Box 1 Key Points

• Students arrive at medical school with their innate empathy which is then prone to influence as they commence their socialisation into medicine. There is the potential for growth or decay.

• Sincere empathic communication involves a balance of cognitive and affective components, though tutors and students fear that engaging emotions risks burnout and compassion fatigue.

• Research into resilience should include strategies that embolden students to emotionally engage with patients.

• Educators should heed the importance of role modelling.

• Appropriate reflective practice may help augment the influence of positive role models and combat the adverse messages from negative role models.

• Educators should strive to reform the current assessment system which implies that shows of empathy are all that is needed. The show of compassion is not the same as the true act.