Researcher seeks to increase docs' empathy

Mohammadreza Hojat, a psychologist who studies physician training at Thomas Jefferson University, is trying to figure out how to make doctors more empathetic. In his most recent work, not yet published, he combined discussions of short film clips with medical students with lessons on why empathy matters. A year ago, Hojat led a study that found that diabetic patients with empathetic doctors were more likely to score well on measures of diabetes control. Hojat said medical schools rightly emphasize science and technology, but they are recognizing that the "art" of medicine, the human side, should also be taught.