Poetic Medicine

Date: 23 October, Friday | Time: 16:00 - 17:30 | Venue: Academia Room, L1-S3

Speakers: Dr David Mathew, Ms Shyamala Narayanaswamy & Dr Tanya Tierney
Moderator: Dr Tanya Tierney

Programme Details:

This symposium aims to demystify Poetic Medicine, and establish it as an effective personal reflection technique for healthcare workers - educators, leaders, and undergraduates - and as a healing technique for patients as well.

Poetry and poem-making are compelling, sturdy, and effective vehicles in our journey toward wellness, and understanding ourselves and others. In this symposium, curated poems and quotations serve as trigger materials for deep listening and reflection on healthcare experiences, while writing prompts scaffold the reflective process thus enabling participants to examine their professional values and sources of meaning.

Within a safe space, participants will experience the following:

• Introduction to Poetic Medicine – what it is and what it isn’t, including a brief summary of published literature.
• Hear from medical students (from Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine) how poetry supports professional identity formation.
• Participate in a Poetry Circle – this is a structured sequence of guided listening and responding, reflective writing, and facilitated sharing.

No prior experience with poetry or creative writing is required. This session will be conducted in English and participants may write in any language.