What Patients Really Want: Communication, Trust, and the Future of Physician Learning

S03 E02:   In this episode of The Hat Rack, host Dr. Bill McCauley sits down with three guests—Brandon Fonseca, a Toronto-based software engineer; Ann DeBono, a London, Ontario realtor; and Ken Anderson, a retired Anglican priest—to hear directly from patients. For the first time on the podcast, the conversation explores how patients think physicians learn, stay current, and evolve in their practice.   From assumptions about recertification to expectations around conferences and ongoing learning, this discussion reveals how the public perceives physician education. The guests also explore how online medical information—including "Dr. Google"—can be both empowering and risky, shaping how patients approach conversations with their physicians.   Patients describe how empathy, clarity, listening, and simple human connection—pulling up a chair, making eye contact, explaining next steps—can deeply impact their experience of care. The episode includes real stories of navigating menopause, specialist referrals, and a frightening hospital admission for sepsis, revealing how communication can calm fear, build trust, and help patients feel safe.    Referenced Resources: AI Clinical Scribes (e.g., ambient documentation tools)  Technology that captures physician–patient dialogue and generates clinical notes, improving presence and connection. Ontario MD CPSO Sepsis Information – Sepsis Alliance Patient-friendly education on recognizing sepsis early. Women's Health & Menopause Research – Women's College Hospital (Toronto) A leading Canadian institution advancing research on menopause and women's health. Shared Decision-Making & Patient Communication – Choosing Wisely Canada  Supports conversations around testing, treatments, and evidence-informed care. Find Something to Hang Your Hat On! Listen to The Hat Rack podcast, where physicians gain access to the strategies and insights that CPD experts use to plan, deliver, and measure meaningful continuing education. Guests draw from extensive local, national, and international experience, providing practical takeaways for physicians and educators alike. Hosted by Dr. Bill McCauley, CPD Associate Dean at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. 📧 Questions, Comments, & Suggestions: [email protected]