Based on the results gathered from the 2023 GME Professionalism Needs Survey, we have developed a series of targeted workshops designed to address the specific needs of both trainees and faculty.
Interested in a workshop? Request a Workshop here!
The journey through medical training and practice involves not only acquiring knowledge and skills but also developing a strong, adaptive professional identity. This session explores the process of professional identity formation, focusing on how individuals come to see themselves as medical professionals and the deep connection this has to resilience and well-being. Through reflective exercises, discussion, and evidence-based strategies, participants will examine their goals, roles, and challenges, gaining tools to navigate the personal and professional demands of medicine with a grounded sense of purpose and self-awareness.
This workshop is designed specifically for healthcare trainees, offering strategies to harness personal values and character strengths to support well-being and promote flourishing in high-stress clinical settings. Grounded in theories of flourishing and positive psychology, the session guides participants through the VIA Character Strengths survey to identify their individual strengths. Participants will then engage in reflective exercises to explore how these strengths can be used intentionally to enhance psychological safety, support effective teamwork, and create positive learning environments. The workshop offers a practical framework for applying character strengths to everyday challenges in clinical care, enabling trainees to build resilience and enhance their professional identity.
*This workshop can be offered as a stand-alone session or as the first session in the “Turning Pro with a Career that Flourishes” series.
This session will explore how your intuition, values, and character strengths shape career decision-making and contribute to professional fulfillment. Participants will examine how close personal relationships and engagement in meaningful work influence long-term career satisfaction and overall professional flourishing. The session will also highlight the role of practical wisdom in balancing knowledge, experience, and judgment in navigating complex career decisions within academic medicine. Attendees will identify opportunities to apply this wisdom in their own professional journeys and develop strategies to make thoughtful, values-aligned decisions in their careers.
The aim of this session is to introduce the concept of psychological safety within medical education spaces and highlight its critical role in fostering open communication, learning, and team cohesion. Participants will explore how psychological safety impacts clinical performance, well-being, and patient outcomes. The session will provide practical strategies for cultivating a safe and supportive environment where trainees and staff feel empowered to speak up, ask questions, and learn from mistakes.
Difficult conversations are an inevitable part of the medical workplace, whether addressing performance concerns, giving critical feedback, or managing conflict among team members. This interactive workshop equips trainees and faculty with practical tools to approach these discussions with clarity, empathy, and confidence. Participants will learn evidence-based communication strategies, explore common barriers to effective dialogue, and engage in real-world scenarios to build skills that promote respectful, constructive, and psychologically safe interactions.
Effective medical education goes beyond delivering information—it requires actively engaging learners to promote deep understanding, retention, and application. This session introduces evidence-based strategies to enhance learner engagement in both clinical and classroom settings. Participants will explore techniques such as active learning, well-defined expectations, and the use of feedback to create dynamic, learner-centered environments. Whether teaching at the bedside or in a lecture hall, attendees will leave with practical tools to make their teaching more impactful and memorable.
This workshop is designed for medical faculty and explores how perceived lapses in professionalism among trainees may be rooted in underlying executive function challenges, rather than intentional misconduct or lack of motivation. Faculty will learn to recognize specific behaviors that may indicate difficulties with cognitive domains such as organization, time management, emotional regulation, and task initiation. The session will introduce strategies to interpret these behaviors through a developmental lens, fostering a more compassionate and effective response.
Participants will be introduced to the Appreciative Inquiry framework as a tool for delivering constructive, strengths-based feedback that encourages accountability and meaningful behavior change. Through case-based discussion and practical exercises, faculty will practice applying this approach in real-world scenarios. By the end of the session, participants will leave with practical tools, UTHealth-sponsored resources, and structured strategies to support coaching efforts, promote learner growth, and maintain high standards of professionalism.
Encountering challenging learners, such as those who are resistant to feedback, disruptive, or struggle with professionalism, can be one of the most difficult aspects of teaching in an academic medicine environment. This session provides faculty and educators with practical strategies to manage and support these learners while maintaining a respectful, psychologically safe learning environment. Participants will explore common types of challenging behaviors, learn techniques to set clear expectations, and develop a structured documentation plan to ensure accountability and continuity. Through case discussions and interactive exercises, attendees will leave with tools to navigate these complex situations with confidence and professionalism.