Internal medicine residents improve nonverbal skills in unique way

Haris Manan, M.D.

USA Health internal medicine residents continue to find success preparing for future patients through the department’s hands-on Medicine and Horsemanship workshop. 

It uses equine-assisted therapy to help resident physicians raise their awareness of how important nonverbal communication is and apply those lessons in working with their patients. 

Haris Manan, M.D., praised the experience for reinforcing the importance of building trust, which directly translates to improving doctor-patient care. 

“Working with horses requires clear communication, patience, empathy, and an understanding of non-verbal cues — all essential skills in internal medicine,” he said. “Just as horses respond to subtle changes in demeanor and body language, patients often communicate non-verbally, requiring physicians to be attentive and compassionate listeners.” 

Szymon Matejuk, M.D.

Previous studies at other academic institutions have demonstrated that similar equine-assisted sessions improve communication, leading to better patient compliance and satisfaction with their medical care.  

Other residents noted how each horse exhibited different personality traits, just like they would encounter in their patients.  

“Medicine and Horsemanship was a great opportunity to engage with a diverse group of horses, each showcasing unique personalities that mirrored the individuality of patients we encounter in our practice,” said Szymon Matejuk, M.D. “Empathy and adaptability are essential in medicine. By understanding the varied needs of both horses and individuals, we emerge as more compassionate and effective physicians." 

Ekta Khubchandani, M.D.

Studies have shown that horses and humans display similar facial emotions – 17 to be exact – when expressing fear, surprise and sadness, equine-assisted training helps students better understand how to establish trust and respect with patients.   

Ekta Khubchandani, M.D., picked up on that similarity quickly. 

“The Medicine and Horsemanship seminar gave me insight into how our body language is just as important as our words are to the patient,” she said. “For me, it is a reminder that the doctor-patient relationship is a delicate one, and that we must be gentle with patients. Not all our patients are the same – they all exhibit their own traits, and so do horses.”