Dr. Tim Cunningham - How Compassionate Encounters Benefit All

Dr. Tim Cunningham, a nurse leader at Emory Health, shares stories of his journey into nursing and how his father’s struggles founded his commitment to help others. Dr. Cunningham shares a deeply moving tale about his time in Sierra Leone treating patients with Ebola virus. Tim tells how assisting a dying woman in her time of need was such a meaningful moment of presence. Yet, he questioned who was truly receiving the gift of presence, He or the patient? Marcus asks about Tim’s role at Emory Health when he’s focused on the health and wellness of the nursing staff. The two talk about active listening being the key to showing compassionate presence. They talk about Narrative Medicine and the application to helping clinicians frame their experiences. Key topics:00:00 – Introduction00:50 – Dr. Cunningham talks about his roles and career path.05:45 – Marcus asks Dr. Cunningham what drives him in the ED.08:20 – Dr. Cunningham is asked about his work in Sierra Leone.16:48 – Marcus asks about the differences in healthcare from 3 years ago to today. 19:10 – Dr. Cunningham answers a question about retaining nurses and preventing burnout. The ideas of system change, comradery, and peer support all play a role in helping burnout.28:00 – Marcus talks about compassion and active listening. Dr. Cunningham brings that idea full circle and gives practical examples of narrative medicine and compassion. 33:00 – Marcus asks Dr. Cunningham his rapid-fire questions. Keep looking up!38:30 – Thank you and conclusions! Resources for you: Connect with Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusengel/Subscribe to the Compassion & Courage podcast through Apple: https://bit.ly/MarcusEngelPodcast Date: 08/29/2022Name of show: Compassion & Courage: Conversations in HealthcareEpisode title and number: Episode 65 – Dr. Tim Cunningham – How Compassionate Encounters Benefit All