h those who feel most isolated or misunderstood.

In conclusion, both Gawande and Sacks, through their use of ekphrasis, demonstrate that empathy and understanding are at the center of effective medical practice as well as human connection, although they use different methods. Sacks takes a more clinical approach to his word choice, allowing readers to understand the uniqueness of his patients’ realities. Gawande focuses on listening beyond words, and remaining curious of a person so as to not take them at face-value. Both authors use ekphrasis in order to depict their encounter, making their conditions and encounters comprehensible and emotionally resonant. Whether it’s Gawande’s acknowledgment of the prisoner’s vulnerability or Sacks’ recognition