Medical Educator Minute – Educators as leaders
Collaboration is at the heart of what we do at MedStar Health, especially within the GME community. All of our residents, fellows, and faculty bring diverse perspectives and experiences to the table, and creating an environment where everyone feels valued and heard is essential to our collective success.
The Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation defines the learning environment as “…the social interactions, organizational culture and structures, and physical and virtual spaces that surround and shape the learners’ experiences, perceptions and learning.” Many theories and frameworks have tried to encompass the complexity of the learning environment and emphasize challenges in workplace learning. Gruppen, et. al outlines a framework that focuses on the multidimensional aspects of our learning environment as follows1:
The authors conclude that the learning environment is comprised of not only complex social interactions but also involves the surrounding support and environment and encompasses not only learners but the patients, teachers, and leaders within an organization.
1.Gruppen, Larry D. PhD; Irby, David M. MDiv, PhD; Durning, Steven J. MD, PhD; Maggio, Lauren A. MS(LIS), PhD. Conceptualizing Learning Environments in the Health Professions. Academic Medicine 94(7):p 969-974, July 2019. | DOI: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000002702
To foster constructive and respectful conversations, begin by building trust.
Take the time to understand where your colleagues come from and what they aim to achieve. Actively listen – without planning your next response while they’re speaking and offer positive reinforcement that encourages additive dialogue. Simple tools like saying, “That’s a great point. Let’s discuss it further one-on-one,” or “What if we explored this idea together?” can enhance collaboration and show that every voice matters.
Motivating one another to teach and learn is also crucial.
By creating a safe space for exploration and experimentation, we can challenge assumptions, offer valuable insights, and uncover innovative solutions. Use open-ended questions to clarify ideas and delve deeper into issues: “Can you elaborate on that?” or “Help me understand your perspective.”
Inclusion is key.
By ensuring all voices are heard, we harness the power of diverse ideas and backgrounds. Encourage participation with phrases like, “What do others here think?” or “Thank you for sharing your perspective—it’s helpful to hear different views.”
Together, we are stronger. Let’s continue to learn from each other, embrace our collective strengths, and grow as a community dedicated to advancing healthcare excellence
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