In 1969, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross identified the five stages of dying in her book On Death and Dying. Her work has radically transformed the way we think and talk about grief and loss, giving us a shared vocabulary and understanding of a previously murky, yet universal, human experience. Towards the end of her life, Kübler-Ross worked closely with David Kessler, with whom she co-authored several books and formally adapted the stages of dying into the stages of grief. Today, David is the world’s foremost expert on grief and has taught health care workers, counselors, and first responders on facing death and loss. His writings and his website Grief.com have reached millions of people. In this episode, David joins us to share his personal experiences with loss and what his decades of helping those on the edge of death have taught him about finding meaning amid suffering, and happiness after tragedy.

In this episode, you will hear about:

• Thanatology — the study of death and dying — and what drew David to this field - 2:10
• Kessler’s friendship with Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, the psychiatrist best known for developing the five stages of dying - 6:06
• How physicians are often ill-equipped to face death and how hey might better engage with dying patients - 11:22
• David’s advice to physicians on finding meaning amid loss and tragedy - 19:05
• A review of the five stages of dying/grief - 28:58
• On Meaning, the sixth stage of grief that David developed - 33:38
• How the pandemic saw a renewed interest in grief management, and how his interview with the Harvard Business Review entitled “The Discomfort You Are Feeling is Grief” went viral - 38:04
• How David manages the overwhelming sadness he sometimes experiences in his line of work - 43:54
• David’s advice to physicians on comforting grieving patients - 48:31

David Kessler is the author of several books, including The Needs of the Dying and Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief, as well as Life Lessons and On Grief and Grieving with Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, who is herself the noted author of On Death and Dying.

Follow David Kessler on Twitter @IamDavidKessler.

Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.

If you know anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion or send an email to [email protected].