Uncertainty in the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Art of Medicine.

* Abbreviation: COVID-19 — : coronavirus disease 2019 Medicine is often described as a dynamic balance between art and science. Some argue that the increased emphasis on science has moved us away from the art of medicine because evidence-based medicine and scientific advances push us toward more standardized and cost-effective care.1 As clinicians, we are taught to integrate data into our patients’ care plans. Evidence allows us to speak with certainty as we guide patients through therapeutic options and partner with them to make informed decisions about their medical care. But what happens when evidence and data are scarce or when new discoveries seem contrary to previous understanding? The current pandemic has shaken the ground beneath us, laying bare our disorientation and vulnerability without scientific doctrine to guide us. Perhaps it is time to lean into the art of medicine: treating and healing patients with empathy, concern, and shared solidarity during these challenging times. During our educational journey as medical providers, we gain new vocabulary and syntax, learning a new language that succinctly and accurately describes clinical history, symptoms, and differential diagnosis to fluidly and efficiently communicate with each other. As scientific practitioners of medicine, we dive deep into the literature, trusting … Address correspondence to Yuan He, MD, MPH, National Clinician Scholars Program, University of Pennsylvania, 423 Guardian Dr, Blockley Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19147. E-mail: yuan.he{at}pennmedicine.upenn.edu