The Student, the Patient and the Illness

The essays for the Ascona Balint Award give a deep impression of the students’ experiences, reflections and conclusions. And they show an insight into medical education in different countries.

“As a medical student, I was confronted with the importance of understanding and respecting the diversity of patients’ life experiences, recognizing that individual choices and beliefs can significantly influence health care decisions. The ethical dilemma that Eliza faced in relation to her faith and her health condition highlighted the complexities that healthcare professionals can encounter when dealing with religious issues. Throughout our conversation, I realized that Eliza was looking not just for a listener, but for someone who understood the multiplicity of challenges she faced.”
Mateus Menezes dos Santos

“Based on the realization of the great potential that can be found in involving oneself with one’s feelings in a treatment relationship and the awareness of having to meet the requirements of both a problem solver and an accompanying insight helper, I believe that new spaces for this emotional reflection are needed in everyday clinical practice. Just as a physical and psychopathological examination of the patient is part of the standard toolkit, a kind of mini-emotional status of the practitioner seems to me to be an enrichment in order to professionalize a more empathic attitude in the treatment relationship.”
Julian Neugebauer

“That day, Edna recounted a vibrant timeline of her life’s events. From college, to family, love, parenthood, illness and age, I learnt many things about the magnificent tapestry that had been her life; the rich and royal hue with which her 87 years had been woven. The lucidity of her recollections served as a poignant reminder that patients at the end of life are still living. Whilst a component of their individuality becomes lost the minute we exchange their clothes for a hospital gown, and their name for a room number; they are still individuals with stories, identities and emotions.”
Dikshya Parajuli

With contributions by Sophia Babnigg, Vivian Lu, Mateus Menezes dos Santos, Laura Mota Vieira Lima, Julian Neugebauer, Dorothée Otte, Dikshya Parajuli, Tuyen Pham, Morgan W. See, Sarah Tavares Araújo Santos, Taneka Tezak, Megan Torpey and Ramila Tostes