Tufts University School of Medicine Balint Initiative
“We hope this exposure to Balint Group methodology will plant seeds that result in hundreds of future physicians with greater empathy toward their patients, families of their patients, and even themselves.”
Spurred by a Law Stroud Foundation grant, Tufts University School of Medicine is now delivering a Balint Group methodology program to all 200 of its fourth-year medical students. The program, now in its third year following the Law Stroud Foundation-funded pilot program, is intended to foster empathy in physician training.
Created by Michael and Enid Balint in the 1950s, Balint Groups encourage physicians to process trauma, complications, and complexities with peers, with whom trust is an oath. The method is based on evidence-based techniques that give future physicians the opportunity to reflect on their most challenging patient experiences with trained facilitators in a group setting.
This experience lays the groundwork for students to deliver compassionate, relationship-centered care throughout their careers.
Program leaders have produced two research manuscripts that address student and facilitator perspectives on the Balint Group method