Since the program has wrapped up, I wanted to reflect on my last two days in Breckenridge regarding what I’ve learned and taken with me as a medical student. It has been a wonderful experience getting to know my cohort, fostering a passion for patient safety, and advocating for keeping our hospital environments humble and malignancy-free.
Day 3 (Wednesday): The group hike in the morning was definitely a necessary activity on our agenda given the events from yesterday. I really liked how low-key it was since I believe it helped foster mindfulness regarding the triggering and difficult topics we’ve discussed the day before. The Domino Game afterwards was probably my favorite activity of the day since it taught me how essential communicating clearly and effectively is to doing any sort of task in a hospital setting. It was at first difficult to access whether the directions that the “physician” gave would be understood by the nurse listening in, but after some consultation, it became easier to do. The task became even easier when communication was added between the doctor and nurse. Ultimately, I’m happy this day felt a little bit lighter while still being informative and engaging (esp. since it was my birthday that day as well).
Day 4 (Thursday – FINAL): To end off the week, we had a few final didactic sessions. I particularly resonated with Carole’s talk on Communication and the Puzzle Game later on. They both showcased how there is a difference in what is heard matching with how something is said and the body language associated with it. The lecture on the importance of leadership in patient safety and the commitments we can make moving forward felt hopeful to me, especially when some of the situations we’ve talked about can appear so bleak and make one wonder where healthcare is going direction-wise. The final reflections and wrap up were a bittersweet yet rousing way to end a truly unique week. I have appreciated the vulnerability present in our faculty members and peers and will keep my experiences in The Academy for Emerging Leaders in Patient Safety (AELPS) close to me as I progress further in my career.