Medical students blend comedy and clinical skills in improv miniseries

If medical students at Case Western Reserve weren’t so busy becoming doctors, they might revive Whose Line Is It Anyway?—because when they aren’t taking classes or studying, they’re flexing their creative muscles through a medical improvisation miniseries.

“My dad introduced me to stand-up comedy in middle school when the two of us would sit down and watch specials on Netflix,” shared Pulkit Nagpal, a second-year medical student who came up with the idea to kickstart Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine’s improv miniseries. “Since then, I was fascinated with how powerful humor could be in bringing people together and making them feel connected.”

After telling a classmate about his experience taking an introductory improv class with Imposters Theater, Nagpal was encouraged to reach out to Assistant Professor of Bioethics Oliver Schirokauer, MD, PhD (MED ’14). A fellow improv fan, Schirokauer echoed Nagpal’s belief that the power of improv has a place in medical education.

“[By meeting with Schirokauer], I learned that improv is not about the comedy, but rather all about thinking on your feet—just going with it and facing uncertainty—and that it was very relevant to medicine and the way we practice it,” Nagpal said.

After connecting, Nagpal and Schirokauer, along with other improv enthusiasts in the Case Western Reserve healthcare space, got to work making the medical improv miniseries possible.

The miniseries serves as an introduction to the core concepts of improv, providing medical students with the opportunity to practice these skills alongside their peers in a fun, low-stakes environment. Students gather for two hours each week for five weeks to play improv games, with guidance and medical context provided throughout.

Laughing for two hours straight lightens the load of otherwise stressful days, but the improvisation skills they’re learning aren’t only silly; they apply to the clinical careers these students are aiming toward.

In one improv game, two students come up with a scene in just three lines: One student starts the sketch with a random statement, the second student responds and then the first student finishes it.

This exercise, among others, teaches students how to better communicate with patients. Doctors need to be ready to respond to anything. When patients speak, doctors must listen closely and respond quickly, compassionately and professionally.

Improvisation also shows the importance of shared decision-making. Seamlessly bouncing off each other’s ideas during an improv sketch helps everyone play an equal role in the creative process. These future physicians are encouraged to work in tandem with patients to come up with the best solution for each individual’s unique situation, offering recommendations in a way that makes patients actively involved in the decision process.

Other games emphasize teamwork. Paying close attention to an improv partner’s cues keeps the skit flowing naturally and without interruption. When someone is on a roll during improv, it can be best to let them have their moment while preparing to chime in later. In clinical settings, it’s crucial to work with fellow healthcare providers like a well-oiled machine, knowing when to take the lead versus when to step back.

“I hope the program will help broaden the way we think about and approach our relationships with patients and fellow providers in the healthcare space,” said Nagpal. “This miniseries, through improv games, fun sketch exercises and in-session reflections, aims to promote [hands-on] learning. It's also just a fun space to unwind, be authentic and try new things.”