When we think of social engagement, we tend to think of the time we spend with family, close friends, neighbors, co-workers, and even the casual acquaintance. Less so do we acknowledge the relationships we have with our clinicians -the very people who not only affect how we feel during an encounter, but also have the power to make a direct and immediate impact on our health and general wellness. Fortunately, awareness of the importance of our relationships with clinicians is growing with more research being done and more initiatives being developed. Examples include those spearheaded by SCL affiliates Drs. Stephanie Harman and Karl Lorenz in Palliative Care and Dr. Abraham Verghese, director of Presence, a new center at Stanford medicine devoted to bedside manner in order to optimize patient experience and ultimately, their health. Indeed, recent research finds that how people want to feel shapes how people evaluate their doctors, how well they adhere to recommendations, and even how well they remember their advice. Importantly, ethnic differences in how people want to feel may even account for some of the cultural misunderstandings commonly reported during patient-physician interactions.

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This article was recommended by Tamara Sims, Research Scientist and Director of the Sightlines Project at the Stanford Center on Longevity.