David Schenck and Larry R. Churchill

This short piece in the Annals of Internal Medicine is a distillation of the book, Healers by the same authors.  Interviews with 50 physicians recognized as “healers” revealed eight skills as pivotal: do the little things; take time; be open and listen; find something to like, to love; remove barriers; let the patient explain; share authority; and be committed. From Ed.