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As a contributor to the Doctor’s Voice section of Physicians Weekly, I write with a profound sense of hope for the future of our profession and a deep acknowledgment of our shared responsibility toward our patients and colleagues. I aim to engage you purposefully through writing and conversations with thought leaders in Physicians Weekly. Some articles and interviews will provide insights into medical care, while others will offer practical advice grounded in medical science and clinical experience. Additionally, I will focus on how to enhance care delivery within our local communities.
Central to my writings will be the exploration of what constitutes “the good of the physician-patient relationship.” This theme is deeply rooted in my personal, educational, and professional background and the insights these experiences have provided into the medical profession and patient care. Drawing on my knowledge of the history of medicine, medical ethics, and the philosophical foundations of medical practice, I will examine how these elements converge to define and enhance the physician-patient relationship. This exploration will guide our discussions and provide a unifying thread throughout my contributions.
From Philosophy to Practice: Bridging the Gap
The conceptualization of the “good” will be a uniting thread throughout my writings. I humbly accept the challenge while acknowledging that defining what constitutes “good” is complex in a modern, diverse society where multiple perspectives and values coexist. Despite this complexity, thinking about what constitutes the good life, the good of our patients, and our profession in our relationships with the persons we serve is integral to our universal human experience of healing and being healed.
While discussing the good is humbling and demanding, I hope our conversations do not remain a philosophical ideal but a prudent reality as we work together to improve the care of our patients and our profession. I believe the best way to achieve this is to explore these concepts through a historical lens and contemporary practices to bridge the gap between the philosophical basis of medical practice and the lived experience of patients and clinicians.
We live and practice in a time when our conceptualization of the good life for ourselves is challenged by many philosophical, societal, religious, scientific, and economic influences. Add to this the complexity of disease in an age of information overload within an ailing healthcare system. We begin to understand why so many patients and healthcare professionals feel adrift.
These feelings are real, and my intention is not to bring judgment. Rather, I aim to bring hope as we explore our understanding of the good for our patients and ourselves as medical professionals, for doing so can be incredibly empowering and restore a sense of what is special about being a healthcare professional and a patient. As I write, I kindly welcome comments from community members as it is in asking the big questions, having meaningful conversations, and acting on these dialogs that we will achieve much in the care of our patients and each other.
