The student, the patient and the illness

More about the book

“The student-patient interaction is not just an important aspect of medical education; it is the most important aspect.” This is how the student I. A. Johnson summarised her thoughts about her student-patient-relationship, described for the Ascona Balint Award. Being able to heal and to help is one of the strongest motivations for studying medicine all over the world. To establish helpful relationships with patients is looked at as a very important step on their way to becoming a doctor by medical students. Early experiences with meeting patients during medical studies are of formative influence. These experiences have provided the motivation for students from all over the world to write essays and submit them for the Ascona Balint Award. The essays give a deep impression of the students’ experiences, reflections and conclusions. And they show an insight into medical education in different countries.