The Clinical Excellence Podcast The Doctor–Patient Relationship as Seen by a Senior Physician
Sep 23, 2025
Dr. Alex Lickerman, a direct primary care physician and author, shares insights from his extensive medical career. He emphasizes the importance of balancing authority and empathy in doctor-patient interactions. Trust is crucial in modern medicine, especially amidst misinformation. Alex discusses strategies for managing frustrations with patients while avoiding care withdrawal. He highlights the significance of long-term relationship building and applies psychological insights to enhance patient adherence. Finally, he shares his experiences in guiding families through end-of-life decisions with compassion.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Patients Crave Leadership And Empathy
- Patients want both confident leadership and empathic listening from doctors.
- Balancing authority and warmth produces relaxed, genuine conversations that build trust.
Long-Term Care Builds Crucial Trust
- Longitudinal care builds deep trust that matters more today than before.
- Trust is critical amid rising misinformation and declining confidence in medicine.
Train Clear Scripts For Clinical Leadership
- Teach trainees explicit scripts and models for when to lead and when to share decisions.
- Use clear examples, especially in high-stakes settings, to accelerate clinical judgment development.
