On Thursday, May 21, Cambridge Memorial Hospital welcomed an innovative professional development experience designed to strengthen one of the most important parts of health care: human connection.
Led by Alexis Milligan, Movement Director at the Shaw Festival, a large cohort of CMH physicians participated in a two-hour Theatre of Medicine workshop exploring communication, presence, listening and connection in patient care.
The Theatre of Medicine program was co-developed by the Shaw Festival and Dr. Glen Bandiera, former Executive Director, Standards and Assessment at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Emergency Physician at St. Michael's Hospital. It uses techniques from the performing arts to help physicians strengthen non-technical skills that are essential in medicine, including empathy, active listening, responsiveness and meaningful human connection.
Through experiential exercises rooted in theatre and improvisation, participants reflected on how physical presence, tone, attention and authentic connection can shape patient experiences and support high-quality care.
This workshop was offered as part of CMH's College of Physicians and Surgeons Quality (CPSO) Quality Improvement Initiative — a program championed by Medical Affairs and reflective of the hospital's ongoing commitment to excellence in patient-centred care. This particular initiative was made possible through a valued partnership with the CMH’s Medical Professional Staff Association, whose generous support brought this unique learning opportunity to life.
The session received strong feedback from participants and highlighted how innovation in health care learning can come from unexpected places — including the arts!
Thank you to Alexis Milligan and the Shaw Festival for bringing this unique and thought-provoking experience to CMH.