Dr. Abraham Verghese (Part 1): When There Is No Cure, How Can We Heal?
06/11/24 • 45 min
For doctors who spend years training to make their patients better, what happens when there is no cure?
This is how Dr. Abraham Verghese came of age as a physician.
At the height of the AIDS epidemic, he treated a rural population of dying young men, men his own age, who had no future and were often shunned by other doctors. Working with his AIDS patients, Dr. Verghese learned that treating the spirit can bring patients and their families an invaluable part of what they need when facing the incurable. As Dr. Verghese became renowned both as a doctor and a writer, he carried forward his rituals of personal focus on the patient and their families to keep humanity central to his medical practice.
(02:28) Dr. Murthy and Dr. Verghese recount their first meeting
(06:14) How did Abraham learn the difference between curing and healing?
(09:10) What did Abraham come to understand about doctors while caring for AIDS patients in the 1980s?
(13:08) How Dr. Murthy got his start in public health during the AIDS epidemic
(17:22) How can we build a more humanistic approach back into medicine?
(21:20) Do patients feel invisible these days?
(24:21) With the proliferation of electronic medical records, how can medical students learn to connect with patients?
(29:24) How Dr. Murthy learned the importance of the physical exam with patients.
(36:11) When Dr. Verghese sees patients, what are some of the rituals he practices?
(41:12) Was medicine always Dr. Verghese’s calling?
We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at [email protected] with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.
Dr. Abraham Verghese, Physician and Writer
Instagram: @abraham.verghese.official
About Dr. Abraham Verghese
Dr. Abraham Verghese is a renowned physician, author, and educator, currently serving as the Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine. He leads the PRESENCE center at Stanford. Dr. Verghese's work sits at the intersections of medical practice, humanism, and narrative, setting a higher bar for patient-centered care. In addition to two memoirs, he is the author of the two acclaimed and bestselling novels, “Cutting for Stone” and “The Covenant of Water.” In 2016, President Obama awarded him the National Humanities Medal; he is also the recipient of numerous honorary degrees. He is an elected member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy as well as the American Association of Arts & Sciences. His dedication to patient care and his promotion of bedside medicine creates a meaningful dialogue in the medical field.
For doctors who spend years training to make their patients better, what happens when there is no cure?
This is how Dr. Abraham Verghese came of age as a physician.
At the height of the AIDS epidemic, he treated a rural population of dying young men, men his own age, who had no future and were often shunned by other doctors. Working with his AIDS patients, Dr. Verghese learned that treating the spirit can bring patients and their families an invaluable part of what they need when facing the incurable. As Dr. Verghese became renowned both as a doctor and a writer, he carried forward his rituals of personal focus on the patient and their families to keep humanity central to his medical practice.
(02:28) Dr. Murthy and Dr. Verghese recount their first meeting
(06:14) How did Abraham learn the difference between curing and healing?
(09:10) What did Abraham come to understand about doctors while caring for AIDS patients in the 1980s?
(13:08) How Dr. Murthy got his start in public health during the AIDS epidemic
(17:22) How can we build a more humanistic approach back into medicine?
(21:20) Do patients feel invisible these days?
(24:21) With the proliferation of electronic medical records, how can medical students learn to connect with patients?
(29:24) How Dr. Murthy learned the importance of the physical exam with patients.
(36:11) When Dr. Verghese sees patients, what are some of the rituals he practices?
(41:12) Was medicine always Dr. Verghese’s calling?
We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at [email protected] with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.
Dr. Abraham Verghese, Physician and Writer
Instagram: @abraham.verghese.official
About Dr. Abraham Verghese
Dr. Abraham Verghese is a renowned physician, author, and educator, currently serving as the Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine. He leads the PRESENCE center at Stanford. Dr. Verghese's work sits at the intersections of medical practice, humanism, and narrative, setting a higher bar for patient-centered care. In addition to two memoirs, he is the author of the two acclaimed and bestselling novels, “Cutting for Stone” and “The Covenant of Water.” In 2016, President Obama awarded him the National Humanities Medal; he is also the recipient of numerous honorary degrees. He is an elected member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy as well as the American Association of Arts & Sciences. His dedication to patient care and his promotion of bedside medicine creates a meaningful dialogue in the medical field.
Previous Episode
Sara Bareilles & Celia Keenan-Bolger: How Do Art and Friendship Set the Stage for Our Mental Health?
In this special episode, Dr. Murthy sits down with Sara Bareilles, Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter and actress, and Celia Keenan-Bolger, Tony award-winning singer and actress. You may know more about them as performers than you do about their experiences with mental health, but this conversation will change that.
As two very good friends who are warm, funny, and genuine, this conversation is an intimate portrait of their friendship and its importance to mental health. Their conversation explores questions many of us have on our minds: How do you prioritize friendship when the world demands us to be so productive? What does it mean to show up for one another? And how do you overcome questions of self-worth and find the courage to speak openly about your mental health?
As you listen, we hope you feel their friendship effect, too. Sara Bareilles closes out the episode with a surprise performance.
This episode was recorded LIVE in New York. Special thanks to the 92NY for hosting.
(03:55) How did Sara Bareilles and Celia Keenan-Bolger meet and become good friends?
(08:33) How can we make friends and have healthy social lives as we get older?
(18:03) Is there a difference between the way men and women make friends in middle age?
(25:54) How do Sara Bareilles and Celia Keenan-Bolger create the space for friendship in a world that’s always asking them to be more productive?
(33:24) How do Sara Bareilles and Celia Keenan-Bolger balance online activity with real-world friendships?
(44:02) Where did Sara Bareilles and Celia Keenan-Bolger find the courage and clarity to speak openly about their mental health?
(52:41) How have Sara Bareilles and Celia Keenan-Bolger dealt with feelings about lack of self-worth when they arise?
(01:02:19) What are some of Dr. Murthy’s and his guests’ favorite lyrics?
(01:12:52) A special performance by Sara Bareilles
We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at [email protected] with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.
Sara Bareilles, Singer-Songwriter & Actress
Instagram: @sarabareilles
Facebook: @sarabareilles
Celia Keenan-Bolger, Actress & Singer
Instagram: @celiakb
About Sara Bareilles and Celia Keenan-Bolger
Sara Bareilles has received three Tony® Award nominations, most recently in 2023 for her performance as ‘The Baker’s Wife’ in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods – three Primetime Emmy® Award nominations and nine GRAMMY® Award nominations. On Broadway, she composed music and lyrics for Waitress, and stepped into the lead role both on Broadway and in the West End. Most recently, she starred in the filmed live-capture of Waitress: The Musical, which ran for two weeks in theatres nationwide in December 2023. Her other musical theater credits include a song on the Tony Award-nominated score for SpongeBob SquarePants and Emmy Award-nominated appearance as Mary Magdalene in NBC's “Jesus Christ Superstar Live.” Bareilles produced original music and executive-produced the musical drama series “Little Voice,” teaming up with Jessie Nelson, J.J. Abrams and Apple. She also plays Dawn Solano on the Emmy-nominated musical comedy series “Girls5eva”, the third season of which premieres in March 2024 on Netflix.
Celia Keenan-Bolger is an actress and singer. She won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for portraying Scout Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (2018). She has also been Tony-nominated for her roles in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2005), Peter and the Starcatcher (2012), The Glass Menagerie (2014), and her most recent role in Mother Play (2024). Other credits - Broadway: The Cherry Orchard, Les Misérables. Off-Broadway: The Oldest Boy, Merrily We Roll Along, A Small Fire. Select Film/TV: “The Gilded Age,” “Bull,” “Louie,” “The Good Wife,” “Nurse Jackie,” “Good Behavior,” “Elementary". Tony Award, Outer Critics Circle, three Drama Desk Award wins.
Next Episode
Dr. Abraham Verghese (Part 2): On the Healing Power of Writing
In this part 2 of their conversation, the Surgeon General explores Dr. Abraham Verghese's craft as a writer -- what is his creative process? And what is the relationship between his writing and his work in medicine? The episode closes with Dr. Verghese sharing one of his favorite poems.
(02:56) How does Dr. Verghese deal with moments of fear and uncertainty that arise in practicing medicine?
(04:42) How has Dr. Murthy dealt with uncertainties in practicing medicine?
(08:19) How did Dr. Verghese’s unusual medical training shape who he is as a physician?
(15:18) What gave Dr. Verghese the courage to try writing?
(20:20) What is Dr. Verghese’s creative process for writing?
(22:19) What was it like for Dr. Murthy to write a book?
(26:41) How does Dr. Verghese deal with time pressure and deadlines when writing?
(30:15) Does Dr. Verghese experience writer’s block?
(33:36) A poetic moment with Dr. Verghese
We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at [email protected] with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.
Dr. Abraham Verghese, Physician and Writer
Instagram: @abraham.verghese.official
About Dr. Abraham Verghese
Dr. Abraham Verghese is a renowned physician, author, and educator, currently serving as the Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine. He leads the PRESENCE center at Stanford. Dr. Verghese's work sits at the intersections of medical practice, humanism, and narrative, setting a higher bar for patient-centered care. In addition to two memoirs, he is the author of the two acclaimed and bestselling novels, “Cutting for Stone” and “The Covenant of Water.” In 2016, President Obama awarded him the National Humanities Medal; he is also the recipient of numerous honorary degrees. He is an elected member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy as well as the American Association of Arts & Sciences. His dedication to patient care and his promotion of bedside medicine creates a meaningful dialogue in the medical field.
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