To a lot of medical students, the thought of taking an improv class might seem initially terrifying, then intriguing, and then terrifying again. Our guest in this episode, Dr. Amy Zelenski, Assistant Professor within the Department of Internal Medicine at UWSMPH, designed and teaches an elective entitled “Improvisational Theater for Health Professionals” as part of her work developing medical education curricula focused on empathy and storytelling. With a background in acting, Dr. Zelenski combines her love of theater with her research interest in medical education to show health professionals the value and practice of improvisation. Life and medicine are unscripted, and improv helps healthcare students develop their listening skills, hone their empathy, embrace spontaneity, and of course, laugh. For all UWSMPH students, check out the link below for more information about how and when to sign up for Dr. Zelenski’s improv course! 

https://www.medicine.wisc.edu/general-internal-medicine/amy-zelenski-medical-education-research-empathy-and-improvisation

P.S. We may or may not have engaged in an impromptu improv session in this episode— listen to find out!