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Viewpoint: on wondering.
1The New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029-5293, USA. jbarondess@nyam.org
Summary
Cultivating wonder drives medical innovation and improves patient care. Deliberately exploring fundamental questions about health variations and disease patterns enhances professional growth and opens doors to future advancements.
Area of Science:
- Medical Humanities
- Clinical Practice
- Medical Research
Background:
- Wondering is a fundamental aspect of curiosity and inventiveness.
- It underpins professional education, discovery, and the advancement of medicine.
- Wondering is crucial for clinical decision-making, including diagnosis and treatment choices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To emphasize the importance of intentionally "deciding to wonder" to harness its benefits.
- To explore two key areas for professional "wondering": variations in health outcomes and changing disease patterns.
- To highlight how cultivating wonder fosters professional growth and innovation.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of the role of "wondering" in medicine.
- Discussion of two specific underlying issues for "wondering" in clinical practice and research.
- Exploration of the benefits of "wondering" for clinicians and the medical profession.
Main Results:
- Wondering is essential for medical discovery and progress.
- It directly impacts clinical decision-making and problem-solving.
- Intentional wondering about fundamental health and disease questions drives professional development.
Conclusions:
- Developing a capacity for wondering enhances clinicians' minds and spirits.
- It broadens professional horizons and benefits patients, future patients, and the medical profession.
- Wondering fosters change and innovation, leading to better healthcare outcomes.