Empathy, humanism, and the professionalization process of medical education

This study sought to identify the common stages in the development of capacities contributing to humanistic medical care in young physicians, as revealed by their dreams about medical school and training. Using a databank of approximately 400 dreams dreamt by non-patient students and housestaff at a major academic medical center, the author traces the development of the two components of humanistic medicine: empathy and humanistic attitudes. The "critical episodes" of medical education produce in young physicians emotional and psychological defenses affecting their ability to interact with patients in an empathic and altruistic manner. Medical educators need to reevaluate the traditional curricular milestones and pedagogic style to help foster the development of medical humanism.