Listening without interrupting may strengthen the patient-clinician relationship.

July 17, 2023 | 3 min read

Choreographing Clinical Care

By Hanghang Wang, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Exceptional patient care is akin to a ballet performance. Synergistic team interactions, thoughtful decisions, and deliberate actions are all critical steps in the dance of patient care. 

May 7, 2018 | 2 min read

The 5 Core Beliefs of a Hospitalist

By Daniel Brotman, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

As a hospitalist, I'm in a position to establish intense relationships with patients. Here are my five core beliefs, values, and premises that govern my approach to clinical care in this setting.

December 28, 2018 | 3 min read

How do you measure a year?

By Dawn Harris Sherling, MD, Florida Atlantic University

How do we measure a year in medicine? I’d like to measure mine in patient laughter, hugs, and lives that were made just a little bit better.

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.

November 5, 2018 | 2 min read

Providing Holistic Care

By Nancy Hutton, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Excellence in clinical care requires intellectual rigor, keen observation, empathic communication, an understanding of the context in which the patient lives, and consideration of the individual patient as the center of care. 

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

May 26, 2020 | 1 min read

Accelerating Adaptation in Healthcare

By Lia Logio, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine

Efficiency erodes our ability to respond to the uncertainty of life. The messy world of clinical care requires time, patience, and creative experimentation.

"I was so excited to go home, be with my infant twins, sleep in my own bed, and eat homemade food."

November 30, 2020 | 2 min read

I Didn’t Know it Was You

By Rohini Harvey, MD, Baystate Health, Springfield, MA

My experience as a patient who didn’t get attention until I was identified as a physician is a reminder that every patient is important and deserves respect.

September 6, 2018 | 2 min read

The Power of Finding Common Journeys Between You and Your Patients

By Sherita Golden, MD, MHS, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Our patients are deeply impacted by their community experiences outside of the healthcare setting. As physicians it is imperative that we lead by example in understanding our patients’ social challenges so that we can more comprehensively address their medical issues by treating the “whole person” and not just the disease.

December 12, 2022 | 5 min read

Room 441

By Alicia Zellmer, MD, George Washington University

Although humanized care can sometimes be more time-consuming, sharing detailed information and ensuring patient’s understanding is essential for clinical excellence. 

August 13, 2019 | 2 min read

How Does Bullying Relate to Clinical Excellence?

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

There is no place in medicine for bullying. It interferes with growth of individuals and collaborations among team members – both of these are critical for serving our patients.

February 26, 2018 | 3 min read

Creating a welcoming experience for LGBTQ patients and families

By Carl G. Streed Jr., MD, MPH, Boston Medical Center

Doing what has been done before will only lead to more of the same for patients who have been discriminated against in society and in healthcare. Be prepared to enter uncharted territory, seek to educate yourself about the unique healthcare needs of your patients.

November 2, 2022 | 2 min read

The Last Choice

By Ivy Akid, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Caring for a man dying of cancer reminded me to always guide patients toward decisions that best align with their goals of care. 

August 15, 2019 | 1 min read

The Circle of Whole Health

By David Kopacz, MD, University of Washington

You can use the Circle of Health to support veterans in coming home in heart, mind, body, and spirit.

January 3, 2024 | 4 min read

Make a good stack

By Kyle Glienke, MD, Buena Vista Regional Medical Center, Iowa

Like baling hay, connecting with patients on a personal level requires intentionality and consistency.

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