Hojat M, Vergare MJ, Maxwell K, Brainard G, Herrine SK, Isenberg GA, Veloski J, Gonnella JS. Academic Medicine. 2009; 84 (9): 1182-91.
This longitudinal study found a significant decline in empathy during students’ third year of medical school. This seems counterintuitive, as this is when students often begin patient care activities. The implications are discussed.