In my introductory small group session on Lifestyle Medicine for first-year medical students, I ask students to interview and introduce the person sitting next to them.
This simple ice breaker activity accomplishes three foundational communication skills essential to being a doctor:
–Learning how to ask informative, inquisitive questions
–Listening to responses and reacting dynamically to what is being said
–Succinctly presenting the information to the entire class, mirroring clinical rounds
As a side note, it also helps build stronger bonds within the medical school class as students get to know one another better.
By structuring an introductory exercise this way, you capture the exact skill set required for an effective patient encounter and a seamless team presentation on rounds:
1-Inquisitive Questioning
Moving beyond a rigid checklist to ask open-ended, purposeful questions uncovers meaningful, contextual information..
Every person has an authentic story to tell, which helps clinicians practice patient-centered care.
Non-judgemental and empathetic interviewing skills are paramount to establishing a trusted clinician-patient relationship.
2-Active Listening & Synthesis
Processing the narrative in real time, validating the individual’s experience, and formulating the next logical line of inquiry or clinical thought are vital. The clinician-patient relationship is bidirectional, guided by a conversational interaction.
3-Concise Presentation
Translating and distilling an interpersonal narrative into a structured, high-yield summary is the heartbeat of team interactions and morning rounds.
This is a fantastic way to bridge human connection with clinical rigor right from day one.
Healthcare professionals from various backgrounds routinely discuss patients to coordinate their care, and this technique can easily be applied to any group meeting.
I recommend you give it a try.
RK
Robert Kushner, MD