February 3, 2025 | 3 min read

Debunking women’s health and menopause myths 

Women's health, especially menopause, is rife with misinformation. Addressing patients’ needs with empathy and evidence will help empower them to make choices in line with their goals for care. 

November 24, 2020 | 2 min read

Women clinicians and women’s bodies (archives, 2020)

By Colleen Christmas, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Constant critiques on women’s bodies and dress means physicians who identify as female must spend energy ensuring they look as they “should” to patients and colleagues. This energy is better focused on giving clinically excellent care.

May 12, 2025 | 2 min read

Avoiding “scapegoat diagnoses”  

Recognize gender biases that may lead to premature psychological diagnoses in women presenting with physical symptoms. Prioritize thoughtful clinical investigation of the patient before considering labeling symptoms with mental health explanations. 

March 31, 2022 | 2 min read

A Lesson in Cultural Humility

By Mengyi "Zed" Zha, MD, Othello, Washington

Working at a community health clinic serving migrant workers from Mexico, I was confronted with a pervasive stereotype that the female patients were “dramatic.” I learned how important it was for patients’ concerns to be taken seriously.   

March 30, 2022 | 3 min read

Mitigating maternal mortality (archived piece, 2022)

By Kimberly Turner, MD, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

A more diverse clinical workforce brings greater variety of perspectives in patient care which may improve clinical outcomes. 

May 20, 2024 | 1 min read

Seen and heard 

By Olivia Konen, MA student, Johns Hopkins University

As a patient with endometriosis, what I needed most from my clinicians was empathy. Those who acknowledged the emotions I was experiencing made me feel heard and validated.  

September 3, 2024 | 1 min read

More than hot flashes

By Wen Shen, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When thinking about menopause, hot flashes are frequently the first thing that come to mind. But clinically excellent care requires recognizing the full spectrum of symptoms.  

February 25, 2021 | 2 min read

How You Can Help With Intimate Partner Violence

By Lisa Geller, MPH, Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health crisis and most deadly when a gun is involved. Clinicians should screen patients for IPV, ask about firearm possession, and refer those at risk of IPV to appropriate services.

September 7, 2022 | 2 min read

“Hysteria”

By Tina Zhang, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We need to be aware of our own gender biases that could adversely affect women. To combat this, engage in shared decision-making with patients and be a lifelong learner of female health topics.   

June 3, 2020 | 2 min read

COVID-19 Hospital Visitor Restrictions May Fuel Obstetric Disparities

By Alexandra Norton, MS3, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Marielle Gross, MD, Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, Tenisha Wilson, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Clinicians must ensure that visitor restrictions do not exacerbate racial disparities in health outcomes during the pandemic. Now more than ever—without family at the bedside—listening to and advocating for your patients is essential.

December 17, 2020 | 4 min read

Racial Discrimination And Larger Bodies

By Kristal Brown, PhD, MSPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We must be aware of our own biases and prejudices in order to give excellent care to every patient.

March 17, 2021 | 3 min read

Making Unconscious Bias Training Work

By Verna Monson, PhD, Minneapolis, Minnesota

To be an antiracist, you must be aware of your own biases and learn from your missteps. And remember that unconscious bias training is only a starting point for dismantling discrimination.

September 6, 2018 | 3 min read

Intimate partner violence: How to start a conversation with patients and staff

By Michelle Patch, MSN, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Preparing and coaching your healthcare team to have open, honest dialogues with patients about intimate partner violence is essential. Failure to screen and address this matter is dangerous, while doing so can save lives.

April 11, 2023 | 2 min read

“Can I hold my newborn baby?”

By Carolyn Sufrin, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Giving birth while imprisoned usually occurs under inhumane conditions, with women remaining shackled and not being permitted to hold newborns. This is a reminder that every patient deserves our compassionate and nonjudgmental care. 

April 28, 2025 | 3 min read

Spotting victims—human trafficking is not uncommon 

Healthcare professionals have a unique opportunity to identify and help victims of human and labor trafficking. Read on for practical tips for how to recognize and support these patients. 

July 18, 2019 | 4 min read

Circle Medicine: A Holistic Approach to Health for Clinicians and Patients

By David Kopacz, MD, University of Washington

It can be helpful to see the circle path of the hero's journey as the healer's journey, the path that we take through our lifelong medical education. For the true healer, this is not a journey we make just once, but periodically we embark on exploring new depths of the suffering of the world, reaching deep into ourselves to find new resources for healing to bring into our work and world.

May 2, 2023 | 2 min read

Treating all patients with compassion (archives, 2023)

By Keisha Ray, PhD, McGovern Medical School

Physician bias is one driver of poor health outcomes among Black patients. A commitment to compassion and active listening can combat this trend. 

September 18, 2018 | 3 min read

No Blushing! How to Talk About Sex With All Patients

By Helene Hedian, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Engaging in open, nonjudgmental discussions about patients’ sexual health provides an opportunity to assess risk, screen for sexual dysfunction, provide counseling, and offer appropriate vaccinations.

February 22, 2021 | 3 min read

Giving Respectful Care to All

By Danielle Prentice, DO, Penn State

Respecting patients' stories, leaving preconceived notions at the door, and avoiding insensitive comments are expected professional norms in healthcare.

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.

October 6, 2021 | 2 min read

Helping Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence During COVID

By Jennifer Knetig, PhD, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare, Kelly Buckholdt, PhD, Veterans Health Administration, Taylor Ceroni, PhD, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health

Intimate partner violence has increased during the pandemic. Clinicians must ask patients about their safety and know where to refer.

July 18, 2022 | 2 min read

How to have effective discussions about alcohol 

By Beth McGinty, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Talking with patients about the risks of heavy alcohol consumption and the benefits of change can have a positive impact on their health. 

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.

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.

June 13, 2019 | 6 min read

How to Talk With a Vaccine Skeptic

By Dharushana Muthulingam, MD, Yale School of Medicine

You cannot treat those who challenge you with contempt. Conversations must be navigated with respect and compassion.

October 16, 2018 | 3 min read

The Heart of Trauma-Informed Care

By Cooper Lloyd, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Trauma-informed care is care in which we recognize trauma’s prevalence and long-term effects; understand trauma’s effects on patient behavior and engagement in care; prioritize patient choice and collaboration while building trust; and offer education and resources to promote healing.

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 5, 2020 | 3 min read

Reconsidering Ethics of Home Birth During COVID-19

By Frances Wang, grad student at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, George Zhang, grad student at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Marielle Gross, MD, Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, Sarah Frey, grad student at Johns Hopkins Medicine, Vivian Nguyen, Johns Hopkins medical student 2020

During the pandemic, many women are forced to consider alternatives to hospital births. It's vital for obstetric providers to be open to facilitating safe births regardless of the setting.

January 6, 2020 | 2 min read

Book Review of “Sissy: A Coming of Gender Story”

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

Recognizing and validating the diversity of gender identities and expressions positively affects the health of our patients and our communities.

July 8, 2019 | 4 min read

Angry Hope: Moving Towards Healing-centered Engagement After Trauma

Trauma is common in human experience, and clinicians must be cognizant of its impact on past, present, and future health of patients.

October 26, 2021 | 3 min read

What is The Scope of a Clinician’s Work?

By Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We must help our patients achieve a state where body, mind, and spirit are working as a whole. We can help them do more than survive. Let’s help them thrive!

January 16, 2020 | 2 min read

The Danger of Reinforcing Negative Biases

By Yolonda Wilson, PhD, 2019-2020 Fellow at the National Humanities Center and 2019-2020 Encore Public Voices Fellow

The way clinicians talk about patients publicly reinforces biases about race, gender, class, etc.