"Character and Practices of Care at Vanderbilt: Continuing the Conversation" 

 
Bill Cutrer, MD, MEd

Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education
Director of Learning Communities
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Critical Care Medicine 
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

The practice of medicine has been framed by some as a moral profession that requires a distinctive character and professionalism, while others consider medicine “just another business”. Clinicians are routinely faced with complex patient scenarios that can challenge ability to provide care.  The session will build on the series of Character Conversations last fall and Vanderbilt’s participation in the Kern Institute and National Transformation Network. We will explore role of character and practices of care within medicine.  Attendees will leave with deeper understanding of the impact of the clinician’s character in health care and practical considerations related to care practices within the clinical contexts.

Objectives:

1)      Discuss the National Transformation Network’s proposed definition character in medicine

2)      Outline the rationale for the importance of character and practices of care in medicine

3)      Describe the four phases of caring and their implications in medicine

                           A boxed lunch will be provided for all registrants.