Dr. Yolanda López López, Rheumatologist & Writer

Whether she’s writing about recent history, fictitious characters or real people who lived years ago, Dr. López says writing helps her cope with the daily stresses and frustrations of her job and highly recommends it to other physicians.

Coping Mechanism

“If you’re able to sit down and confess to yourself by writing a few lines about how you feel—maybe you’re tired or are in emotional pain—you can be a better doctor to your patients and maintain or improve your mental health,” says Dr. López. “Writing really helps you deal with a lot of things that go on in medicine.”

Carol Patton is a freelance writer based in Las Vegas.