Empathy in Action

PharmD students experience patient perspectives through immersive empathy training

November 06, 2024
College of Pharmacy first year students participate in empathy training through the mock experiences of manual dexterity and visual impairment.

The importance of empathy in healthcare continues to be a cornerstone of Touro University California’s (TUC) PharmD Program. This year, the 2024 Empathy Training session once again demonstrated TUC’s commitment to cultivating compassionate healthcare providers. The training allowed College of Pharmacy students to engage in immersive, hands-on experiences designed to deepen their understanding of patient care.

Empathy training at Touro has become an integral part of the curriculum, challenging students to step beyond textbook knowledge and clinical skills to connect on a human level with the individuals they serve.

Engaging Through Experience

The training, spearheaded by Dr. Shane Desselle and Dr. Terri Wong, featured four immersive sessions focused on patient challenges: Auditory Impairment, Mobility Impairment, Manual Dexterity Impairment, and Visual Impairment. Each session placed students in realistic simulations that replicated the day-to-day difficulties patients with these conditions face.

  • Auditory Impairment: Students wore earplugs while simulated tinnitus sounds were played and had to follow conversations or instructions, mimicking the experience of patients with hearing loss.
  • Mobility Impairment: Equipped with weights, walkers or crutches and popcorn kernels in their socks, participants navigated spaces to understand the physical limitations and frustrations of patients with reduced mobility.
  • Manual Dexterity Impairment: Through the use of gloves that restricted finger movement and feeling, students experienced the challenges of performing tasks like opening bottles or picking up objects, simulating the effects of arthritis or other conditions affecting hand function.
  • Visual Impairment: Wearing goggles that simulated various visual impairments such as cataracts or glaucoma, students gained insight into how difficult even basic daily activities can be when vision is compromised.

Moving Forward with Compassion

As healthcare continues to evolve, the need for empathetic providers grows. Empathy training at TUC prepares students to face the complex realities of healthcare with understanding and compassion. It bridges the gap between clinical excellence and human connection, reminding future healthcare providers that at the heart of every diagnosis is a person.

TUC’s Empathy Training initiative continues to be a model for other institutions, showcasing how a well-rounded healthcare education is essential for producing the best patient outcomes. As the program moves forward, TUC’s commitment to empathy as a core value remains, setting students on a path to becoming compassionate pharmacy leaders.