Presentation

· Contributors · Organizations · Search Program · Flagged · Happening Now

From Human Factors to Human Strengths: Rethinking Physician Education from Undergraduate to Residency Training

DescriptionThe term “human strengths” is taken from George Anders’ book You Can Do Anything: The Surprising Power of a "Useless" Liberal Arts Education. Examples of human strengths include curiosity, creativity, empathy, deep listening, rapport building, grit, openness to new experiences, and practical wisdom. Educators since antiquity have understood that these strengths cannot be taught directly in the same way we often attempt to teach technical skills or procedures. Instead, human strengths seem to ensue as a result of other activities that often seem unrelated or even “useless.” For example, we cannot make students curious by giving them a curiosity algorithm or protocol to follow. Instead, curiosity is recognized as a virtue that is best learned by imitating the curiosity of a mentor in any domain of interest. Creativity is similar, and grit is often gained as an indirect result of challenging situations that require fortitude. While human strengths are increasingly acknowledged as necessary traits of excellent physicians, educators often struggle to help students build these strengths. This panel asks: What human strengths are essential in an excellent physician? How can we as educators help students build these human strengths, from the first day as a university freshman through residency and beyond.

Moderator