Tonight's picture was taken in September of 2002. Mattie was five months old and doing what he hated the most.... being on his tummy. Back when Mattie was a baby, the rage was tummy time. Every pediatrician talked about the benefits of tummy time on a baby's physical development. Mattie did not care so much for that recommendation and therefore rarely will you see photos of Mattie on his tummy! However, when I see this photo I always chuckle because Peter entitled it, Matt on Mat!!!
Quote of the day: Do the smartest students, as measured by science grades and standardized test results, truly make the best physicians? ~ Ezekiel J. Emanuel
A long time friend of mine from graduate school sent me the article entitled, Does Medicine Overemphasis IQ (link to the article is below)? This article was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The title alone captured my attention, so I immediately read the article. In my opinion it is a must read, but what I find particularly stunning is it wasn't written by a social worker or psychologist. NO! It was written by a medical doctor about medical doctors.
The article begins with the quote above.... Do the smartest students, as measured by science grades and standardized test results, truly make the best physicians? I can tell you from personal experience that the answer is a resounding NO NO NO!!! But now medicine is confirming what Mattie Miracle has been saying all along..... IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE MEDICINE.
Specifically, as the article points out scoring well on metrics (grades and MCAT scores) reveals nothing about other types of intelligences, especially emotional intelligence, that are critical to being an excellent physician. The example given is knowing how to calculate the speed of a ball rolling down an inclined plane is totally irrelevant to being an astute diagnostician, much less an oncologist sensitively discussing end-of-life care with a patient who has developed metastatic cancer. I couldn't have said it better. While Mattie was undergoing treatment we met some of the "best minds" in the field. However, I can't tell you how out of touch some of the physicians were, starting with the brilliant surgeon in NYC. I will never forget him. We waited hours for him to grace us with his presence. When he did, he told us he could only spend five minutes with us. Mind you the first minute he spent shaking his head and telling us how serious this was right in front of Mattie. A totally clueless wonder that shouldn't be working with anything that has a pulse. Yet he got through medical school and is considered a guru in his field.
So what is Emotional Intelligence (EQ)? EQ is the ability to manage emotions and interact effectively with others. People with high EQs are sensitive to the moods and temperaments of others, display empathy, and appreciate multiple perspectives when approaching situations. But here is the key. Having emotional intelligence doesn't mean that you are without a brain and are just a touchy feely person. On the contrary, a high IQ may help a physician diagnose congestive heart failure and select the right medications and interventions, but it is no guarantee that the physician can lead a multidisciplinary team or effectively help patients change their behaviors in ways that tangibly improve their health outcomes. Accomplishing all of this requires a special skill set that isn't captured in data, through a scan, or even a blood test. It can only be found by LISTENING to the patient and understanding how that person feels.
I am absolutely thrilled to hear that medical school admissions should incorporate explicit evaluations of EQ. Apparently the MCAT (the standardized test to be admitted to medical school), now includes a section on the psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior. Amazing no?
In so many ways, I think Mattie's cancer journey helped us understand the profound problem medicine faces today. In addition, I also believe that identifying the importance of psychosocial care in comprehensive cancer care is what has made Mattie Miracle cutting edge.
Does Medicine Overemphasize IQ:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2671354
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