Creativity & Humanism
Narrative Medicine WorkshopÂ
How can it help us during these stressful times?
Thursday May 14th , 2020 from 6:00pm – 7:30pm EDT
đź’» Zoom Virtual Event, limited to first 30 registrants
Given the stress that healthcare workers are currently experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is more need than ever to explore tools that can create space for reflection and connection in an increasingly complex and physically distanced working environment. Narrative medicine gives us permission to pause and to seek to understand.
Developed at Columbia University in 2000, Narrative Medicine fortifies clinical practice with the ability to recognize, absorb, interpret, and be moved by stories of illness. There is a large body of scholarly work showing the multiple benefits to both clinicians and patients of medicine practiced with narrative competence. Among these is the ability to understand what we as clinicians undergo in our everyday work, to build therapeutic and collegial relationships, improve patient outcomes, and live and work in a more reflective and engaged way.Â
Through a series of guided close reading and reflective writing exercises over a Zoom platform, workshop participants will:
Gain a deeper understanding of the skills of close reading and reflective writing
Practice being both the story-teller and story-listener
Be able to apply these skills in their clinical and teaching practice Gain perspective on how incorporating narrative strategies can have multiple benefits including increased personal well-being with a particular focus on well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic
Please note that this an interactive workshop where sharing in a safe space will be encouraged. We will be asking you to turn your video on :)
About your facilitator
Dr Saroo Sharda MBChB MMEd FRCPC (@SarooSharda_MD) is a practicing anesthesiologist, medical educator and trained creative writing coach. She writes and speaks about how stories are a powerful means for connection and increased well-being. Dr Sharda has facilitated numerous narrative medicine workshops for healthcare professionals. Her work has appeared in publications such as the Globe and Mail, Today’s Parent, CMAJ, BMJ, Anesthesiology, and has been shared widely on social media.Â
Dr Sharda is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Dept of Anesthesia at McMaster University and Inaugural Chair of the Physician Wellness Committee at the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society.  She has expertise in interprofessional education having completed both a Masters and Fellowship in this area, when she held the Currie Fellowship award at The Wilson Centre for Education at the University of Toronto.
When not working or writing she is busy with the shenanigans of her 7 year old and 4 year old sons.