Nana Dadzie Ghansah is a cardiac anesthesiologist.

Beyond the disease: the power of empathy in health care

Physician
March 21, 2023

They are not just sick people in need of care. They are people with lives, hopes, plans, and dreams. A day before they showed up, they may have dropped a son at school, taken a daughter to soccer practice, made dinner, had lunch with friends, done their nails, or even bought a new golf club.

Of course, there is the drug addict with endocarditis, the perpetual drunk with intracranial hematoma, or even …

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Beyond the disease: the power of empathy in health care

Sometimes, medicine isn’t elegant

Physician
December 8, 2019

“The hospital room was as cold as dead skin, the hallway crowded with lost souls and reeking of illness.”
― Raquel Cepeda, “Bird of Paradise: How I Became Latina”

Once upon a time, I met a young lady who wanted to be a doctor. I could see the naked determination and resolve in her eyes. Her older sister, who was a friend, asked her to talk to me about her dream.

I asked …

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Sometimes, medicine isn’t elegant

Don’t forget to manage your patients’ dignity

Physician
November 16, 2019

Just before I induced anesthesia, he said, “Doc, I want to apologize beforehand. I am incontinent due to a previous surgery so I might wet the sheets.”

I told him not to worry and that we understood and that “these things do happen.” His response has stuck with me: “Doc, but there is still some shame.”

I nodded, told him not to worry since he was going to get a catheter anyway, …

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Don’t forget to manage your patients’ dignity