
The Patient-Doctor Relationship in an Evolving Cardiology Practice
From The Clinical Excellence Podcast by Adam Cifu, MD
February 10, 2026 · 14 min · Episode 67
About this episode
Dr. Adam Cifu and Dr. Amber Johnson discuss the evolution of the patient-doctor relationship in cardiology, focusing on trust and shared decision making.
Dr. Adam Cifu sits down with cardiologist Dr. Amber Johnson to peel back the curtain on what happens behind the clinic door. Dr. Johnson gets candid about her career evolution, from the reserved, impersonal style she once thought was required of a doctor to a physician who now shares personal experiences to build trust with patients. The two dive into the silent tug-of-war of shared decision making. They explore the challenge of patients who prefer not to choose their treatment path, a hurdle Dr. Johnson encountered firsthand with veterans who were more likely to ask her to simply tell them what to do. It is a raw look at the ego check required when a patient makes a choice the doctor disagrees with and why the most "difficult" cases often lead to the greatest professional joy.
People in this episode
Host: Adam Cifu
Guest: Amber Johnson
Topics covered
- patient-doctor relationship
- cardiology practice
- shared decision making
- trust building
- career evolution
Keywords
- patient-doctor relationship
- cardiology
- shared decision making
- trust
- veterans
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: cardiology, veterans
More episodes of The Clinical Excellence Podcast
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- A Career Attending to, and Teaching About, the Patient-Doctor Relationship · February 24, 2026 · 20 min
- How the Patient-Doctor Relationship Evolves in the Early Years of a Medical Career · January 29, 2026 · 18 min
- The Patient-Trauma Surgeon Relationship · January 13, 2026 · 18 min
- How Modern Genetic Medicine Interacts with the Patient-Doctor Relationship · December 30, 2025 · 14 min
- A Conversation with the Winner of the 2025 Bucksbaum-Siegler Institute Clinical Excellence Award · December 17, 2025 · 27 min
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