The EMR was meant to be our masterpiece, a portrait of precision. But like Dorian Gray’s painting, its perfection hides decay: the hours, the clicks, the quiet erosion of connection. What we call “complete documentation” may be the most exquisite tragedy in modern care.

At my son’s homework table, dyslexia became the word that defined him. What began as common ground soon felt like erasure—a title overshadowing the boy himself. In medicine and in life, we often mistake titles for identity. True recognition means seeing beyond the label to the whole person.

We’re sharing a sneak peek of our recent conversation with the team at The Care Collective Podcast. The first snippet is weighty. It touches on the realities (ultimate consequence and shame) that often sit just below the surface in healthcare. But at the center, it isn’t about blame. It’s about learning to tell our stories honestly, and about offering support in places where silence has too often lived.

What we’re reaching for is understanding. Understanding between patients and providers. Understanding between families and systems. Because only when the whole story is spoken can healing start to take root.