“I learned everything I need to know in medical school.”
In one model of education, we learn from experts. They teach us what we need to know. They equip us with the knowledge and the skills to enter the real world. As we are pushed or jump out of the nest, we begin to fly without our teachers.
“Medical school lays the foundation, but the learning continues.”
In most jobs, we continue to learn… by doing the job. Pilots learn to fly better, by flying. We learn to cook not just by reading recipes, but by cooking. I learned to tell better stories not just by studying storytelling, but by telling stories. Doctors learn to take better care of patients, by caring for patients. In medical training, we learn and are coached by other doctors while working as medical interns and residents.
“Learning is lifelong.”
Like many other fields, medical knowledge continues to incorporate new and changing information. Yet, the pace of change continues to accelerate requiring a lifelong commitment to learning even after official medical training ends.
“We can teach information, but we must coach skills.”
However, the practice of medicine is more than just knowledge. It requires skill. Dr. Atul Gawande discovered that his skill as a surgeon improved when he left training and began to operate on his own, but at some point the improvement slowed down.
In the education model of athletics training (and performance arts like storytelling), coaches help us improve our skills. Dr. Atul Gawande decided to get a coach. It is difficult and stressful to have someone watch and critique you, and doctors don’t usually have coaches after residency. As he learned to accept being coached, he saw his skills begin to improve again.
How can the concept of coaching improve the practice of medicine?
How can you apply the concept of coaching to your life?
Watch the TED Talk by Atul Gawande, Want to get great at something? Get a coach
Books by Atul Gawande
