THE AMBROSE EHIRIM FILES

BY BARRET MICHALEC Better health care for patients begins with humility – a term not often associated with medicine. I witnessed displays of humility firsthand eight years ago, the night my son was born, in the way the doctor and doula worked together to deliver our baby. Neither tried to assert dominance over the other. Instead, they openly communicated with each other, respected each other’s roles, trusted each other and worked as a team. And what was most meaningful to us – they included my wife on that team by actively listening to her and putting her needs at the forefront. Together, the team’s professional humility helped create the most unforgettable moment of our lives: the birth of a healthy baby boy. The patient as part of the team Our experience with them made a significant impression on me because I’m a social scientist who studies how clinicians collaborate. Specifically, I explore how doctors, nurses and the entire health care team can better show professional humility t