HEART-IM: A Fourth-Year Humanistic Elective for Improving Medical Education

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Self-care during medical education is challenging for both students and faculty, and results in high rates of burnout and depression. We analyzed data from participants in the Humanistic Elective in Advocacy, Reflective Transformation, and Integrative Medicine (HEART-IM) course as a lens for identifying potential areas of improvement in medical education for both learners and faculty. METHODS: We surveyed student and faculty participants in the spring 2022 HEART-IM course shortly following course completion. Surveys involved open-ended questions, and we used a conventional content analysis approach to analyze the data. RESULTS: Survey completion rates were 59% and 42% for students and faculty, respectively. Our qualitative analyses identified four themes each from students and faculty. The student themes were self-care as professional development, healing from their medical education, connection with self, and confidence in being able to pursue personal wellness. The faculty themes were connection and community with/for students, crucial learning outside of current medical curriculum, faculty inspired by students, and renewed passion for medicine. Collectively, the eight qualitative themes suggested three meta themes: (a) the need for personal wellness and self-care, (b) cultivating community among students and faculty, and (c) healing the disconnect between one's whole self and one's academic self. CONCLUSIONS: Innovative curricula such as HEART-IM may provide a valuable lens for improving medical education for both learners and faculty.