Belinda Fu
DOCTOR – EDUCATOR - PERFORMING ARTIST
Belinda Fu, MD ("theImprovDoc") is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Washington, and Director of The Mayutica Institute, an educational training company. Dr. Fu is a professional actor, and a Theatresports™ ensemble member at Seattle’s Unexpected Productions. She received her BA at Stanford University, her MD from the University of California at San Francisco, and completed her residency, chief residency, and faculty development fellowship at the University of Washington. She co-organized the first Annual International Medical Improv Trainer Workshops, and established ImprovDoc.org, an educational resource about the use of improvisation in medicine. Belinda has been recognized for her outstanding keynote presentations, curricular development, workshops, and courses on innovative approaches to medical education, physician wellness, physician/patient communication, teambuilding, and medical improv.
Belinda's unique career is highlighted in a spotlight article about meaningful jobs (Payscale.com).
Belinda's profile was featured by the American Medical Women's Association in their "Dance, Theater, & Medicine" series.
Cover photo courtesy of Justin Triemstra
Medical Improv
photo: california academy of family physicians
Medical Improv is the adaptation of improvisational theater methods to the context of medicine, in order to promote collaborative patient care through improved communication, cognition, and wellbeing.
Belinda is a pioneer in the field of medical improv, in which the principles and training techniques of improvisational theatre are used to improve communication, cognition, and wellbeing in the field of medicine. She is moving the field forward with conceptual and curricular innovations in areas such as empathy training, physician wellness, patient motivation, and interdisciplinary teambuilding. She created the website ImprovDoc.org to share educational resources for the medical improv community. She collaborates with Professor Katie Watson, JD, of Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, to establish the highest standards of academic integrity and creative innovation. Belinda co-originated the International Medical Improv Train-the-Trainer Workshops, and has co-instructed the workshop since 2014.
Her medical improv workshop at the 2016 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference was featured in an article by Carla Kemp, Senior Editor of the AAP News. She has presented keynotes, workshops, and seminars across the United States and Canada, for institutions including the Cleveland Clinic, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Medical Colleges, National Society of Genetic Counselors, California Academy of Family Physicians, Washington Academy of Family Physicians, Group Health Cooperative, and the University of British Columbia.
Publications
An overview of the curricular elements of medical improv, including the "Triple A" model of medical improv skills, and a discussion of its application to core competencies and milestones.
Watson K, Fu B. "Medical Improv: A Novel Approach to Teaching Communication and Professionalism Skills." Ann Intern Med. [Epub ahead of print 26 July 2016]. A description of the unique role that Medical Improv plays in medical education.
Mehta, A., Fu, B., Chou, E. et al. Improv: Transforming Physicians and Medicine.Med.Sci.Educ. 31, 263–266 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-020-01174-x. Evocative true vignettes from five clinicians, describing the power of improvisation to positively transform the practice of medicine.
Sawyer T, Fu B, Gray M, Umoren R. "Medical Improvisation Training to Enhance the Antenatal Counseling Skills of Neonatologists and Neonatal Fellows: A Pilot Study," J of Mat-Fet & Neonat Med [Epub ahead of print 2 Sep 2016]. Learners participated in a medical improv workshop, then self-assessed their skill development immediately thereafter and at 3-month follow-up.
Upcoming presentations
2022
Phew, time for a break!
Past presentations
2022
June 2 - Patient-Centered Lab Utilization Guidance Services (PLUGS) Summit: Keynote
Jan 26 - Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) Medical Education Conference: Plenary
Mar 29–Apr 1 - AAFP Physician Health & Wellbeing Conference: Plenary, Workshops
April 22 - California Academy of Family Physicians: Keynote
May 5 - Univ Minnesota Best Practices in Health Sciences Education: Keynote
2021
April 9 - AAFP Family Physician Health & Wellbeing Conference: Keynote, Workshops
May 6 - Medicine in Motion: Panel
June 9 - Heartland Credit Union SHIFT21 Conference: Keynote
Oct 8 - Sociedad Español de Medicina de Familia y Comunitaria - Congreso Nacional 2021: Keynote
Oct 11-12 - Patient-centered Lab Utilization Guidance Services (PLUGS) Summit: Keynote, Workshop
Dec 4 - American Medical Women's Association (AMWA): Dance, Theater, and Medicine Panel
2020 (in a parallel covid-free universe...)
March 29 - AAMC Western Regional Conference WGEA 2020: Plenary (Asilomar, California) - cancelled
April 23-25 - American College of Physicians Annual Conference: Workshop (Los Angeles) - cancelled
June 7 - Association of Standardized Patient Educators (ASPE) Annual Conference: Keynote (Portland, Oregon) - cancelled
2019
February 8 - University of Nebraska Medical Center: Workshop (Omaha, Nebraska)
April 25 - AAFP National Conference of Constituency Leaders: Opening plenary (Kansas City, Missouri)
May 2 - 2019 Merrill Wells Memorial Lectureship: Plenary, workshop (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
June 5-9 - AAFP Family Physician Health & Wellbeing Conference: Keynote, Workshops (Phoenix, Arizona)
August 18-22 – 6th International Medical Improv Train-the-Trainer Workshop (Chicago)
September 7 - California Academy of Family Physicians 2019 Summit: Keynote (Los Angeles)
October 18 - Collaborative Family Healthcare Association 2019 Conference: Keynote (Denver)
November 9 - Texas Academy of Family Physicians (TAFP) Primary Care Summit: Workshop (The Woodlands, TX)
2018
February 13-14 – Allen M. Boyden Memorial Lectureship: Providence Center for Health Care Ethics: Grand Rounds, Workshop (Portland)
March 1 - Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies - Univ British Columbia: Keynote (Vancouver, CAN)
April 20 - AAFP Family Physician Health & Wellbeing Conference: Opening Plenary (Naples, Florida)
June 10-14 - 5th International Medical Improv Train-the-Trainer Workshop (Chicago)
October 4 - Washington Permanente Medical Group Wellness Conference: Keynote (Union, Washington)
October 24 - Providence Health & Services, Palliative Care Retreat: Workshop (Portland)
December 6 - BounceBack Resilience Conference 2018: Keynote (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
2017
January 21 - Bastyr University: Workshop (Seattle)
March 8 - Uniformed Services Academy of Family Physicians: Workshop (Seattle)
March 21 - UW Family Medicine WWAMI Network: Faculty Development (Seattle)
March 22 - UW School of Medicine: Workshop (Seattle)
April 9 - California Academy of Family Physicians: Keynote (San Francisco)
May 5 - Society for Teachers in Family Medicine: Seminar (San Diego)
May 11 - Madigan Army Medical Center: Keynote (Jt Base Lewis-McChord)
June 9 - Virginia Mason Medical Center: Grand Rounds (Seattle)
2016
December 3 - Cleveland Clinic Center for Excellence in Health Comm: Workshop (Cleveland)
November 15 - AAMC Learn Serve Lead Conference: Poster (Seattle)
November 10 - The Generalists in Medical Education: Annual Conference (Seattle)
November 3 - WWAMI Behavioral Health Network: Workshop (Seattle)
October 24 - American Academy of Pediatrics: National Conference (San Francisco)
September 29 - National Society of Genetic Counselors: Plenary (Seattle)
September 29 - Valley Family Medicine: Fall Retreat (Seattle)
September 24 - Univ of Washington Family Medicine Residency: Fall Retreat (Seattle)
September 23 - Swedish Medical Center: Physician Wellbeing Conference (Seattle)
September 17 - Univ of Washington Graduate Med Education: Panel (Seattle)
September 9 - Group Health Cooperative: Primary Care retreat (Bellevue, WA)
June 12-16 - 4th Annual Medical Improv Train-the-Trainer Workshop (Chicago)
May 16 - Cleveland Clinic: Patient Experience Summit (Cleveland)
May 2 - Society for Teachers in Family Medicine: Seminar (Minneapolis)
April 27 - Bastyr University: Faculty Development (Seattle)
April 25 - UW School of Medicine: Student Wellness Series (Seattle)
April 21 - University of British Columbia: Master Teacher Series (Kelowna, BC)
March 30 - Group Health Family Medicine Residency: Retreat (Seattle)
March 25 - Group Health Physicians: Wellbeing Conference (Alderbrook, WA)
February 22 - SUNY Downstate Medical Center: Plenary (New York)
February 5-7 - Alaska Family Medicine Residency: Faculty Retreat (Anchorage, AK)
January 29 - Seattle Childrens Hospital: Morning Report (Seattle)
January 19 - UW Family Medicine WWAMI Network: Faculty Development (Seattle)
January 7 - Physicians Anesthesia Services: Seminar (Seattle)
2015
December 2 - UW Family Medicine Residency: R1 Retreat (Seattle)
November 8-9 - The Generalists in Medical Education: Workshop (Baltimore)
November 2, 2015 - UW Faculty Development Wellness Series - Seattle
October 25-28, 2015 - 13th Internat'l Conference on Communication in Healthcare - New Orleans
October 20, 2015 - Seattle Childrens' Hospital, Perinatology Department - Seattle
September 23, 2015 - UW Medicine / Valley Family Medicine Residency Retreat - Renton
September 17, 24, 2015 - UW Family Medicine Residency Core Skills Curriculum - Seattle
August 5, 2015 - Applied Improv Network Northwest - Seattle
July 21, 2015 - UW Family Medicine Faculty Development Fellowship - Seattle
June 13-17, 2015 - 3rd International Medical Improv Train-the-Trainer Workshop - Chicago
May 27, 2015 - UW GME Chief Resident Seminar - Seattle
May 26, 2015 - Group Health Cooperative Urgent Care Department Retreat - Seattle
May 21, 2015 - Tacoma Family Medicine Grand Rounds (Keynote) - Tacoma
May 13, 2015 - UW WWAMI Chief Resident Conference - Seattle
April 26-29, 2015 - Society of Teachers in Family Medicine (STFM) Annual Spring Conf. - Orlando
April 24, 2015 - Association of Surgical Education Annual Meeting - Seattle
April 14, 2015 - UW GME Program Director Development Series - Seattle, WA
March 17, 2015 - UW WWAMI Family Medicine Faculty Development Fellowship - Seattle, WA
March 7, 2015 - UW Family Medicine Clerkship, Faculty Development - Seattle, WA
February 22, 2015 - USC Innovations in Medical Education Conference - Los Angeles, CA
January 10, 2015 - Washington Academy of Family Physicians (WAFP) Annual Student/Resident Retreat - Wenatchee, WA
Family Physician
photo: night zero
Belinda is Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle. As a family physician, Belinda has cared for patients of all ages, from newborns to the elderly, and everyone in between. She serves on the faculty of the UW Family Medicine Residency Network, teaching faculty development programs across the five-state WWAMI region (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho).
Belinda writes about her experiences as a clinician and her reflections on healthcare in America. Her essay, "Sometimes patients need more than a medical home," was published on kevinmd.com.
Performing Artist
photo: jet city improv
Belinda thrives on stage. As an improviser, she has been an active company member of Seattle Theatresports™ / Unexpected Productions since 2009. She is an ensemble member of long-form improv groups "The Lost Folio" and "A Tribe Called Yes," and has appeared in multiple other shows with Jet City Improv, including "This Improvised Life," "OBJECTION!" and "LoveTanic". She is also a former member of the EDGE, Bainbridge Island's resident improv group.
Belinda has been seen and heard in local commercials, print ads, and industrial work, and has studied freestyle rap with Freestyle Love Supreme Academy, and acting and solo performance at Freehold Theatre. She has studied and performed voice, classical piano, hip hop and lindy hop swing dancing, and has received awards for her outstanding writing.
Belinda was nominated for Best Actress at the Austin Micro Short Film Festival in 2018, for her work in the film "Phomily Feud", which has been featured at independent film festivals across the United States.
Upcoming performances & courses
Upcoming Shows
Austen Unbound — Book-It Repertory Theatre, Seattle Center
An Improvised play celebrating the works of Jane Austen
November 30 - December 18, 2022
-------------------
Looking for more Seattle improv? Please check out these fantastic groups and events:
Unexpected Productions -- Theatresports and more!
Educator
photo: society of teachers in family medicine
"The information you so passionately teach has the capacity to greatly improve medical care and our lives in general. Thanks for sharing."
- Medical Student
Belinda's passion for teaching lies in using her performance talents to inspire her learners to deeper understanding and personalization of the material. She firmly believes that medicine and teaching are fun, and that better communication leads to better health.
Belinda cultivated her teaching talents as a Lecturer at Stanford University in the undergraduate Program in Human Biology, and the Department of Pharmacology in the School of Medicine. Since 2007, she has been clinical faculty at the University of Washington School of Medicine, teaching medical students, residents, and faculty. Belinda is an active member of the Society of Teachers in Family Medicine (STFM), regularly developing curricular innovations to improve medical education. Her current areas of pedagogic expertise are in clinical precepting, feedback, delivering dynamic presentations, and medical improv.
Belinda is in demand as a speaker and trainer for national and regional conferences, organizations, and institutions, where she presents a number of different topics. Her talk, "Improv and the Art of Medicine: Adaptable skills for an uncertain world", is frequently requested at wellness and resilience conferences. Her presentation, "Great Precepting: Three essential tools for outstanding teaching moments" was recognized as one of the top three presentations at the STFM Annual Spring Conference in 2011, and is a cornerstone of the annual University of Washington Family Medicine Faculty Development Chief Resident training.
What audiences say...
"She gave the very best plenary of this entire conference - what a inspiring woman!"
"Excellent speaker with real powerful testimony that impacted me."
"Extremely dynamic speaker. Able to captivate the audience and keep our attention."
"Thank for sharing your experiences. The amount of courage and energy you have is awesome and life
altering to those that hear your story.""Best session of the conference"
"Dr. Fu is an amazing speaker! Her vulnerability is refreshing and her stories are relatable."
"Great energy, honesty and authenticity in her demeanor and obvious passion for her work. Very inspired!"
"This was a GREAT session. Great blend of fun & humor with very useful (not overwhelming) practical tools. THANK YOU!"
Contact
belinda@improvdoc.org
@theimprovdoc
LinkedIn
theimprovdoc
Belinda Fu © 2013-18
