When Empathy Matters Most

You hear a lot about empathy in the first 2 years of medical school. You are told about doctors who interrupt patients 7 seconds into a response and you think “not I.” You practice saying “Tell me more,” and try active listening on your friends and family—who are suddenly rather impressed with your listening skills. Empathy is a large component of your practical exams on taking a history, before you have learned pathophysiology or can...