Good Medicine: Rethinking Patient Care

Be the Sun, Not the Salt

Dr. Rana Awdish shares her profound journey from being a critical care physician to a patient fighting for her life, and how this experience revolutionized her perspective on patient care. After losing an unborn child and nearly losing her own life due to a burst tumor, Rana witnessed firsthand the gaps in the healthcare system, particularly in how medical professionals handle emotional care and communicate with patients. Her experience led her to advocate for a healthcare approach that emphasizes empathy, effective communication, and the small yet impactful acts of care that can significantly alter a patient's experience. Her story is a powerful reminder of the potential for personal adversity to drive positive change and the importance of compassion and empathy in medicine, and in our everyday lives.

Reference Links

• “In Shock: My Journey from Death to Recovery and the Redemptive Power of Hope” book by Dr. Rana Awdish
• Harvard Business Review article “Making Time to Really Listen to Your Patients” by Rana Awdish and Leonard L. Berry
• Other Editorials by Rana Awdish
• “The Shape of the Shore,” Rana Awdish’s award-winning essay in Intima: A Journal of Narrative Medicine
• Other Essays by Rana Awdish
• “Compassionomics” by Stephen Trzeciak, MD, MPH

More about Dr. Rana Awdish

Dr. Rana Awdish is the author of In Shock, a critically acclaimed, bestselling memoir based on her own critical illness. She is a sought-after public speaker, delivering inspirational keynote addresses to groups ranging from professional medical societies, to members of Congress, to organizations combatting homelessness.

A pulmonary and critical care physician, she serves as the current Director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program at Henry Ford Hospital. She also serves as Medical Director of Care Experience for the System, where she has integrated compassionate communication strategies and Narrative Medicine practice into the curriculum.

Connect with Dr. Rana Awdish

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram

To explore the book, or for more episodes, information, tips and tools to live a more heliotropic life, visit us at bethesunnotthesalt.com and find us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.

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1. Rana Awdish episode (00:00:00)

2. Introducing Dr. Rana Awdish (00:01:16)

3. Unpacking the Journey: From Physician to Patient and Beyond (00:03:31)

4. Transforming Medical Communication: A Personal Mission (00:06:37)

5. Developing a Compassionate Communication Training Program (00:08:35)

6. The Power of Empathy and Compassion in Healthcare (00:11:08)

7. Listening is a Form of Devotion (00:18:17)

8. A Roadmap to Difficult Conversations (00:20:05)

9. The Heliotropic Way to Reflect Competence (00:22:50)

10. Applying Compassionate Communication in Personal Life (00:25:10)

11. Using Curiosity as a Tool (00:27:09)

12. Checking in on the Availability of Others (00:30:02)

13. Practicing Efficiency vs. Authenticity (00:31:39)

14. Navigating Emotional Support During Crisis (00:33:50)

15. Self Compassion: Releasing the Need to be Perfect (00:35:15)

16. The Healing Power of Acknowledging and Sharing Pain (00:37:45)

17. Concluding Thoughts on Compassion and Presence (00:41:48)