Walk a Mile in Someone Else's Shoes: An Experiential Approach to Cultivating Compassion in Future Physicians in a Pre-Post Intervention Study.

This study examined whether experiential role-play could enhance empathy and compassion in medical students by simulating the experiences of underserved populations. Fourteen third-year students at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine (USD SSOM) participated in scenarios involving homelessness, intimate partner violence, and undocumented status. Pre- and post-intervention surveys measured students' understanding of community barriers, confidence in accessing local resources, and perceived empathy. Results showed significant improvements in knowledge and confidence related to social determinants of health, though self-reported empathy did not change significantly. Despite this, students rated the experience as highly effective in fostering compassion and preparing them for empathetic clinical care.