Speaking in tongues

I just came back from the first of what sounded like a must-attend series: University of Toronto’s Mini Med Course, 5 weeks of helping we, the great unwashed, understand something or another about medicine. Tonite, an Emergency Doctor billed as: Life and Death in the Emergency Room. I fully expected tips for getting into, and more importantly, getting out of ER quickly. I think Ms. ER Doc described decision-making mechanisms, critical conditions and improved diagnositic solutions – but all in the language learned in medical school. Which I have not gone to. And if I had, wouldn’t then need this course. At the end, I asked: "What doctor/patient communication training does your specialty get?” It may have been my imagination but I'm sure she winced as she hesitated before answering, “Largely it’s mentoring.” Great. Unless the mentor also speaks in tongues.