Humanism in medicine is a willingness to enter the dark spaces and communicate to my patients and colleagues that they are not alone. I see all people from every background as those who bear the image of God, deeming each person worthy of dignity and love.
Story Circle Project
Nov. 20, 2023
Jan. 22 • March 18 • April 15 • May 15, 2024
Story Circles is a theater engagement in which people learn to listen deeply and without judgement. Story Circles provides a foundation of listening that can be transformative in the building of relationships, creativity and organizational effectiveness.
The Doctors Kienle Center for Humanistic Medicine is partnering with the Penn State Health Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the College of Medicine Office for Diversity, Equity and Belonging to offer an opportunity for healthcare professionals, other employees and students to learn to facilitate Story Circles.
Facilitated by professional actor, Mark McKenna, this training consists of one-hour sessions, which will take place in-person at all Penn State Health medical centers.
Facilitator
Mark McKenna
A professional actor who has worked in the Lehigh Valley and across Pa. for over 35 years. As a teaching artist, he specializes in:
• creating structures of play for learning and personal development,
• integrating the arts and movement with academics,
• developing relationships and civic dialogue through theater.
Interested in participating?
Email Aleax Olivera: aolivera@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
Registration for each session will open 3 weeks prior to the scheduled date of the session
Humanities Bookshelf
New book examines declining rates of dementia, suggests new approach for prevention
In American Dementia: Brain Health in an Unhealthy Society, Daniel R. George argues that policies reducing inequality and providing widespread access to education and health care may support better brain health. George, an associate professor of Humanities, and co-author Peter Whitehouse, a neurologist at Case Western Reserve University, join an emerging international consensus in arguing that decline in dementia cases has followed from policies enacted in the mid-20th century that resulted in cleaner air, soil and water, not from biomedical breakthroughs.
American Dementia, George’s second book, is being published by Johns Hopkins University Press and will be available in September.
Learn more about the book at americandementia.com
Breast Cancer Inside Out: Bodies, Biographies & Beliefs
Three years ago, Kimberly R. Myers, MA, PhD, professor of Humanities and Medicine, assembled a network of colleagues and patients across the U.S. and the UK to create a comprehensive exploration of, and companion for, the lived experience of breast cancer. The vision for this project was to provide academics, practitioners, patients and families—indeed, anyone interested in breast cancer—a convenient way to access a wealth of the information all in a single book. The result of this collaboration, Breast Cancer Inside Out: Bodies, Biographies & Beliefs, was published by Peter Lang Oxford in 2021.
Learn more about this and Dr. Myers’ other books at kimberlyrmyers.com
Book Club: Connecting Through Literature
During academic year 2022-2023, faculty in the Department of Humanities and Harrell Library will lead discussions on literature covering a variety of genres and topics. Monthly meetings of the book club will be Wednesdays noon-1 p.m. on Zoom.
The first meeting is scheduled for Sept. 14 and features Raising Lazarus: Hope, Justice, and the Future of America’s Overdose Crisis by Beth Macy.
Interested readers can find information about all the books and meeting dates at the Penn State College of Medicine’s Connecting Through Literature Book Club webpage. Registration is required. All Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health faculty, staff, students, trainees and community members are welcome to attend.
Continuing education credits are available to staff and faculty from both Penn State Health and the College of Medicine.
For more information, email Sharon Daugherty at sdaugherty@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
Brittany Ammerman
Humanism in medicine means always treating the patient as a wholesome human being and not just as a number. The entire human being (physical, emotional, spiritual, social) tells a story that contributes to their medical well-being and to be a humanistic physician we must acknowledge all of these parts to provide the best care to our patients.
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