All
of us have experiences from time to time that linger and
create an impression of the work world in which we live.
The cumulative effect of such experiences, for the learners
in our midst, is the informal IUSM curriculum.
As part
of a continuing effort to stimulate conversations about
our campus environment, this issue of Scope introduces a
new column, M&M: Mindfulness in Medicine, which will
appear every other month. The purpose of this new column
is to engage our medical school community in discussion
and reflection about our learning and working culture. While
IUSM has made great strides in developing an innovative
formal curriculum based on nine core competencies, we recognize
that a formal curriculum is just one way in which professional
identity is shaped.
The informal
curriculum, made up of myriad social and collegial relationships,
is equally important and often more powerful. In fact, the
behaviors, attitudes and thoughtfulness modeled by anyone
in the community have an impact on everyone else –
students, residents, faculty, staff and patients.
M&M:
Mindfulness in Medicine is an editorial collaboration among
the Teacher-Learner Advocacy Committee (TLAC), the Relationship-Centered
Care Initiative (RCCI), and the Office for Medical Education
and Curricular Affairs (MECA).
Each
column will feature real stories, letters, poetry or art
from members of our campus community. Some content will
speak for itself; in some instances commentary from one
of our professional colleagues will be included.
M&M
stories and material will recognize our challenges but highlight
laudable ethical and professional behaviors in the face
of these challenges. It is our hope that the M&M stories
will alternately entertain, inspire, stimulate reflection
and conversation, and call attention to compassionate and
humanistic achievements.
It is
hoped the columns will effectively demonstrate that, as
Ronald Epstein, MD, director of the Rochester Center to
Improve Communication in Health Care, wrote, “critical
self-reflection enables professionals to listen attentively
to others’ distress, recognize their errors, refine
their technical skills, make evidence-based decisions, and
clarify their values so that they can act with compassion,
technical competence, presence and insight.” (JAMA.
1999;282:833-839) Read on!
