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About Literary AMWA
The effective practice of healthcare requires the ability to recognize, absorb, interpret, and act on the stories and plights of others. This ability, known as narrative competence, enables the physician to practice medicine with empathy, reflection, professionalism, and trustworthiness. Such a practice is called narrative medicine [1].
Narrative medicine can change the way we practice by focusing on the emotional integrity of a patient’s story and how we react as humane clinicians. Practicing narrative medicine enables providers to connect with their patients through illness and suffering, reflect upon their individual journeys through medicine, create dialogue and empower relationships with fellow healthcare colleagues, and promote public health advocacy in today’s society.
Literary AMWA is a gallery of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry writing from women physicians and physicians-in-training who hope to foster healing through storytelling.
[1] CHARON, R. (2001). NARRATIVE MEDICINE: A MODEL FOR EMPATHY, REFLECTION, PROFESSION, AND TRUST. JAMA , 1897-1902.
Submissions
Open Call for Submissions
We are not currently accepting submissions.
Open Call for Submissions
We are not currently accepting submissions.
Open Call for Submissions
We are not currently accepting submissions.
Open Call for Submissions in Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Poetry
We are not currently accepting submissions.
Questions?
Email us at literaryAMWA@amwa-doc.org.
In order to protect patient privacy, stories about patients should not have identifying characteristics. If possible, please also have patients sign a consent.
Resources
Reading List for the Aspiring Physician Writer
- Imaginative Writing: The Elements of Craft by Janet Burroway
- Master Class on Fiction Writing: Techniques from Austen, Hemingway, and the Other Greats by Adam Sexton
- A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver
- Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them by Francine Prose
- Writing Alone and with Others by Pat Schneider
- Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg
- Other resources from the Gotham Writers Workshop
Narrative Medicine and Patient Confidentiality
- “Doctors Can Risk Lawsuits When Writing About Patients”
- “Healing Narrative-Ethics and Writing About Patients”
- “Should Doctors Write About Patients?”
- “Physician/Writer: Dual and Dueling Responsibilities”
- “When Doctors Pick up the Pen — Patient-Doctor Confidentiality Breaches in Publishing”
- “Writing About Patients: Is it Ethical?”
Storytelling Webinar
“Empowering Patient Advocacy Leaders (PALs): The Power of Effective Storytelling in Advocacy” was a webinar held by PALs on January 18, 2017. Presenter Terrence McNally discusses effective elements in storytelling and how to build personal story culture. His presentation slide deck is also available.
Advisory Board
Rita Charon, MD, PhD
Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center
Executive Director, Program in Narrative Medicine, Columbia University
Eliza Lo Chin, MD, MPH
Executive Director, American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA)
Linda Clever, MD
President, RENEW
Sarah Cutrona, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Massachusetts
Gayatri Devi, MD, MS
Director, New York Memory and Healthy Aging Services
Clinical Associate Professor, New York University School of Medicine
Cristina Denise Go, JD
Literary AMWA Co-Lead
Litigation Associate
Anju Goel, MD, MPH
Literary AMWA Co-Lead
Public Health Consultant
Suzanne Leonard Harrison, MD, FAAFP, FAMWA
AMWA Past President
Professor of Family Medicine & Rural Health
Education Director, Family Medicine
Florida State University College of Medicine
Claudia Morrisey-Conlon, MD
U.S. Government Lead, USAID
Audrey Shafer, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioptive, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine
Anesthesiologist, Veteran Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System
Director, Medicine and the Muse, Stanford Center of Bioethics
Renda Soylemez Weiner, MD, MPH
Director, Medical Optimization Program Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research
Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial VA Hospital
Associate Professor of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine
Editorial Board
Cristina Denise Go, JD
Literary AMWA Co-Lead
Litigation Associate
Anju Goel, MD, MPH
Literary AMWA Co-Lead
Public Health Consultant
Preeti R. John, MD, MPH, FACS, CPE, HEC-C
Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Shae Sunders, MD
PGY-1, Family Medicine
Riverstone Health, Billings, MT
Mahima Sukumar, MS, MD Candidate (Class of 2023)
Frank H. Netter, MD School of Medicine
Tana Jean Welch, PhD, MFA
Associate Professor, Florida State University College of Medicine
Mary Pan Wierusz, MD
Family Medicine Physician, Kaiser Permanente Washington
Seattle, WA
Creative Opportunities
Woman-to-Woman Medicine
Woman-to-Woman Medicine is currently collecting memoirs from women medical students and their physician mentors. These stories should explore how mentorships have impacted women’s journeys through medicine. Become a part of Woman-to-Woman Medicine’s mission and enter your submission on mentorship.
Openhearted
The University of Washington School of Medicine Medical Humanities and Narrative Medicine Interest Group would like to showcase physician artwork and stories. Share your creativity on their platform, Openhearted.
