Some of the world’s top minds on the subject of emotional intelligence were at the MGH Institute last Friday. The Health Professions Education Department at MGH Institute of Health Professions hosted the semi-annual meeting of the Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations (CREIO) members. The organization’s 11 core members and 120 additional members are all recognized for their contributions as researchers in the field and promote the consortium’s mission to advance research and practice in emotional and social intelligence through knowledge generation and exchange.

Discussions focused on new research findings and their implications for organizational applications, including healthcare. Attendees heard from several leading scholars, including Dr. Richard Boyatzis on the science of change; Dr. Vanessa Druskat on emotionally intelligent teams; Dr. Jack Mayer on advances in EI measurement; Dr. Helen Riess on empathy in healthcare; Dr. Ruth Wagman on team coaching; and doctoral students Jenny Lee, and Andrew Roetman on culture and emotional regulation, and AI in EI assessment. 

“I had so many memorable encounters with truly remarkable individuals,” said CREIO member and HPEd Professor Dr. Bobbie Ann “BA” Adair White. “What stands out most is the diversity of scholars in attendance and the ongoing innovation and evolution in their thinking. Each scholar approaches researching emotional and social competencies (ESC) from a unique perspective, challenging current knowledge and collectively shaping the broader landscape of research and application.”

Hosting this event was an honor for the Institute and reinforces its commitment to advancing emotional intelligence in health professions education. Emotional intelligence is critical for clinical care and informs ongoing research in the Health Professions Education Department. In addition, MGH Institute students are actively engaged in emotional intelligence scholarship, with HPEd students publishing research and others enrolling in “Leading with EI in Interprofessional Teams,” taught by Dr. White.