Nurturing Resolve: A Commitment to Support and Empower Our Education Community
As we embark on another year of shaping the minds and character of future healthcare professionals and scientists, it is a time for reflection and renewal. This year, I’d like to call on us all to channel our collective resolve towards supporting and empowering one another and fostering an environment of growth and camaraderie within our institution, teams, and the learners we have the privilege of teaching.
As educators in the health professions and biomedical sciences, each of us plays a pivotal role in developing the next generation. Our resolve to make a positive impact on their journey goes beyond the classroom, lab and clinical environment. It involves creating a space where growth is nurtured, challenges are addressed, and success is celebrated. To this aim, I suggest we focus our attentions this year on three critical domains of exceptional educational environments: effective communication and feedback, role modeling and mentorship, and the wellbeing and support of ourselves and each other.
To support each other and our learners effectively, it is crucial that we foster open, honest and non-judgmental communication and feedback. By kindly and clearly describing behaviors that support achievement of goals and those that don’t (both by peers and learners), we can create an environment where concerns, successes, and areas for improvement can be discussed openly. This is the only way to develop and sustain a growth mindset in our learners and ourselves. In support of this resolution, I will be asking Dr. Kirsti Broadfoot to lead a workshop on managing challenging communications in March. I also encourage you to watch this brief video on feedback, enlist the Academy of Educators to deliver local workshops on feedback best practices, or participate in the Academy Peer Observation Program to develop your own skills and get feedback on them.
Furthermore, we can strengthen our environment by promoting a culture of role modeling and mentorship. By sharing our experiences, insights, and best practices with each other and with our learners, we empower everyone to excel in their roles and we show our learners the many ways to be as health professionals and scientists. Whether through formal mentoring programs, peer support networks, coaching or informal collaborations, let us actively provide guidance and encouragement, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and inspired.
In the pursuit of resolve, let’s also prioritize wellbeing. As individuals entrusted with the education of future healthcare professionals, it is essential that we take care of ourselves to effectively support our learners. First and foremost, this means we must each reinvest in our “why.” Literature strongly suggests that by connecting deeply to the things in our work that give us joy and meaning, we improve our wellbeing, reduce burnout, and are more likely to be sustained in our careers. Know our why, tell others, and make sure we attend to immersing ourselves in it as much as possible. Second, by setting an example of attending to our own self-care, modeling how we make decisions that prioritize work when necessary and home when needed, asking for help, and supporting others, we encourage those around us to prioritize their wellbeing, promoting a healthy and sustainable work environment. Finally, let us celebrate each other’s successes, big and small. By recognizing and acknowledging the accomplishments of our colleagues, we strengthen the bonds within our educational community. Whether it is through highlighting outstanding teaching practices, sharing individual or collective achievements, recognizing the great work of our fellows, residents, and students, or organizing events to honor our educators, we can foster a sense of pride and unity, propelling us all towards greater excellence. The Academy of Educators and its Director are excellent role models of this practice and soon we will have the opportunity to celebrate our faculty at the student-led Distinguished Student Teaching Award Ceremony.
As we embark on this new year, let us fortify our resolve to support and uplift one another. Together, we can create meaningful impact, and shape the future of health and science education. May the spirit of resolve guide us on this journey, as we commit to taking steps towards positive change within ourselves, our institution, and the learners we serve.