I am delighted to see that more and more medical schools are recognizing the value of doctors who can actually TALK to their patients. At Virginia Tech Carilion, the nation’s newest medical school, candidates for admission go through a series of brief interviews to show if they have the communication skills necessary to be effective with patients and with the health care system. The candidates are confronted with 26 small rooms. When a bell sounds, they have 2 minutes to read a case study taped to the door, and then they are confronted with several interviewers who ask them questions about it. They are being tested on how well they respond to the interviewers’ disagreeing with them. The school is trying to week out candidates who haven’t developed interpersonal communication skills. You can read more about this at timesunion.com
What a welcome approach to developing doctors! Anyone who has had a medical crisis knows how difficult it is to actually talk to their doctor. Not only are appointments crammed in back-to-back, but when you actually see doctors them often seem rushed and more involved with writing or dictating notes than talking face-to-face to the patient. Many studies have shown that the most effective diagnostic tool is face-to-face interviews with patients in which symptoms and problems are discussed.
As a trainer who has dedicated her life to helping people communicate more effectively, I am heartened to see the medical community finally take stock in the value of listening 
eye contact, feedback, and dialogue.
