Curing vs. Caring: Dr. Kleinman on Communication, Empathy, and the Role of the Physician

What does it really mean to care for patients in an era increasingly shaped by technology?In this episode of The Future of Medicine, host Dr. Euan Ashley is joined by Dr. Arthur Kleinman — psychiatrist, medical anthropologist, and one of the most influential thinkers on illness, caregiving, and the human experience of medicine. Across a wide-ranging and deeply reflective conversation, Dr. Kleinman explores the enduring distinction between curing disease and caring for people, arguing that medicine cannot succeed without truly understanding patients’ lived experiences.Drawing on decades of clinical practice, teaching, and scholarship — including his landmark works The Illness Narratives and The Soul of Care — Dr. Kleinman reflects on why communication remains one of medicine’s most under-taught yet essential skills. He discusses how medical training can unintentionally erode clinicians’ ability to listen, the moral importance of narrative and presence, and why patients so often value feeling heard as much as — or more than — technical expertise.The conversation also looks ahead, examining the role of AI in healthcare. While Dr. Kleinman sees enormous promise in technology as a tool to support clinicians and reduce administrative burden, he makes a compelling case that wisdom, empathy, and human connection can never be automated.From medical education and burnout to caregiving at the end of life, this episode offers a powerful reminder of why humanity must remain at the center of medicine — even as innovation accelerates.The Future of Medicine brings you weekly conversations with the innovators and thinkers shaping health and healthcare today. The show features extraordinary speakers from Stanford Medicine Grand Rounds, one of the longest-running and most respected forums in academic medicine.Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.