
On Becoming a Healer
·S5 E64
The biopsychosocial model: What would it take to really replace the biomedical model?
Episode Description
Medical educators generally acknowledge the importance of training doctors who care for the whole patient rather than just treat the disease. Most medical school curricula attempt to teach to that philosophy, but how successful are they, really? Our guest, Robert C. Smith, is a physician and author, who trained with Dr. George Engel, founder of the biopsychosocial model. In his new book, Dr. Smith argues that medical education mostly pays “lip service” when it comes to training physicians who are ready and comfortable serving patients who struggle with unaddressed psychosocial and psychological needs. He calls for a complete overhaul of medical education. What would that take? Is an overhaul feasible, or are the market forces that now drive medicine as big business too overpowering to allow for transformative change?