Jody Stern: Why Compassion is Key to a Better Healthcare System

The current healthcare system is failing everyone, says practicing neurosurgeon and author of Grief Connects Us, Dr Joseph Stern (Jody). We need to reimagine how healthcare is delivered. 

Having experienced the grief of losing his sister and her husband, and seeing what the healthcare system is like as a patient: how terrified people are, how in need of help, assistance, and support they are, Jody has made it his mission to treat patients with kindness and compassion.

“I feel that the compassion part is the key part. And if you start with that, you have better care, more satisfied patients, healthier patients, happier doctors, and happier systems.”

In this episode of Into The Magic Shop, Jody explains why learning to connect to emotions makes you a better doctor, why the idea of perfection among neurosurgeons is dangerous, and why grief is a universal truth and experience that we all share, no matter who you are. 

“We all need each other, we all need that support, we need that kindness. And the only way to start to change how we do things, how we treat each other, how we interact, is to have that level of kindness.”

To find out more, download and listen to Jody.

On today’s podcast:

• The nature of grief
• Why doctors are taught to have distance
• Our healthcare system is destructive
• The skills of palliative medicine
• Care in community is real and attainable

Links:

• Joseph Stern - Grief Connects Us: A Neurosurgeon's Lessons On Love, Loss And Compassion