Background: While empathy is often a large focus at the undergraduate medical education (UME) level, it unfortunately loses priority at many residency training programs due to lack of a formal curriculum. Residents are at high risk for burnout, emotional exhaustion, and loss of meaning in their work, all of which can negatively impact their empathy. [...]

Background: Although the intended purpose of the hospital gown is not to cause harm, it reinforces the role of being subordinate to the physician. Gowns put patients in a vulnerable position because they can be readily exposed all day. The identical, interchangeable patient gown reinforces the role of the lowly patient in the hospital hierarchy, [...]