5 Minutes To Fix Healthcare

What happens when medical expertise meets patient exhaustion without space for connection?In this episode, we hear the story of a young woman years into her struggle with chronic pain, searching not just for answers but for acknowledgment. A five-minute appointment left her with more than disappointment- it left her questioning the very system she turned to for help. Through her story, we explore how small gestures of compassion can transform even the briefest clinical encounter and why partnership

What does true partnership in medicine sound like?In this episode, we hear the story of a young man navigating life with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction and the possibility of an intestinal transplant. His surgeon’s approach—direct, unvarnished, and deeply human—offers a glimpse into how transparency can transform trust at the bedside.Through his story, we reflect on why honesty isn’t one-size-fits-all, and how tailoring transparency to the patient in front of us can shift care from a

What happens when the lines between personal life and professional care blur?In this episode, Dr. Bahuyo shares a surprising encounter that began in a grocery store and quickly escalated into conflict in the exam room. Through her story, we see how moments of misunderstanding can fracture trust or open the door to deeper connection. Eva Minkoff reflects on the role of boundaries, the power of naming emotions, and the small shifts that can change the trajectory of patient-physician relationships

How do we bring meaning and humanity to the final conversations of life?In this episode, we enter the hospital room of a young woman with end-stage cancer. What began as a difficult medical discussion transformed into something deeper—one that offered closure, peace, and purpose in her last days.Through her story, we’re reminded that medicine isn’t only about solving, it’s also about seeing. And when both are present, care becomes more than treatment. It becomes connection.🎧 Listen to this

Five Minutes to Fix Healthcare explores the critical role of human interactions in healthcare, sharing stories from clinicians and patients that highlight moments of connection and disconnection. Each five-minute episode offers universal lessons and insights for clinicians, patients, caregivers, and anyone interested in improving care.Keywordshealthcare, human interactions, clinician stories, patient stories, connection, communication, empathyFor more about Eva Minkoff, click here and watch her TED