Healers, Drugs, Machines, & their Relative Value

     "It is the non-judgmental, non-condemning, and non-manipulative atmosphere between doctor and patient that will permit the most open, and therefore, the diagnostically and therapeutically most meaningful communication between them."  
       Ornstein PH. The family physician as a 'therapeutic instrument.' The journal of family practice 1977; 4(4): 659-61.

      So the ability to accept patients as they are is critical for optimally engaging with them in therapeutic alliance. Of course acceptance of others must be preceded by self-knowledge, self-acceptance, tolerance for ambiguity, and other mature, highly evolved human characteristics.
     We know that "emerging adults" are, at best, 'getting there'. We also know that medical & dental training negatively impacts psychosocial maturation.
See: http://healthyhealers.blogspot.ca/2012/07/soft-skills-undervalued.html 
and: http://healthyhealers.blogspot.ca/2012/11/emotional-intimacy-too-busy.html

     So are we graduating the best healers ('therapeutic instruments') possible? Ensuring student wellness & quality of life during training is an excellent, logical place to start. How much trust (curriculum time & course weight) do we actually have in drugs & machines compared to the human agent of healing? 
     Promoting (rather than disrupting) our students' health & healthy maturation remain critically undervalued educational missions.