Medical Education Commons^™

Ethical Dilemmas Surrounding Community Water Fluoridation, Roopwant Kaur, Herminio Perez, Mark Moss

Journal of the American College of Dentists

Since the 1950s, community water fluoridation (CWF) has stood as a cornerstone of dental public health. However, a growing amount of public scrutiny necessitates reflection on the ethical basis for coming to a firm position on the topic. Aside from CWF, fluoride in the form of ingestible supplements has recently been identified as a concern by the US Food and Drug Administration. Indeed, it is challenging to wade through the facts, opinions, misinformation, and policy shifts. This article examines the ethical dilemmas that surround CWF through the lens of the American Dental Association (ADA) Principles of Ethics and Code of …

J Am Coll Dent 2025 92 1

Journal of the American College of Dentists

The Journal of the American College of Dentists (JACD) publishes scholarly articles, editorials, essays, and reflections addressing the ethical, professional, and social dimensions of dentistry. The Journal serves as a forum for advancing ethics, professionalism, leadership, and excellence within the dental community. By fostering dialogue across disciplines and perspectives, JACD provides readers with insights that encourage ethical, professional practice, lifelong learning, and service to the public, reinforcing dentistry’s commitment to advancing oral healthcare and the common good.

Dean’S Report: Detroit Mercy Dental - Dental Schools — Safeguarding The Future Of Oral Health, Mert N. Aksu Dds, Jd, Mhsa, Cert. Dph

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This report from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry highlights its mission to prepare students as clinicians, leaders, and advocates for public health and equitable access to care, emphasizing evidence-based practices and community service. It addresses critical public health measures like community water fluoridation and HPV vaccination, advocating for policies that protect oral health. The report notes concerns over proposed Michigan Medicaid dental program changes that could burden dental schools with increased uncompensated and emergency care. Initiatives to meet workforce needs include the new Detroit Mercy Dental Vermont Track and community-based education programs, which provided care to over …

Partnership, Collaboration, And Co-Production To Improve Patient Experience Beyond Conducting Surveys – Lessons From The Quebec Model, Canada, Marie-Pascale Pomey, Catherine Wilhelmy, Myriam Fournier-Tombs, Vincent Dumez, Cécile Vialaron, Monica Nelea Iliescu, Karina Prevost, Simon Courtemanche, Louise Normandin, Geneviève David

Patient Experience Journal

Objective: The objectives of this article are to present how, in the province of Quebec (Canada), healthcare and service partnerships have been implemented, to take stock of the current situation and to suggest ways to continue strengthening the model over the coming years, in Quebec and elsewhere in the world. Methods: Three methods were mobilized: (1) a review of the literature and reports published in recent years on implementations of partnerships in Quebec; (2) a survey sent to the persons responsible for partnerships in Quebec’s health and social services establishments; and (3) a working committee comprised of patient experts, partnership …

Peer Mentoring, Camaraderie, And Support (Pmcs) Of Southern New Jersey: Suicide Prevention Using Human Experience And Social Determinants Of Health, Ali A. Poorani, Matthew Jacobs, Patrick Carney, Jaclyn Tomasetti

Patient Experience Journal

Suicide prevention is a high priority for Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Recent data show an increase in suicide rates, especially among Veterans that had not used VHA health services and nor had received any VHA benefits. Meanwhile, data collected for the past two decades reveals a decline in suicide rates among Veterans who were recent VHA users with mental health or substance use disorders. The objective of the Peer Mentoring, Camaraderie, and Support (PMCS) Program was to explore novel ways to reengage and reintegrate Veterans into their earned VA healthcare benefits, and examine the effectiveness of this new initiative by …

“All Together”: A Case Study Demystifying Patient And Public Involvement (Ppi) In Brief Psychological Interventions Within A Community Mental Health Service For Adults In The Uk, Molly H. Nadel, Katherine Parkin, Stephanie Casey, Rachel Maciag, Alice Xie, Mu-Yin Chang, Youngsuk Kim

Patient Experience Journal

The importance and value of involving patients and the public in the decision-making processes within services designed to support them, and research projects aimed at understanding and improving those services, have long been established. This is often referred to as Patient and Public Involvement (PPI). However, establishing good quality involvement work in practical terms is often less well understood and therefore, the uncertainty surrounding this can lead to hesitation by clinicians in practice. In this paper, we will share our lessons learned and the practical outcomes of PPI when applied in an NHS community mental health service for adults. We …

The Implementation Of A Telehealth Patient Advisory Council In A Network Of Federally Qualified Health Centers, Jessica Korins, Lisa Schaffer, Nandini Shroff

Patient Experience Journal

Patient input is recognized across the healthcare field as essential for tailoring innovations and quality improvement initiatives to meet the needs of intended patient populations. This paper describes the implementation of a patient advisory council (PAC) established to provide feedback on telehealth innovations and quality improvement initiatives at a network of federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in New York State (NYS). We report on the implementation process, success and challenges, and reflections shared by PAC members regarding their experiences.

Understanding Online Reviews Of Geriatricians: Correlations Within A Dataset Of 53,210 Physician Reviews, Yizhong Wu, Eric Reuben Smith, Nick Shaffer, Hanh Dieu Trinh, Becky Powers

Patient Experience Journal

Introduction: Online reviews are increasingly influential in how patients find and choose physicians. Patients appreciate the transparency of online reviews, and they offer an avenue for physicians to receive feedback. This cross-sectional study aims to provide insight into correlations between provider level information such as wait times or physician demographics, and the reviews patients submit online for geriatricians.

Methods: ParseHub software was used to extract and pool data from 6,631 provider profiles categorized under “geriatric medicine” on the popular open-source physician review website Healthgrades.com. Physician race or ethnicity was modeled by profile last name based on 2010 US census data. …

Family-Centered Care In Pediatric And Neonatal Intensive Care Units: A Systematic Review Of Effects On Parental Satisfaction And Length Of Stay, Vincenzo Andretta, Valentina Cerrone, Veronica Strini, Angela Prendin

Patient Experience Journal

Background: Family-centered care (FCC) is essential in pediatric and neonatal intensive care units (PICUs), potentially increasing parent satisfaction and reducing length of hospital stay, but evidence of its effectiveness is inconsistent. Objective: To assess the effects of FCC interventions on parent satisfaction and length of hospital stay in PICUs. Methods: A systematic review was conducted, with 17 studies meeting the established inclusion criteria. The McMaster tool was used to assess the methodological quality of studies, along with an assessment of risk of bias. Results: The review identified a wide range of FCC interventions, including promoting parental …

I Felt More Confident That It Would Work For Me: A Grounded Theory Of Person-Centered Interprofessional Collaboration Based On Patients’ Lived Experiences, Katherine Hope Morgan, Cristina S. Barroso, Kathleen Conroy Brown, Michael R. Bleich, Soghra Jarvandi, Elizabeth B. Strand, Shaun Rowe

Patient Experience Journal

Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) is considered the highest standard of practice for delivering care to patients with multiple, complex, and chronic conditions. Despite reported benefits of IPC, the voice of the care receiver and how or whether they experience IPC is underexplored. Our objective was to examine patients’ experiences with IPC in two rural primary care settings in the U.S., where the burden of multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) is coupled with lower life expectancies and reduced access to care. We used a semi-structured interview to assess patients’ experiences within 72 hours after an IPC healthcare visit. This study, conducted in two …

Role Of Patient-Reported Measures (Prms) In Addressing Ethical Challenges During Telemedicine Consultation: A Narrative Review, Asiya Attar, Kasturi Shukla

Patient Experience Journal

Introduction: Telemedicine has revolutionized medical care delivery by emphasizing on Patient-Centred Care (PCC). Patient Reported Measures (PRMs) can assist in providing PCC since it assesses the treatment outcomes and patient experience. However, using PRMs is not just limited to gauging clinical efficiency; it can also play a role in addressing the ethical challenges in telemedicine. Yet this aspect of PRMs remains underexplored. Method: Literature search was conducted using a combination of keywords from the Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. 126 peer-reviewed journal articles in English from 2015 to 2024 were screened, and 34 relevant full-text …

Understanding Patient Experiences: A Qualitative Study On Communication And Cultural Competence In Multiple Sclerosis Care, Vaishnavi Sridharan, Charee Thompson, Rola Mahmoud, Minnatallah N. E. Eltinay, Chungyi Chiu

Patient Experience Journal

Objective: Effective communication is crucial in multiple sclerosis (MS) care, influencing patient satisfaction, self-management, and health outcomes. This study explores the experiences of people with MS (PwMS) regarding communication with healthcare providers and between providers within healthcare systems. Methods: This qualitative study analyzed open-ended responses from 590 participants in a national cross-sectional survey. Thematic content analysis was conducted to explore MS patients’ experiences with healthcare communication and care delivery. Results: Three major themes emerged: (1) Patient-provider communication, where 62.9% of participants reported positive experiences, citing responsiveness and empathy, while 37.1% noted issues such as inattentiveness and rushed consultations. (2) …

“Why Should Anyone Want To Make Things Better For Me Particularly?” – A Qualitative Exploration Of Care Opinion And Nhs Care Improvements, Emma Berry, Zoe Skea, Marion K. Campbell, Louise Locock

Patient Experience Journal

Care Opinion is an online platform which enables people to share anonymous feedback (known as “stories”) about their experiences of UK healthcare. In Scotland, this platform has official government backing, though healthcare organisations are not obliged to use it. Care Opinion staff review and edit these stories, acting as moderators. Healthcare staff are invited to respond to stories and are encouraged to use it for healthcare improvement. However, the number of changes made and registered on the platform is relatively small. This paper brings together findings from interviews with story authors (those sharing experiences), NHS staff and Care Opinion moderators …

Psychosocial Dimensions Of Living With Hep B: Notes From The Field: The Lived Experience Of A Mother Raising A Daughter With Hepatitis B, Julie Gerhardt

Patient Experience Journal

What follows is based on the interweaving of three points of view each of which contributes to an understanding of the experience of living with Hepatitis B: (i) as the mother of a daughter who was diagnosed with HBV at 5 months and who still, at age 22, carries traces of the surface antigen in her blood; (ii) as a participant in the Hepatitis B Foundation’s (HBF) “Storytellers” program in which those impacted by the disease meet with others to share experiences and narrate a short video posted on the HBF website; and (iii) as a PhD research psychologist-turned-psychoanalyst interested …

My Husband Didn’T Have To Die: A Doctor Reflects On All That Went Wrong With Her Husband’S Care In One Of The Nation’S Top Medical Centers, Joanna A. Cooper

Patient Experience Journal

The outcomes of complex care are never predictable. Despite this, reflecting on my husband’s care and his untimely death, I am certain that his fate would have been different with better communication, attention to detail, collaboration, and measures of curiosity, humility, and compassion.

Holding Space: An Effective Intervention For When Hope Wanes, Annette Lane, Marlette Reed, Rose Schroeder

Patient Experience Journal

Holding space is a person-centered, non-judgmental approach to working with clients. This approach goes beyond listening to client concerns; it entails deep listening and being present, developing trust with clients, and helping them connect goals with values. Within this brief account, the concept of holding space is described. What it is and is not is explained. Examples of holding space are woven throughout in order illustrate this concept. Finally, implications for professionals are provided.

The Art Of Diagnosis: How To Actively Participate In Your Healthcare, Vladislav Ilin, Daniel J. Morgan, Brad Peckler

Patient Experience Journal

Diagnosing illness is one of the most complex and error-prone aspects of healthcare, yet patients are rarely equipped with the knowledge or tools to engage in the process actively. This article demystifies diagnosis by explaining how doctors formulate differential diagnoses, the limitations of medical testing, and the cognitive and systemic factors that contribute to diagnostic errors. Drawing on real-world examples, the article highlights the crucial role of clear communication and collaborative decision-making between patients and clinicians. It offers practical, evidence-based strategies for patients to prepare for consultations, communicate their symptoms effectively, and ask key questions that promote accurate diagnosis. By …

Taking Time And Making Space For Patient And Caregiver Partners, R. Hamilton, L. Hives

Patient Experience Journal

Patient and caregiver engagement is a paramount element to ensure the voice of lived experience is integrated and prioritized in research. However, what it looks like to actually participate in authentic patient and caregiver engagement can be challenging without understanding the experience of our patient and caregiver partners. I had the honour of interviewing a patient and caregiver partner who bestowed rich guidance about what it means to deliver excellent patient and caregiver engagement in research. Themes of the interview included taking time to collaborate, being mindful and giving gratitude, actively listening to partner voices, leading alongside patient and caregiver …

From Fear To Hope: How Communication Transformed Our Pregnancy Journey A Personal Narrative On The Critical Role Of Healthcare Communication In Patient Experience, Valan. P, Pulidindi Venugopal

Patient Experience Journal

This article emphasises the transformative potential of compassionate healthcare communication, particularly in the context of pregnancy loss. This personal narrative illustrates how varying communication approaches can significantly alter patient experiences, transforming anxiety-laden medical encounters into empowering partnerships with healthcare providers. A ten-month journey through pregnancy after a devastating miscarriage revealed the profound impact of communication quality on both clinical outcomes and emotional healing. The narrative contrasts three distinct communication environments: dismissive administrative systems that induce unnecessary stress, insensitive support staff during vulnerable moments, and a physician whose empathetic approach fundamentally transforms the entire pregnancy experience. Through a detailed examination of …

Why We Need A Patient-Centered Innovation Renaissance: A Horizontal And Vertical Integration Of Knowledge To Transform Care Pathways, Pieter Vandekerckhove, Benjamin H.L Harris, Louis J. Koizia, Ashok Handa, Chris Brainard, Steven Howard

Patient Experience Journal

We are at a pivotal moment. The future of healthcare innovation can no longer be defined solely by technological advancement or institutional efficiency. While digital tools, therapies and platforms continue to evolve, they must be embedded within a broader transformation, one that places the human experience at the centre of how we design, deliver and evaluate care. This patient-centred renaissance calls for the integration of both horizontal and vertical forms of knowledge: connecting services across the care continuum. From the literature and our experience, an unexpected byproduct of co-production with patients in health innovation and care delivery is a reduction …

“Those Boxes Do Not Hold Me”: Using Narrative Health Experiences Research To Learn From Patients And Care Partners Beyond Surveys, Rachel Grob, Barbara Warren, Erika Cottrell, Njeri Grevious, Sara Knight, Mark Schlesinger, Kate Clegg Smith, Nancy Pandhi

Patient Experience Journal

Stories are fundamental to how we understand individual beliefs and experiences, as well as collective mindsets and institutional practices. Volunteered narratives are abundant, especially on the interweb. We in the health experiences research community, however, are challenged to develop effective, equitable approaches to moving beyond surveys by hearing and responding to not just dominant voices, but also those whom research has historically ignored, silenced, or objectified. In this commentary, we describe one such approach: the Database of Individual Patient Experiences (DIPEx) methodology as adapted by the Health Experiences Research Network (HERN) for use in the U.S. context since 2015. We …

Mastering The Art Of Listening: The Human Experience Superpower, Jason A. Wolf

Patient Experience Journal

As human beings we do not live in isolation. Our existence is framed in the context of others. We are a part of families and teams, communities and countries; all which provide us with ideas and information, most delivered through the interactions we have with others. The very definition of experience itself conveys this as it opens with the words, “the sum of all interactions.”¹ Every experience that we have is impacted by interactions with others. This give and take of connection is the breath of our humanity. Through it we transfer thoughts and beliefs, words and emotions. Moments …

Implementation Of A Standardized Onboarding Program, Sarah J. Wall

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a standardized onboarding program on Advanced Practice Provider (APP) retention and productivity within an academic department.

Background: High APP turnover in specialized settings disrupts care and leads to financial losses. Previously, onboarding lacked structure, leading to early attrition and delayed productivity. A 24-week phased, competency-based orientation program was developed to improve retention, job satisfaction, and clinical performance.

Methods: The program, implemented in April 2024, included clinical precepting, didactic modules, and mentorship. Retention and Relative Value Units (RVUs) were measured before and after implementation. Qualitative data was collected through mentorship surveys and APP focus groups. …

New Dentist News (August 2025), Ada Committee On The New Dentist

New Dentist News

New Dentist News offers timely information on scientific, social, educational, political and economic developments affecting new dentists. This collection is historical and items may not reflect current standards. For up-to-date information contact the ADA. The New Dentist News was alternately titled ADA Lifeline, 1997-June 2001.

A Cancer Education Needs Assessment: Informing Middle-Aged Female Patients About The Relationships Between Obesity And Women’S Health Concerns In The Reproductive System, Breast, And Endometrial Health, Batul Mirza

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Obesity significantly impacts women’s health, particularly among middle-aged women, by increasing the risk of hormone-sensitive cancers such as breast, endometrial, and reproductive system cancers. This study examines the educational needs of this demographic group regarding obesity-related cancer risks and explores effective intervention strategies. Obesity-induced mechanisms – hormonal imbalances, chronic inflammation, and insulin resistance – drive cancer susceptibility, emphasizing the need for targeted health education. The study employs a qualitative design, which includes interviews with subject matter experts (SMEs) and surveys of middle-aged women. The goal is to assess awareness, perceived barriers, and preferred learning methods. Findings suggest that with many …

New Dentist News (June 2025), Ada Committee On The New Dentist

New Dentist News

New Dentist News offers timely information on scientific, social, educational, political and economic developments affecting new dentists. This collection is historical and items may not reflect current standards. For up-to-date information contact the ADA. The New Dentist News was alternately titled ADA Lifeline, 1997-June 2001.

Steve Beard ’98 Named To Time100 Health List, James Owsley Boyd

Keep Up With the Latest News from the Law School (blog)

One of the world’s most influential leaders in the health ecosystem never thought he’d make it to college, let alone to the C-Suite of a major corporation helping diversify the American health care workforce. But Steve Beard isn’t your average CEO.

Raised on the south side of Chicago, Beard just assumed he was destined for a blue collar career after high school. But a guidance counselor, seeing something in Beard that he didn’t see in himself, urged him to apply to college. Four years later Beard was a graduate of the University of Illinois. A brief stint in banking led …

What Makes A Hospital Gown Functional? A Comparative Case Study Of Effective Patient-Centered Design Practices In Four (N = 4) Hospital Gowns, Robmarie Lopez

Patient Experience Journal

A hospital gown is essentially a patient uniform. Yet, the typical ``tie in the back'' hospital gown, standard garb for routine medical procedure, can have great influence over key intervention factors like receptiveness to treatment and patient self-esteem. Thus, the goals of this study are two-fold: 1) To understand patient perceptions of the standard hospital gown, and 2) To understand which principles and elements of design underpin effectively functional hospital gown redesign. Aim 1 was assessed via a comprehensive literature review of n = 5 qualitative or mixed-methods studies which surveyed or interviewed patients on their experience with the standard …

Adolescents With Cystic Fibrosis Expressing Their Possible Selves Through Photovoice: A Longitudinal Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis To Prepare A Peer Support Intervention For Healthcare Transition, Maxime Morsa, Adélaïde Vincent-Lardy, Julie Haesebaert, Catherine Llerena, Lucie Pelz, Philippe Reix, Rémi Gagnayre, Quitterie Reynaud

Patient Experience Journal

While the transition from pediatric to adult care has become a field of study and practice focused on preparing the adolescent to ``become an adult with a chronic condition'', we are conducting participatory research to develop, implement, and evaluate a peer-support intervention aimed at supporting transition from pediatric to adult care for adolescents living with cystic fibrosis within two hospital centers in France. In preparation for this intervention, we would like to better understand how peer support could support identity self-determination of the adolescents. We conducted a longitudinal qualitative research using photovoice technique. For one year, 8 French adolescents (15–18 …

The Impact Of Learners On Patient Satisfaction In The Orthopedic Setting, Sydney Boike, Kevin Hodge, Lynsey Malin, Timothy Nyangacha, Rebekah Kleinsmith, Megan Reams, Julia Stumpf, Bradley Nelson

Patient Experience Journal

This investigation evaluates the impact of learners and their post-graduate year (PGY) levels on patient satisfaction in the orthopedic outpatient clinic, an area with limited prior research. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from July 2020 to December 2022, involving 2,484 patients, with a 39% response rate. Satisfaction was measured via NRC Health surveys, focusing on the likelihood of recommending the provider or clinic based on the presence of learners, categorized as none, present in the clinic, or involved in patient care. Non-parametric statistical analysis revealed significant reductions in satisfaction when learners were involved in care, with top-box …