The Science of Explaining Medicine

Recent Posts

How to Explain Anything (Almost!): Mastering Analogies for Science Communication

  • 07 April 2026

In medicine and science, we spend our lives immersed in the microscopic and the abstract —viral replication, enzymatic pathways—and it can feel like you’re speaking a foreign language to patients. One of the single best communication tools we have is mastering the art of analogies. They’re like secret decoder rings for complex ideas, transforming the unfamiliar into something knowable and can help patients understand and buy into the clinical plan (see what I did there?)

Use The Power of Story in Medicine and Science

  • 03 March 2026

We've all been there. The torture of the sleepy, after lunch, data-packed scientific presentation. You are interested in the topic; it’s important, but across the room, eyes are glazing. Robust evidence is crucial, but the takeaway knowledge can sometimes be lost in the data unless we give the audience something to help prime their brains to receive it. How do we capture attention, spark curiosity, and make our information memorable?  The answer is actually as old as humanity…it’s STORY. 

Rethink Using 'Rare' to Describe Risk

  • 03 February 2026

We need to stop using “rare” to describe risks. Here’s why. Have you ever told a patient a side effect is “rare”, “unlikely” or “common”? To you, “rare” might mean <1%. To your patient? It could mean anything from 0.01% (1 in 10,000) to 10% or more. 

Why Should We Engage in Public Communication?

  • 06 January 2026

Here’s a key question: Why would medical professionals and academics even think about engaging in public communication? Let me share my "why," and you can see if it resonates.