Education Research: Teaching and assessing communication and professionalism in neurology residency with simulation

In medical education, professionalism and interpersonal communication skills are considered to be equally important to the mastery of medical fund of knowledge.1,2 The American Association of Medical Colleges states that “medical schools should articulate and defend the importance of professional values,” and suggests tools for developing and assessing these skills, such as 360-degree evaluations, simulations, clinical vignettes, retreats, and focus groups.1 The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education includes interpersonal communication and professionalism as core competencies; trainees must achieve these before practicing independently.2