Listening: The Lost Art – Part 2

By Andre Harris, MD, chief medical officer, Miami Valley Hospital

In 2022, I wrote a Premier Pulse article titled “The Lost Art of Listening,” where I outlined the essential components of active listening: eye contact, facial expressions, curiosity, avoiding interruptions, and paraphrasing. These elements remain foundational to how we connect with one another. At Premier Health, our compass commits us to safety, presence, and understanding. But how do we truly get to understanding? It begins with listening.

Why is listening so impactful?
From a neuroscience standpoint, listening activates the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for emotional regulation, empathy, and human connection. When someone feels truly heard, it’s not just a psychological experience; it’s a biological one.

Doctors John and Julie Gottman, renowned for their work on relationships and emotional connection, explain that when we listen with empathy and attention, the brain often releases oxytocin—a hormone sometimes called the “bonding hormone.” This same hormone is released during warm, affectionate interactions like hugging. Oxytocin fosters trust, a sense of belonging, and love. In essence, being heard can feel like being loved.

When patients feel heard, it signals to their nervous system that they are safe and valued. This emotional safety isn't just comforting, it’s clinically meaningful. It enhances communication, reduces anxiety, and builds the trust necessary for healing.

Being heard brings validation. Validation creates emotional safety. Emotional safety touches the deepest, most relational parts of our brain, which overlap with the experiences of love, connection, and trust. For patients, especially those in vulnerable moments, being truly heard isn’t optional. It’s essential.

So yes, people in general appreciate being heard. But patients need to be heard. Not just for the neurochemical benefit, but for the safety, quality of care, and dignity that emerge from this level of communication.

At Premier Health, safety, presence, and understanding are not just words—they are commitments. And when we embody them through the lost art of listening, we don’t just treat illness—we Inspire Better Health.

Back to the June 2025 issue of Premier Pulse