The Hippocratic Society Podcast

At the 2026 Hippocratic Society Annual Conference, Dr. Allison Postell presents on the nature of hope. Is hope an emotion? Is it a virtue? Can we deliberately foster hope in our own lives, in our patients, and in medical practice as a whole? Dr. Postell addresses these questions through a variety of lenses, drawing mainly from the philosophical and psychological framework of Thomas Aquinas.

In this episode, John and Michael lay out the nature of the virtue of sincerity and why it is important for physicians to be sincere, both to their patients and to themselves.

Is coffee moral bioenchancement? What does it mean to enhance our moral actions and what is medicine's role in that? Are the virtues still relevant in a world of enhancement? Join us as with discuss these questions and much more with Dr. Fabrice Jotterand , a leading bioethicist at Oregon Health and Science University. Check out his edited book on this topic: The Routledge Handbook of the Ethi...

What does it mean to hope in medicine and for medicine? How do we foster hope in our patients? What is the object of hope when clinical improvement does not seem feasible? Join John and Michael as they discuss the virtue of hope in medicine, addressing these questions and much more. This discussion previews some of the topics that will be covered at the Hippocratic Society National Conference in H...

In this episode of the Hippocratic Society podcast, Dr. Sofia Carozza discusses the intersection of neuroscience and the concept of the soul, exploring how modern science and medicine perceive the human person. The conversation delves into the historical context of these views, the implications of reductionism in neuroscience, and the importance of recognizing the soul in clinical practice. Both D...

In this episode, John and Michael discuss the importance of balance as a virtue in medicine, emphasizing the need for integration of work and life rather than separation. They explore how unity of life can enhance relationships and personal growth, and offer practical tips for achieving balance through self-reflection and prioritization of meaningful relationships.

Michael and John are joined by Dr. Jay Lynch to discuss the centrality of the physician patient relationship in the practice of medicine. Together, they explore what this relationship would look like, how it has been de-emphasized in modern medical practice, and how to balance technical expertise with human connection

Following upon their conversation about the good in medicine with Dr. Chris Lisanti, John and Michael explore the challenges healthcare professionals face in maintaining cheerfulness amidst emotional turmoil. They highlight the importance of acknowledging emotions and the impact of patient interactions on the physician-patient relationship.

In this conversation, Col. (Ret.) Chris Lisanti, MD, joins Dr. John Rhee and Michael Egan to explore the intrinsic goodness of medicine, the role of basic goods, and the implications of new natural law theory in healthcare. They discuss the challenges posed by institutional pressures, and practical strategies for renewing joy in medical work. The dialogue emphasizes the significance of personal in...

In today's episode, Dr. John Rhee discusses  anamnesis,  the art of taking a patient’s history. In medicine, anamnesis isn’t just about collecting facts; it’s about listening to the patient’s background, their experiences, and their story. By attending to a person’s history in this way, physicians can better understand not only the roots of an ailment, but also the personality and c...

In this episode, Dr. Anthony Weiss reveals the importance of narrative in medicine. He describes how the narrative of the patient not only gives insight into the patient's affliction, but also humanizes the patient by revealing how the affliction is impacting the patient's life. By understanding the narrative of our patients, we can more personally engage in the healing process.

When is curiosity a virtue? Why is it important in clinical practice? How can we care for patients better with curiosity? Join us as we discuss how curiosity will help you flourish in medicine and life.

In this episode, we hear about Keri Brenner's journey to medicine and why she finds Therapeutic Presence so vital to her work as a Psychiatrist and Palliative care physician. We'll also learn how this simple practice can transform all our interactions as well as some practical tips for bringing therapeutic presence into our own lives.

What is self-reflection and how is it different from mindfulness? Why is self-reflection so vital to quality patient care? How can we fruitfully reflect on our experiences without falling into navel-gazing?   In this episode, we explore reflection as key to the practice good medicine, revealing how this simple habit is crucial to personal and professional growth, identity formation, and flour...

What is the role of the moral imagination in medicine? How can engagement with the arts shape better clinicians? What does it mean to cultivate human flourishing through medical education?   Join us as we discuss with Dr. Margaret Chisholm how art can deepen moral imagination in healthcare and why it is essential to the practice of compassionate medicine. Dr. Chisholm is a professor of psychi...

In this episode of The Hippocratic Society Podcast , Michael and Dr. John Rhee dive into the essential role of compassion in medicine. Building on their previous discussion with Dr. Kristen Collier, they explore how true compassion goes beyond emotion—it is an intentional act rooted in wisdom. Through a compelling patient story and reflections on suffering, virtue, and moral imagination, they offe...

What is the place of wisdom in medicine? What are the consequences of a medicine without wisdom? How to we appreciate the importance of medical wisdom both on an individual and institutional level? Join us as we discuss with Dr. Kristin Collier the place of medical wisdom in healthcare today and why we need the humanities to bring flourishing to medicine. Further Reading/References Practical wisdo...

What does it mean to truly be there for our patients? Why is presence so vital to patient care? How can we grow in attention to our patients and those we love? Join us as we discuss the mindful approach to treating patients and how our practice of presence can help us in and out of the hospital. References/Further Reading: " What is clinician presence? A qualitative interview study comparing physi...

Suffering affects all people from all walks of life, but what does it actually mean to suffer? How do we find meaning within suffering? How can we respond to the suffering of another? In this episode, we discuss these important questions with Wes Ely, a critical care physician responsible for changing the face of ICU care in the U.S. Join us as we reflect on how we can flourish in our own sufferin...

Where do ideals come into play in medicine? How do we build trust in patients? What do we do when situations suggest that we act contrary to our values? Join us as we discuss Integrity's irreplaceable role in medicine and how developing this virtue contributes to the flourishing of ourselves and our patients. References/Further Reading: Virtues in the Medical Practice , Thomasma and Pellegrino The...

What does the ideal physician look like? How do we get there? What influences our identity as physicians as we go through training? Where do we look for guidance in this journey? Join us as we delve into the personal journeys of our guests, examine the concept of "professionalism," and explore the ideal physician, including the role of the moral and spiritual dimensions in medical practice. Our di...

How can we live a strong family life with a busy medical career? How do we balance the demands of a flourishing profession and a flourishing family? How can we develop our family relationships in the demanding time of medical training? Join us as we explore the beautiful struggle of pursuing both family and medicine. Come away with some practical tips to love family well amid the particular challe...

What does it mean to flourish? What is medicine's role in Human Flourishing? How can we, as students and doctor, flourish during the demanding time of the medical profession? Bioethicist Xavier Symons joins us as we explore these questions and discover what it means to pursue a life well lived in medicine. Dr. Symons conducted research at Harvard's Human Flourishing Program, providing him with the...

Following our interview with Professor Carter Snead, we dive into Humility, one of the "virtues of embodiment" that he identified as being essential to human flourishing. Join us as we explore how to practically live out this virtue, to benefit our patient, colleagues, and friends.   References/Further Reading: What it Means to be Human ⁠ , Carter Snead The Virtuous Physician: The Role of Vir...

What is common to all humans? What characterizes a human being? Professor Carter Snead provides an answer to these questions with the "anthropology of embodiment" described in his book, What it Means to be Human . Join us as we explore the shared nature connecting all humans beyond our perceived differences, divergent ideas, and preconceived notions.   References/Further Reading: What it Mean...