Say Yes to the Gifts of Improv: Health Profession & Professional Health | Mike Smith, MD | TEDxOmaha

Sometimes chance steps in unexpectedly and even unasked for. Yes and….with it, our lives suddenly pivot and change, leading us to new paths, new possibilities and revealing a side of ourselves waiting to explode into the world. Dr. Mike Smith experienced just that. An unexpected gift of Improv lessons, and with that his life took a new trajectory, and he now takes his students, peers, and coworkers on a journey of exploration, communication, collaboration and innovation, that develops social emotional intelligence, creative solutions and quality of life …. Yes and…what is your next unexpected pivot Mike is a practicing academic Hospitalist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center since moving back to Omaha in 2014. That Christmas, he was given improv lessons at The Backline Theater as a gift. He initially hid the fact that he performed improv from his coworkers but began to incorporate the skills of improv into his job as a physician and an educator of future healthcare providers with extremely positive results. In 2018, he developed five workshops for the faculty development department at UNMC. Since then, he has led over 100 workshops and experiences using improv to educate other healthcare providers and professionals across the country in communication, wellness, and leadership skills. He still performs in monthly improv shows with his two regularly performing teams, Dad Jokes and Biscuits. He also has been a Top Teacher for both medical students and residents the past several years. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx