Stanford 25 Perspectives
Featuring Dr. Maja Artandi
August 26, 2024
“I am very lucky because I knew that I wanted to be a physician from an early age,” says Maja Artandi, MD. For her, the fascination with the human body—understanding its functions, identifying what could go wrong, and discovering ways to fix it—was compelling. “I always thought that understanding the human body, figuring out what could go wrong, and learning how to fix it was the most amazing thing someone could do,” she reflects. This passion led Dr. Artandi to pursue her medical school training in Germany, where she gained invaluable experience working at an academic medical center for several years.
A pivotal moment in Dr. Artandi's career was her acceptance into the internal medicine residency program at Stanford. “I was extremely fortunate that I was accepted to do an internal medicine residency at Stanford, which was a fantastic experience,” she shares. Training at Stanford not only sharpened her clinical skills but also deepened her love for teaching and mentoring. “Going through residency training at Stanford and learning from Stanford faculty reinforced my love for teaching and mentoring,” she says. After completing her residency, Dr. Artandi decided to stay on as an attending physician in Primary Care, feeling deeply connected to the community and the mission at Stanford.
The Art of Bedside Medicine: A Key to Diagnosis and Patient Care
Dr. Artandi currently works primarily at Stanford Express Care clinics, where every patient she sees presents a unique medical complaint. This environment has underscored the importance of bedside examination and communication skills in her practice. “Every patient I see has a different medical complaint, and it is crucial to get a good medical history and do a thorough physical exam to figure out what is going on and what the next steps are,” she explains.
Dr. Artandi believes in involving patients in their care, which she accomplishes by clearly explaining her actions and findings during the physical exam. “I always explain to my patients what I am doing, my physical findings, and what they mean,” she notes. This transparency not only aids in accurate diagnosis but also reassures patients, helping to alleviate their concerns. “I recognize that patients really appreciate the information and are often reassured by a thorough physical exam,” she says.
Building Trust Through Bedside Medicine
Dr. Artandi views the patient-doctor relationship as a privilege. “The patient-doctor relationship is a very special relationship,” she remarks. “It is a privilege that patients trust us to take care of their health.” For her, bedside medicine—encompassing both communication and physical examination skills—is essential in building this trust. “Carefully listening to a patient’s concerns and doing a physical exam to address those concerns are foundations for this trust,” she emphasizes.
Advice for Aspiring Physicians
For those looking to enhance their bedside medicine skills, Dr. Artandi has a simple piece of advice: be present and be curious. “It takes practice to take a good history and do a thorough physical exam, skills that cannot be learned without being at the bedside,” she advises. “My advice is to go to the bedside as often as possible and practice these skills. My other advice is to be curious. Examine the patient with an open mind, be curious about your physical findings, and ask the patient about the findings.” Dr. Artandi finds that even after years of practice, she continues to learn something new from each patient encounter, underscoring the importance of maintaining an inquisitive and attentive approach to medicine.
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