In clinical education, the ability to engage in honest, constructive conversations is essential, but often challenging. This session, Courage to Communicate: Navigating Difficult Conversations in Clinical Education, is designed to empower clinical instructors, site coordinators, academic faculty and students with the tools and confidence to approach feedback and challenging dialogue with clarity, empathy, and professionalism.

Grounded in evidence-informed practice and literature, this session explores the psychological and relational dynamics that make feedback difficult, and introduces structured frameworks such as SBI (Situation-Behavior-Impact), Pendleton's Rules, and the R2C2 model (Rapport-Reaction-Content-Coach) to guide effective communication. Participants will examine real-world clinical scenarios involving underperformance, misaligned expectations, and emotionally charged interactions, and will learn to apply feedback strategies that foster growth and maintain trust.

The session includes interactive components such as case-based discussion, and a feedback planning tool that attendees can use in their own settings. Participants will also receive three practical activities tailored to different roles: a peer feedback exercise for students, a feedback culture mapping activity for DCEs, and a roundtable discussion guide for clinical education faculty. These resources are designed to be immediately implementable and adaptable across diverse clinical environments.

By the end of the session, attendees will be equipped to lead and model courageous communication in clinical education, creating psychologically safe spaces where feedback is not only delivered, but welcomed. This session supports the development of leadership, emotional intelligence, and reflective practice, all of which are critical to advancing clinical education and professional growth.

Upon completing this session, participants will - 

• Understand the psychology of feedback and why difficult conversations are often avoided.
• Learn and apply evidence-based frameworks for giving and receiving feedback.
• Practice strategies for real-world clinical scenarios involving students, instructors, and coordinators.
• Build confidence in navigating emotionally charged or high-stakes conversations.