Larner College of Medicine
Grey Matters is a monthly online session for providers in neurology, neurosurgery, and palliative care to share with colleagues the emotional impact of unexpected patient outcomes and challenging clinical discussions. It offers a safe, supportive environment to address moral distress that may contribute to burnout

Hand-drawn illustration of dog and turtle on swings having a conversation. Rendered in sepia cross-hatched ink.

Image Description: A small turtle sits on a swing, looking at a young girl in the swing beside it. The young girl is looking at the turtle and asks, "Do you need help?". The turtle answers, "Yes. And I would be silly not to ask for it."

doctor walking behind a glass wall

Fostering Multidisciplinary Relational Support

Providers will reflect on emotional challenges of patient care through group discussions through facilitated group discussions. Providers will explore ways to prioritize patient-centered goals using effective communication, including prognostication discussions after neurologic injuries.

Join the Monthly Session

GREY MATTERS: Peer support to debrief difficult clinical situations in Neurology and Neurosurgery

What is a difficult situation?
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Anything keeping you up at night.

  • e.g. a bad outcome, a questionable decision, disagreement within the patient care team, challenging interpersonal family or patient dynamics, complex goals of care

Structure
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  • Monthly 1 hour web-based forum •Facilitated by two trained individuals (representations in Neurology, Neurosurgery, Neuro-oncology, Palliative Care, Emergency Medicine, General Surgery).
  • 6-12 participants: providers in neurology, neurosurgery, and palliative care 
  • Format: 
    • Intro 5m
    • Who has a case?" Case presentation 10m
    • Questions about the case 5m
    • Identify themes as a group 15m 
    • Small group break outs to share personal reflections 15m
    • Regroup and close 10m
  • Alternative option: Submit a case for discussion anonymously and securely

 

What this is
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  • A medicolegally safe space (under the umbrella of peer support) to process difficult situations with the goal of connecting with our reactions instead of burying them.

What this is not
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  • NOT M&M- our focus is on the emotions not the medicine (e.g. we don't care what the creatinine was).
  • NOT to offer solutions- the goal is to start to process, not to "fix it".

Rules of Engagement
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  • No PHI
  • Be nice
  • Focus on the situation not the presenter
  • Don't try to fix it

 

FACILITATORS

Grand Awardees

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  • Erin D'Agostino, Neurology plus 4 years Neurosurgery residency, UVMMC (Right Brain: Of Puddles and Pinnacles)
  • Erica Lash, Emergency Medicine and Palliative Care, UVMMC
  • Alissa Thomas, Neuro Oncology, UVMMC
  • Katherine Hill, General Surgery and Palliative Care, WVU
  • Miri Kim, Neurosurgical Oncology, Swedish

Additional Facilitators

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  • Daniel Calnan, Neurosurgery
  • Seth Mansinghani, Anesthesia plus partial Neurosurgery residency, UVMMC
  • John Kanter, Neurosurgery and Neuro Critical Care, UPMC
  • Joseph Stern, Neurosurgery, University of Michigan

Contact

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For more information, please contact: GreyMattersForum@gmail.com