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Melding Structured Care With Improvisation—Jazz in Medicine

JAMA Oncology 10.1001/jamaoncol.2026.3376

September 17, 2026 at 11:00 AM EDT

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This Viewpoint draws parallels from the improvisation within structure of jazz music and explains how to harmonize the use of structured pathways with the need to improvise in patient care.

Corresponding Author: Keith J. Ruskin, MD, Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, N2198 UNC Hospitals, CB 7010, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7010 (keith.ruskin@unc.edu).

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