Rethink medical education to reduce cognitive burden and empower the next generation of physicians | Liz Malphrus, MD, MPP

Episode 118 | Duration: 22:14

Medical education is designed to prepare physicians for the clinical complexities of caring for patients, but much of what trainees must  learn extends far beyond medical knowledge. From navigating hospital workflows and understanding team dynamics to developing technical skills in high-pressure environments, medical students and residents are often expected to figure out essential aspects of their work through trial and error. These unwritten expectations can add significant cognitive burden to an already demanding training process. What if more of this hidden curriculum could be taught explicitly, allowing future physicians todevote more of their attention to learning medicine and caring for patients?

In this episode of Caring Greatly Liz Malphrus, MD, MPP, a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's six-year plastic surgery residency program, discusses her efforts to make medical education more accessible, practical and supportive of trainees. From teaching residents how to approach clinical consultations to examining the policies and incentives shaping healthcare, Liz discusses why greater transparency and knowledge-sharing can help reduce unnecessary friction in medical training.

Liz also talks about Penn Micro, a free virtual microsurgery course designed to help surgical trainees build technical skills outside the operating room. Rather than relying solely on the traditional model of learning through observation and supervised practice during high-stakes procedures, the course uses accessible exercises, including pen-and-paper drills, to develop dexterity, muscle memory and confidence. Liz describes how structured practice and coaching helped junior residents develop skills typically reserved for more senior trainees, demonstrating that meaningful innovations in surgical education do not always require expensive technology or extensive resources.

Now in her first year as an attending plastic surgeon, Liz reflects on the transition from trainee to independent practitioner and the choices physicians face as they define their careers. She discusses the tension between productivity pressures and time needed for thoughtful patient care and medical education. She also reflects on how different practice settings can shape opportunities for advocacy and professional autonomy. Throughout the conversation, Liz returns to the importance of recognizing physicians as human beings whose needs, priorities and professional identities evolve over time. Creating a more humane healthcare system, she notes, requires attention on both patient and care team experiences.

Drawing on her background in health policy and surgical training, Liz is an advocate for practical educational innovations, greater transparency and more human-centered approaches to medicine. In addition to being a plastic surgeon, she is the co-creator of Penn Micro as well as the creator of Cut & Tell, a Substack publication and podcast focused on medical education, healthcare policy and the practice of medicine.

Liz Malphrus is a leader who cares greatly.

Related link:
PennMicro - Penn Microsurgery Training
Cut & Tell podcast