The Cycle of Kindness with Dr. Charles Christopher Smith

Dr. Charles Christopher Smith is the Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, and Associate Vice Chair for Education at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. A graduate of the University Of Tennessee College Of Medicine, he completed his internal medicine residency training at Beth Israel Deaconess followed by a Chief Residency year. Dr. Smith completed the Rabkin Fellowship in Medical Education at Harvard Medical School and later served as the Director of the Fellowship. In addition to being the Program Director, Dr. Smith continues as Director of the Clinician Educator Track, has a busy primary care practice, teaches in many different venues, and has published on a variety of clinical and educational topics. Dr. Smith has been awarded the Alpha Omega Alpha, SGIM New England Medical Educator of the Year Award, the SGIM National Award for Scholarship in Medical Education, and the Robert C. Moellering Award for exceptional contributions as a clinician, teacher and researcher to name a few. A growth mindset, humility, and curiosity are the pillars of great mentees, says Dr. Smith. But even more important than that, is the environment that enables these kinds of mentees to flourish. Today, Dr. Smith teaches us what it means to create a positive learning climate. His strongest belief is that focusing on the positive—not the negative—is the best way to create an endless cycle of kindness, growth, and excellence within medicine. He makes it a practice to call out acts of kindness when he sees them (no matter how big or small), because it serves as positive reinforcement. And when it comes to feedback, he likes to point out the things he sees that are being done well—and correctly. And he reminds us: When we keep kindness at the forefront of our minds, we’ll look at everything—and everyone—with more gratitude. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. Gratitude lies in the center of burnout. When we’re feeling exhausted, reconnect with our patients to remember why we’re here. 2. Kindness is in the small interactions we have every single day. When we see kindness, call it out. It will perpetuate the endless cycle of kindness, and it will build in yourself and others. 3. Say yes to opportunities early in your career. Build a team of mentors that help us lean into our discomfort, to try new things, and to realize our full potential.