Keynote Speaker

Difficult conversations with challenging patients

• Why is it crucial to physicians, staff, patients, and our own families that we manage these conversations well?
• What is the one thing one can never lose (according Mr. Fred Rogers) and what does this have to do with challenging patients?
• How does a worn out pair of sneakers (figuratively) give us guidance about how to deal with these situations?
• What is the one thing one must not ever say to an angry patient?
• What special type of empathy works in these encounters?
• How to say “NO” and not only save time doing it, but still maintain a positive therapeutic relationship with the patient?
• How can we avoid “seduction” (non-sexual) by “manipulative” patients?

Physician-to-physician communication (video vignette journey)

A video vignette journey that explores issues of hierarchy, soft bullying, “dumping” patients, and the perils of poor communication in our consultations with fellow physicians.

Physician to staff communication (video vignette journey)

• What are the pitfalls in the morning huddle?
• How can staff make Dr. Grumpy look good in the patient’s eyes?
• What are the consequences for staff when physicians do not answer messages in a timely manner?
• What are the consequences when there is too much informality between physicians and staff? And when back office chatter becomes apparent to our patients?
• What is the cardinal mistake that physicians make when giving a critique to a staff member?
• What are the consequences when staff are given overcomplicated messages to give our patients?
• What are the consequences for staff when we physicians cast our fellow physicians in a negative light?
• How can we turn compliments from patients to our staff into department morale builders?

The threatened physician (video vignette journey)

Join this video vignette journey through six situations where as physicians and clinicians we may feel threatened by specific patient attitude and behavior. Learn from your colleagues how we might handle such situations.

The core of burnout (video vignette journey)

Join this video vignette journey where we meet in graphic video, the four horsemen of the burnout apocalypse.

Giving bad news

• When making an empathic statement, what is the one mistake we commonly make?
• What can we say when things are hopeless?
• When our patients die, when does our care end?
• What are some things we should not say?

The challenge of the medical marriage (video vignette journey)

• Why do we often bring our “A” game to work and our “C” game to home?
• What is different, and perhaps unique, about the financial pressures in physician marriages?
• How is the medical marriage tough on the non-physician spouse?
• Can the workplace sometimes be a place of solace, a place of refuge for physicians when home life is tough?
• How does medical marriage impact our kids?
• Can medical marriage take a toll on romance?
• What are the specific challenges of a two physician marriage?
• How does the medical marriage specifically impact doctor-moms?

What the movies can teach us about leadership

The following movies have very interesting leadership lessons worthy of discussion and learning.

• Men in Black
• Dead Poet’s Society
• Karate Kid
• Friday Night Lights
• Miracle
• All the Kings Men
• Moneyball 
• Star Trek 
• The Blindside 
• Saving Private Ryan

Lessons from “The Doctor” (a 1990 movie starring William Hurt)

In this movie, a hotshot surgeon, is diagnosed with cancer. He becomes a recipient of the kind of “care” he delivered himself. It is truly (in my opinion) one of the great medical movies of all time. Some of the issues explored:

• “Tell your husband you’re a playboy centerfold. You’ve got the staples to prove it.” When is humor appropriate in medical practice?  When is it not?
• “As a surgeon you better cut straighter and care less.” As harsh as this sounds, is there some truth to it?
• “You’ll still forget next year,” says doctor’s wife, “won’t you?” What are the consequences of our personal success in regard to our spouses and children?
• The Doctor (William Hurt) is diagnosed with cancer. He becomes a patient. What’s it like for us physicians being patients? What’s it like for us when a colleague is afflicted with a serious illness? Why do we sometimes feel uncomfortable engaging that colleague?
• “The tumor is malignant.” How do we give bad news?

How storytelling can improve your presentations

• Why is storytelling important? For our patients? As leaders, for our doctors and staff?
• In your stories, what is your persona? Dr. Hero or Dr. Zero?
• How does one end a story?
• In telling a story, what is the value of repetition? Of vocal variety? Of brevity? 
• What is the pitfall of using humor?
• In our presentations, how do we overcome nervousness?

What the great wisdom of country music can teach health professionals

And Dr. Abramson’s favorite: “The Secret of Happiness”