Today John Nance reminded us that a true leader is not the fierce commander,  but rather an individual who is able to bring various human talents together so that they may be greater than the sum of their parts. This concept was put into action today with the “teeter totter” game. While there was no way that each individual would have been able to balance on the board on their own, it would also have been difficult for the leader to direct each participant on where to stand on the board without the participant’s input. This exercise was a clear example that teamwork relies on clear reciprocal communication to achieve a common goal.

Today was an exciting first day of discussion and reflection with peers and faculty. The most memorable and summative quote from today was from Helen Haskell, the mother of Lewis Blackman who lost his life due to medical error. When speaking of his death, she said that Lewis would have been safer anywhere other than the hospital in which he died. That statement really shook me. As a rising second year medical student, I have not yet personally experienced some of the harsh realities regarding mistakes that are made in medicine.

After watching the film about Lewis Blackman, it has been even more apparent to me that patient centered medicine and clear open communication are key strategies to preventing medical systemic errors such as Lewis’s death. However, these concepts cannot just be used as “buzzwords” or a bandaid to cover up issues; it requires a fundamental change in the culture… Continue reading →