Families
have been part of physician education at the University of Vermont
College of Medicine since 1985. Born out of the need to ensure
that all individuals receive care that is respectful, compassionate,
and empowering, families together with physicians designed the Medical
Education Project (MEP). Two pediatricians serving on the Parent to
Parent Advisory Board and faculty in the Department of Pediatrics at
FAHC - David Stifler, MD and Donald Swartz, MD, offered to
incorporate MEP within their seminar. "The Practice of Family-Centered
Care," co-taught by Parent to Parent staff, is now required for all
third year medical students during their pediatric clerkship.Parent to Parent wishes to honor David Stifler, who is stepping down from his co-facilitator role of the Medical Education Project after 19 years. David has displayed tremendous commitment to the mission of Parent to Parent through his teaching of family centered care. As a practicing pediatrician in Essex, David engages his patients and their families in open and honest communication, displays respect for their beliefs, and is responsive to the different ways of coping among families. William Raszka, MD, Pediatric Clerkship Director from the Department of Pediatrics, says of his colleague: "David has done an outstanding job. He has been a role model for looking at families from a global perspective. He makes sure the medical students understand the importance of family centered care. He not only talks about the bio-psycho-social model, he practices it."
David's leadership has had a direct impact on thousands of medical students who have completed his Family Centered Care seminar, and have benefited from his mentorship. After the home visits, medical students are asked to share what they have learned from families and to write a reflection on their experiences. As one medical student reflected:
"The overall take home message for me is that I should not determine the quality of life for someone else. The more I asked questions and listened to answeres the more I learned that life in all its forms can be valuable and rewarding. I found that in that wonderful house in Bristol is the one thing I did not anticipate. I found a family. Not just any family, but a normal family…I believe as I practice medicine in the future I will be more optimistic and supportive…to provide complete care and not just medical advice."
Thank you, David for your time, energy, wisdom, and vision. ©
