JHR Editor-in-Chief, Sarah Blanton, PT, DPT reflects on ways in which we may call upon the humanities to help grapple with the “4,000 click” problem of electronic health records that erodes clinician morale and reduces patient interaction. She does this first by recognizing the humanistic impact of technology, and then by calling upon interdisciplinary collaborative problem solving and critical inquiry to develop innovative solutions on individual and societal levels.

None of us could ever have imagined that we would be a part of one of the generations of history. But our challenge has arrived. In an inspirational message, JHR Editor-in-Chief Dr. Sarah Blanton examines what it means to navigate these uncertain times. She demonstrates how a humanities perspective can well be what saves us and makes us stronger. “I truly believe this cohort of clinicians, experiencing this pandemic, will emerge with exceptional levels of resiliency, compassion, cognitive flexibility, and critical thinking skills…,” she concludes. “Our world will be remarkable in ways we have yet to imagine.”

Spurred by her recollection of Amanda Gorman’s beautiful poem spoken on the steps of the Capitol building just days after a violent attack, Sarah Blanton, in her Spring 2021 Editorial, reflects on the power of words to harm or to heal. She encourages readers to consider the daily impact of their own words on those around them. She details how researchers, educators, and clinicians can more deeply engage with the humanities in order to better hear their own stories—thereby strengthening their individual power for healing with the spoken word.