A Space for Mystery | Elisha Waldman, MD

Mar 7, 2023

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Matters of faith and spirituality are seldom openly discussed in medicine. But for our guest in this episode, pediatric palliative care doctor Elisha Waldman, MD, these issues are a daily fixture of his work. Dr. Waldman is former associate chief of the Division of Pediatric Palliative Care at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and former medical director of pediatric palliative care at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He is the author of the memoir This Narrow Space, in which he describes his seven years working as a pediatric oncologist at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, Israel, while grappling with the ethical and political complexities that came with treating his Muslim, Jewish, and Christian patients. Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Waldman discusses his formative religious upbringing, delves deep into what it means to be present with patients in moments of suffering and existential anguish, and examines what his experiences have taught him about the enigmas of life, death, faith, and identity.

In this episode, you will hear about:

How Dr. Waldman’s early interest in religious studies influenced his pursuit of a career caring for children with cancer - 2:12
Dr. Waldman’s religious upbringing as the son of a conservative Jewish rabbi - 7:00
A discussion of spiritual care in medicine and what it means to be a “spiritual generalist” versus a “spiritual specialist” - 13:49
Reflections on what brought Dr. Waldman to Jerusalem and what it was like to practice medicine in such a diverse and politically complex city - 23:01
How Dr. Waldman finds the emotional fortitude to continue giving care and comfort to children who are seriously ill - 26:11
A discussion of powerful and beautiful moments in accompanying patients through suffering - 33:40
How pain differs from suffering and what physicians can do once they recognize that difference - 48:13
Dr. Waldman’s advice to young clinicians on being present and curious with patients - 57:25

Dr. Elisha Waldman is the author of This Narrow Space: A Pediatric Oncologist, His Muslim, Jewish, and Christian Patients, and a Hospital in Jerusalem.

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