The Bucksbaum Institute for Clinical Excellence and the Doctor–Patient Relationship: Origins, Programs, and Future Directions

Abstract

The Bucksbaum Institute for Clinical Excellence at the University of Chicago was established in 2011 with the mission to improve patient care, strengthen the doctor–patient relationship, enhance communication and decision making in health care, and reduce health care disparities. The Bucksbaum Institute supports the development and activities of medical students, junior faculty, and senior clinicians who devote themselves to improving doctor–patient communication and clinical decision making. The institute seeks to enhance the skills of physicians as advisers, counselors, and navigators to help patients make informed decisions when facing complex treatment choices. To achieve its mission, the institute recognizes and supports the activities of physicians who excel in clinical care, supports an array of educational programs, and funds research into the doctor–patient relationship. As the Bucksbaum Institute enters a second decade, its focus will begin to extend beyond the University of Chicago, leveraging alumni and other relationships to improve patient care everywhere.