Fostering Humanism in Medicine through Art and Reflection

Physician burnout and empathy erosion are common during training and clinical practice. Museums can effectively partner with health professional schools and hospitals to address these challenges through reflective practice and a focus on physician wellness. We describe a partnership between the Brigham and Women's Hospital Department of Medicine and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts created to meet these needs. Since 2010, internal medicine residents have spent an evening of reflection and community-building at the museum as part of their Humanistic Curriculum. Residents participate in a visual thinking exercise, metaphor-making with contemporary art, group drawing, a discussion of death and dying, and a brief meditation. Residents report that the program has led them to renew commitments to family and friends, to spend time in daily reflection, and to connect more with patients. In this article we report perspectives from physician and museum stakeholders highlighting the value of this unique collaboration.