An Interview with Dr. Masahito Jimbo, an expert in patient – physician communication
By Rowan Dunbar, C2ST Intern, University of Illinois Chicago
Here’s the What, Why, and Where from my interview with Dr. Mashito Jimbo. Dr. Jimbo is an expert in patient-physician communication.
What
Dr. Jimbo focuses on decision aids, a tool used to bring patients and physicians to a mutual decision when more than one medical option is available. As part of the shared decision-making model, a physician will contribute their medical expertise, and a patient will contribute their lived experience to reach the best decision. The best decisions are options that the patient will follow through on!
Why
Dr. Jimbo chose to study patient-physician communication due to his experience as someone who was born and raised in Japan, worked in the U.S., and now identifies as bicultural and bilingual. This sparked his interest in communication in the first place. His work experience in various settings also sparked his curiosity about how different environments affect patient-physician communication.
Where
While he has spent his career in various locations, he decided to finish his career in Chicago at UI Health. One factor contributing to his decision to accept a position at UI Health was the alignment of the health system’s social mission with his lived experience and personal values, as UI Health’s patient population is predominantly black and brown. Working at UI Health allows Dr. Jimbo to utilize his public health training and expertise to address health disparities in the Chicago area. He also says his work in Chicago is more complex than work he completed in other clinical environments like Ann Arbor. However, it is fulfilling. while learning more about UI Health before deciding to work there, Dr.Jimbo recalls someone telling him that other institutions may “raise the ceiling,” meaning that different institutions may have more cutting-edge research or innovations but that “UIC raises the floor” meaning that UI Health lifts and serves communities that need it the most – first.
Where Part II: Where He Sees His Field Heading
Dr. Jimbo considers himself a mentor in patient-physician communication. He hopes this field will utilize AI to create simulations to help patients be more assertive in clinical scenarios. He says this tool is necessary and would help address power differentials between physicians and their patients– even if it is unspoken or unintentional. Fortunately, shared decision-making is becoming more common, but it still does not always occur. Additionally, he hopes that the potential development of this tool will someday ensure that patients better understand the potential side effects of each treatment prior to making their decision so patients will feel comfortable with, and follow through, with their treatment plan.
So where is Dr. Jimbo now? What is he up to at UI Health? Dr. Jimbo oversees diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts for the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago (UIC COM). As a DEI expert he made the following statements:
- There are more women in medicine than in the past
- There is a more diverse student population
- In terms of racial makeup, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, etc.
- He asks if “we can continue to nurture and graduate students who represent the population?”
- He worries that the end of affirmative action will also be the end to the cultivation and enrichment of students from diverse backgrounds
- Which may ultimately lead to decreased enrollment and a less diverse workforce in the future
Advice from an expert
I ended my interview with Dr. Jimbo by asking him if he had any advice for patients looking for a physician or wonder if their physician is the right fit for them – here’s what he had to say:
- Conveying Health Information – Good doctors invest their time in ensuring the patient understands the importance of what their doctor says. The patient should also understand their condition, available treatments, and the pros and cons of each course of action. This also includes the option for no medical intervention.
- Actively Listening and Addressing – Doctors should be able to listen to your concerns and address them fully!
- Accessibility/Convenience – Is this doctor accessible within the time frame you need them? For example, do they respond to portal messages?
- Safety/Free of Judgment – You should feel safe to disclose all information relevant to your health!
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