
Beyond Snapshots: Studying Medical Training Through Time
From Health Ethics Podcast by Bryan Pilkington
June 10, 2026 · 41 min · Season 7 · Episode 6
About this episode
Dr. Bryan Pilkington interviews Dr. Dorene Balmer about her longitudinal study on medical training and the evolving identities of physicians.
In this episode, Dr. Bryan Pilkington speaks with Dr. Dorene Balmer about her book, The Long Arc of Training: Six Stories of Aspiring Doctors , which emerged from a 12-year longitudinal qualitative study that followed medical students into residency and practice. Balmer reflects on how repeated, relationship-based interviews allow participants to reflect on their evolving identities as physicians and surgeons, their career options and their personal values in ways that traditional “snapshot” research cannot capture. Guest: Dorene Balmer, PhD Professor of Pediatrics Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania & Education Scientist Education Collaboratory, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
People in this episode
Host: Bryan Pilkington
Guest: Dorene Balmer
Topics covered
- medical training
- longitudinal study
- physician identity
- qualitative research
- career development
Keywords
- medical training
- longitudinal study
- physician identity
- qualitative research
- career options
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Perelman School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
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