Sign in

Nathan Gray, MD, FACP

@nathanagray.bsky.social
467 followers 153 following 32 posts

Palliative Doc, artist, in Baltimore, MD. Serious illness care along with some dabbling at the intersection of art and health 🖌️ My Links: linktr.ee/NathanGray

PostsRepliesMedia
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
What do general pediatrics and outpatient palliative care have in common? (Thoughts from a palliative doc who started medical life thinking he’d be a general pediatrician…) #hapc
040
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
Full article link here: www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
liebertpub.com
Health, Heartache, and Humor: A Practical Framework for Approaching Humor in Serious Illness | Journal of Palliative Medicine
Despite the pain and suffering that often accompany serious illness, humor can play a rich and meaningful role as part of multifaceted patient–clinician interactions. Patients often use humor to commu...
040
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
And we close with a “top ten” list of cautions and guidance for those encountering humor in clinical work day to day…
142
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
We listed some examples of how this plays out (using my own art)…
110
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
In our paper, we suggest the most important thing to consider is the source and the object… who’s making the humor and what is it about?? Some source/object combos are off limits, some high risk, some generally safe. It may seem obvious, but patients get more leeway than docs!
110
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
Patients use humor for coping, to communicate around sensitive topics, to build rapport, or to reassert control in scary times… clinicians also use humor to cope, build rapport, or even lighten the mood. But when’s the wrong time or the right time!?
120
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
How do those caring for folks with serious illness navigate humor?? Patients and family often bring humor to encounters, and many say they appreciate it from providers… Happy to have paired up w PC SW Melissa Rizzollo to write some fun guidance for @j-palliativemed.bsky.social #hapc
291
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
If you get stronger… #hapc
0167
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
When none of the discharge options fits…
171
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
I never promise we can make all the pain go away, as there are parts of medical suffering we’ll probably never tame, but I love the wins when we’re able to make a difficult day feel a bit more bearable.
082
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
Answer data questions with data. Answer emotion and meaning questions with empathy and humility…
090
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Magic in the air ❤️💕 Happy Hospital Valentine’s tomorrow!
060
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
Of course! the second of my two posts (as well as the longer explanation on IG) mention those situations… when a discussion/answer is urgent. :)
010
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
Some of the times I’ve missed the mark the worst in serious illness conversations over the years have been when I barged into a new topic without specifically asking permission first. #hapc
051
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
In situations where a patient says they can’t handle a pressing diagnosis/decision that needs urgent action, I ask if there’s a family member they trust to handle the info and decision, if not, I try to give them some control over details of how info is shared before proceeding. #hapc
150
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
When discussing serious health issues with patients, it’s crucial to ask permission each time a new sensitive topic is broached… people may have specific needs, timing, or preferences they’d like to voice before you “go there.”
22511
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
Oh my, I had almost forgotten about that one. That one puts me in real dad-joke territory…
081
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
(Family meeting nemeses...) Reminded of this one rounding on inpatient palliative consults today… the hospital can be a busy, noisy place. ❤️ #hapc
1173
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 25/12/2024
My annual holiday greeting for those working the hospital this season… 🎁
081
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 21/12/2024
Historically on Twitter and IG, still fairly active on Instagram: www.instagram.com/inkvessel/
010
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
One of my favorite types of cartoon to draw for a break from a heavy day is “medical-term-brought-to-life…”
1100
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
:) Yes, definitely!! (I think real empathy is often a driver, Just never want the tissues to become a disruption rather than a kindness… have witnessed some very silly situations where the whole moment was railroaded by clinicians like myself jumping around try to find them!)
010
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
Thanks so much for the kind words!! Makes me happy to hear the art is useful!
010
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
Hooray! You’re here too!!! Thanks for saying “hi!”
010
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
2/2 #hapc #grief
1102
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
In honor of Bluesky migration, I’m going to try to regularly re-post some of my favs from the archives for those here who don’t know me. This one on a valuable lesson I learned about tissues from @vickieleff.bsky.social (1/2) #hapc #graphicmedicine
4265
Reposted by Nathan Gray, MD, FACP
Yousuf Zafar, MD, MHS, FASCO @yousufzafar.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
When I see @nathanagray.bsky.social has a new graphic narrative, I click. This collab with @fumikochino.bsky.social tells the important story of pre-auths, denial of care, and how patients suffer as a result.
usatoday.com
For patients and doctors, insurance prior authorization can be a dangerous game | Opinion
Doctors trying to get patients necessary drugs and procedures stymied by health insurance prior authorization. It's not a game. It's life and death.
0155
Reposted by Nathan Gray, MD, FACP
Jared Rubenstein, MD @drjrubenstein.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
Check out this powerful and heartbreaking piece by @fumikochino.bsky.social and @nathanagray.bsky.social on the cruelty of prior authorizations www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
usatoday.com
For patients and doctors, insurance prior authorization can be a dangerous game | Opinion
Doctors trying to get patients necessary drugs and procedures stymied by health insurance prior authorization. It's not a game. It's life and death.
13016
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
#graphicmedicine
030
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
The timing of this story is heated, with health insurance industry in the news, but I was honored to collaborate with @fumikochino.bsky.social and grateful to my patient and his family for the chance to draw/write about the pain of #priorauth for @usatoday.com . www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
usatoday.com
For patients and doctors, insurance prior authorization can be a dangerous game | Opinion
Doctors trying to get patients necessary drugs and procedures stymied by health insurance prior authorization. It's not a game. It's life and death.
2276
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
I’ll have to learn more about it!! Lots of great folks using it. I’ve struggled to keep up with all the platforms while also maintaining my day job! :)
120
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 17/11/2024
Wow, cool!! I’m really honored to see the work used like this!! 🥹☺️
110
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 17/11/2024
I’m ok with reuse of my graphic for educational purposes as long as artist credit is included :-)! Always appreciate when folks ask bc I love knowing when my work is useful!!!
130
Nathan Gray, MD, FACP @nathanagray.bsky.social · 17/11/2024
Hello! I’m a palliative doc and after-hours cartoon/comic artist using graphic art as a medium for storytelling and advocacy in the serious illness space. May still post in the other place but looking for a less muddled space to share... #hapc #graphicmedicine
4465