Narrative medicine is clinical practice anchored in listening to patient stories in order to gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of the patient's illness experience. This session will introduce skills required in the practice of narrative medicine through the interaction with the written word.

Narrative competence is the ability to recognize, absorb, interpret, and be moved by stories of illness (Charon, 2001). This experiential and immersive workshop aims to illustrate the benefits of the practice of narrative medicine in building curiosity and self-awareness through listening and attention (Charon, 2007), which are valuable skills in healthcare professionals (Hurwitz & Charon, 2013).

This session will provide an insight into the practice of narrative medicine and will include the experience of close reading, reflection and creative writing. There will also be an introduction to the concept of narrative medicine, its potential benefits and role in medical education.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Learn skills of close reading, attentive listening and creative writing
2. Develop narrative competence that would extend appreciation of a patient's story
3. Consider reflective practice in facilitating personal growth and building empathy
   

Target Audience: No prior experience is required. Come with humility and curiosity.

Maximum Number of Participants: 50

References:

1. Charon R. Narrative Medicine: A Model for Empathy, Reflection, Profession, and Trust. JAMA. 2001;286(15):1897–1902.
2. Charon R. What to do with stories: the sciences of narrative medicine. Can Fam Physician. 2007 Aug;53(8):1265-7.
3. Hurwitz B, Charon R. A narrative future for health care. Lancet. 2013 Jun 1;381(9881):1886-7.