Resilience, Compassion, Joy - Fostering a Meaningful Life in the Practice of Medicine
Benjamin Doolittle, M.D., MDiv., Associate Professor - Internal Medicine & Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine
Lydia Dugdale, M.D., Assistant Professor, Associate Director of the Program for Biomedical Ethics, Yale University School of Medicine
This workshop embraces the conference's theme of Re-enchanting medicine. The prevalance of physician burnout approaches 65%, which has been shown to negatively impact patient care, physician mental health, and institutional culture. Physician job stressors are well known - work-life balance, regulatory issues, long hours, competing expectations, electronic medical records. Recent research has suggested several positive coping strategies. This workshop explores three such strategies which have been shown to affect positively workplace culture.
First, we explore joy, compassion, and meaning by engaging the work of philosophers Miroslav Volf and Matthew Croasmun who designed the Yale course, "Life Worth Living." This multi-disciplinary course surveys religious scripture from the world religions as well as utilitarian economists and existentialists. With each module, they ponder question, "What makes life worth living." In this workshop, we shall wrestle with this question with a brief journaling exercise that will then be shared anonymously with the group.
Second, we reflect upon the modern interpretation of the medieval tradtion of Gaudeamus Igitur "Let us rejoice," using the poetry of Dr. John Stone. Dr. Stone was a cardiologist-poet whose work resonates with issues of doubt and joy in the practice of medicine. His poem "Gaudeamus Igitur" was read as the commencement address for Emory's medical school in 1982. We shall use this poem as a reflection tool in our own medical practice.
Third, we employ the art of asking meaningful questions based upon Marshall Goldsmith's book Triggers. Goldsmith is a management consultant who specializes in fostering a culture of engagement and meaning in one's vocation.
This is a "hands on" workshop, with 3 distinct exercises which can be easily replicated in other settings. My hope is that participants could adapt this workshop for their own institutions.
Lydia Dugdale, M.D., Assistant Professor, Associate Director of the Program for Biomedical Ethics, Yale University School of Medicine
This workshop embraces the conference's theme of Re-enchanting medicine. The prevalance of physician burnout approaches 65%, which has been shown to negatively impact patient care, physician mental health, and institutional culture. Physician job stressors are well known - work-life balance, regulatory issues, long hours, competing expectations, electronic medical records. Recent research has suggested several positive coping strategies. This workshop explores three such strategies which have been shown to affect positively workplace culture.
First, we explore joy, compassion, and meaning by engaging the work of philosophers Miroslav Volf and Matthew Croasmun who designed the Yale course, "Life Worth Living." This multi-disciplinary course surveys religious scripture from the world religions as well as utilitarian economists and existentialists. With each module, they ponder question, "What makes life worth living." In this workshop, we shall wrestle with this question with a brief journaling exercise that will then be shared anonymously with the group.
Second, we reflect upon the modern interpretation of the medieval tradtion of Gaudeamus Igitur "Let us rejoice," using the poetry of Dr. John Stone. Dr. Stone was a cardiologist-poet whose work resonates with issues of doubt and joy in the practice of medicine. His poem "Gaudeamus Igitur" was read as the commencement address for Emory's medical school in 1982. We shall use this poem as a reflection tool in our own medical practice.
Third, we employ the art of asking meaningful questions based upon Marshall Goldsmith's book Triggers. Goldsmith is a management consultant who specializes in fostering a culture of engagement and meaning in one's vocation.
This is a "hands on" workshop, with 3 distinct exercises which can be easily replicated in other settings. My hope is that participants could adapt this workshop for their own institutions.