Improv and the art of medicine: Attune, affirm, advance

The world of medicine may seem far removed from the realm of improv, but the two areas intersect in a uniquely useful way, according to Belinda Fu, MD.

In tomorrow morning’s session, “Improv and the Art of Medicine: Adaptable Skills for an Uncertain World,” Fu will demonstrate how attendees can use improv-based skills to strengthen interpersonal connections across various relationships.

A family physician also known as the “ImprovDoc,” Fu discovered improvisational theater — a type of performance art conducted without a script and most often associated with comedy — during her medical residency. She has long incorporated aspects of it into her practice and teaching, using her experience as a performer to improve how she interacts with patients.

Fu will point out that medical educators are increasingly embracing improvisation as a tool that prepares professionals to communicate effectively in unexpected situations.

Although “medical education relies on scripts to teach trainees how to handle difficult conversations, there is no script that can accommodate the infinite scenarios that can occur when interacting with other people,” she says.

This is where improv truly shines, offering practical solutions to real-world challenges. With practice, learners cultivate the ability to adapt to a wide variety of situations, which is more useful than any script.

Fu and colleagues have worked hard to translate improv into the language of clinical education and practice. Their work has resulted in a framework for teaching applied improv tools.

During the session, Fu will discuss three core skills: attune, affirm, and advance. Attunement is about listening not just to what people say but also to what is being communicated through their body language; affirming skills means validating a shared reality and making sure people feel heard; and advancing skills are needed to progress a conversation without a rigid agenda while prioritizing human relationships.

After learning the fundamentals of these core stills, attendees will get to try them out through guided games.

“The skills learned in improv come with a value system and a training method, making it a distinct educational form,” Fu says.

Indeed, many people don’t realize that improv was developed to foster collaboration and support, with strong roots in social justice. The value system associated with medical improv emphasizes the importance of community and social well-being.

For Fu, incorporating improv into her medical practice and daily life has been transformative. She now dedicates much of her time to sharing what she has learned with others. She is excited to bring medical improv to the ADLM Annual Meeting for the first time and wants attendees to know that it will be fun!