Redefining health care through compassion, trust, and connection beyond the clinic. Health begins long before a patient enters a clinic or hospital. It takes root in the neighborhoods, families, and faith communities that shape our daily lives. In Medicine for the Greater Good, Panagis Galiatsatos shows how physicians, community leaders, and health systems can work together to strengthen those roots and transform the way we understand and deliver care. Dr. Galiatsatos offers a compelling vision of health care that extends beyond the exam room. Chapters highlight the expanding role of Community Health Workers, advice for treating both children's and adults' mental health, and insights from a surgeon and a religious leader working to advance community-focused projects at the state level. Through partnerships with churches and community organizations, volunteers are trained as trusted health educators, addressing challenges that medical advice alone cannot solve. These collaborations create lasting networks of support that improve access to screenings, encourage healthier lifestyles, and foster trust between institutions and communities. Examples drawn from initiatives developed during and after the pandemic underscore how resilient, adaptive outreach can save lives while reducing costs for hospitals and health systems. In an era when population health and cost efficiency are under intense scrutiny, this book offers a model rooted in trust, compassion, and the shared work of building healthier communities. Whether you are a health care professional frustrated by seeing the benefits of your team's service end at the clinic door or a community member who sees the benefits of connecting with your local health system, this first-hand account will give you the inspiration to get started.
Panagis Galiatsatos, MD, MHS, is an associate professor and a co-founder and co-director of Medicine for the Greater Good at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He is a coauthor of Building Healthy Communities through Medical-Religious Partnerships.
Dedication Table of Contents Acknowledgements Prologue: We Just Did It: - The Genesis of Medicine for the Greater Good Section 1: A Physician Citizen 1. Chapter 1: Bedside by the Community 2. Chapter 2: Building on Evidence for Engagement Section 2: Physician and Healthcare Citizens 3. Chapter 3: The Community "Chart Review" 4. Chapter 4: Showing-Up...Consistently 5. Chapter 5: Homophily & Transitivity 6. Chapter 6: Medical Messaging Section 3: A Community Champion 7. Chapter 7: Community Champions 8. Chapter 8: Goals 9. Chapter 9: Maintenance: Moments versus Movements 10. Chapter 10: Bringing it all Together Section 4: The Community Champions 11. Chapter 11: The Mensch at the School 12. Chapter 12: The Student at Turner Station 13. Chapter 13: The Residents' Advocate 14. Chapter 14: Together in Care Section 5: Closing Thoughts 15. Chapter 15: And We're Still At It
Redefining health care through compassion, trust, and connection beyond the clinic.
