Day 3.

First, how can life not feel great when you start the day with a hike in the mountains? Second, reflection: We are encouraged throughout this week to continue our conversations beyond the conference – hiking, at happy hour, during dinner, etc.; however, you know where the real magic happens? In the locked and dangling glass cases of emotions that are the daily gondola rides. That’s were the stories and ideas emerge! Today I was in a gondola with six other female physicians of varying specialities. We discussed how good it felt today to open up about the loss of our patients and the support (or lack of) we get in these moments. So many times we just need to talk it out, feel heard, and feel validated. These conversations are cleansing and necessary. I think what my big take away from today is recognizing that just as I… Continue reading →

Great first day in Marseille. I’m excited for the week and have enjoyed meeting so many new people from across the country. When reflecting on the day (and reviewing my chicken scratch notes) I think what stands out most is our time listening to the story of Helen and her son Lewis. The common thread throughout the entire story is Pre-Mature Closure. As I reflect through my years as a resident and some of my most pivotal moments, I can see that anchoring bias or pre-mature closure was the root of my errors. That is something I have learned from and accepted as a potential barrier to patient care. What stood out was the reference to mindfulness (a super hot topic in the medical field) as a stop point. With each patient – be here now. Take a step back, remember what was passed on in sign out, but be… Continue reading →