BOCA RATON, FL (May 23, 2012) — Medical students in FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine listened intently during the recent Clifford Barr Lectureship titled “The Compassionate Physician,” which was presented by Dr. Jose V. Castellanos, M.D., an internist and physician mentor. The lecture, which took place in the Schmidt College of Medicine, was supported by Clifford Barr, a retired attorney who worked at Dewey Ballantine in Manhattan after graduating from Princeton and Harvard Law School who moved to Boca Raton nearly 30 years ago. Barr believes that it is important to invest in FAU’s new medical school and the medical students in this community.
In a health care system that rewards technical skills and procedural prowess over compassion, this lecture focused on teaching medical students about the responsive and sympathetic aspects of being a doctor. Castellanos provided the students with various scenarios and personal examples of working with patients to help understand and respond to their feelings and expectations. In addition, he offered the students sage advice on managing and coping with their own feelings when they become doctors.
“As physicians, we must always be driven to show kindness and empathy toward others,” said Castellanos. “We are treating human beings, not results or numbers.”
Empathy is essential for improving patient-physician relationships and enhances the overall ability for physicians to communicate with their patients. Improved communication puts patients at ease and helps to build a bond of trust.
“Dr. Castellanos is a compassionate, caring and exceptional doctor, and I can’t think of a better role model for this class of future physicians,” said Barr. “If we are able to instill and maintain compassion and empathy in these students and those who follow, then we are able to play a very important role in improving doctor-patient relationships.”
There have been numerous studies conducted on empathy during the four years of medical school, and results have shown that empathy in medical students starts to decline after the first year. The Schmidt College of Medicine’s innovative curriculum emphasizes a patient-focused approach and as do the local community physicians who serve as mentors for each of the 64 class members. The Clifford Barr Lectureship will continue to be provided to incoming class members of the Schmidt College of Medicine.