Presenters
- Hugh Silk, MD, MPH, Professor, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA
- Jo Marie Reilly, MD, MPH, Clinical Professor of Family Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA
Summary
The use of written narratives has been shown to increase resiliency, prevent the loss of empathy, increase cultural sensitivity, and highlight cultural diversity. As humans, we relate to stories more than facts or numbers. Using stories, we can strive to achieve Narrative Competence and increase our ability to absorb stories to understand human expression and experience. Using different narrative skills, including close reading, deep listening, spontaneous micro-writing, and sharing, we will help attendees achieve a greater understanding of humanness. Exercises will be conducted in pairs; participants will do some writing in real time and sharing as they feel comfortable. All writing exercises will be short pieces – 6 word stories, 55 word stories, Haiku, and poetry. This presentation emphasizes the importance of reflective narratives in obtaining and evolving perspectives. Our stories of our past experiences will allow us to look towards the future with a greater confidence and empathy. We will also aim to show attendees the benefit of narrative medicine for their own maintenance of wellness. Self-reported stories or stories about a shared experience can act as gratitude meditations and pathways to a deeper understanding and reconciliation of a happening.
Objectives
- Incorporate short narratives to teach learners about better understanding patients through understanding human expression, cultural norms, and other e
- Offer more thoughtful patient care through use of narrative skills and thereby improve interpersonal and communication skills like effective listening
- Improve personal resilience and wellness through self-reflective writing and gratitude expression.
