The Division of Medical
Ethics and Humanities

Writing the Doctor-Patient Relationship

Description:

Reflective writing offers medical students a unique opportunity to define and shape the kind of doctor they want to become. They can explore relationships with patients in terms of empathy, altruism, compassion, and caring. Reflective writing will be presented as both an art form as well as a tool for professional development to be drawn upon when facing ethical or emotional complexities in the future, and to increase personal satisfaction and sense of fulfillment as a physician.

The course will meet for three hours daily. Examples of prose, poetry, and the personal essay will be read for style and form, as well as prompts for writing. Students will be expected to complete assignments that will incorporate writing from experience, observation, and invention, and the use of metaphors, irony, rhythm, humor, honesty, and other essentials. Each class will include a writing workshop. Manuscripts will be shared with the class and critiqued. The course will culminate with a creative project of the student’s choice, such as a collection of essays, stories, poems, or short memoir.This two-week intensive elective offers fourth-year medical students an opportunity to define and shape through reflective writing the kind of doctor they want to become. Reflective writing is presented as both a form of creative art as well as a tool for professional development. Varied writing experiences enable students to explore the kinds of relationships they can develop with patients--especially in terms of empathy, altruism, compassion, and caring--when they begin internships and residencies. Reflective writing also provides them with a lifelong skill, which they can draw upon when facing ethical or emotional complexities in the future, and use to increase their satisfaction and sense of fulfillment as a physician.

Objectives

• To improve observational skills through close attention to language and the ways in which it is used
• To develop students’ imagination and creativity as means of increasing self-awareness
• To encourage fuller relationships with patients by strengthening communication skills
• To explore complex questions in the safe, nonjudgmental space that art provides
• To provide students with opportunities to reflect upon and articulate their intentions, thus “writing” the kinds of physicians they will become.
• To provide students with opportunities to reflect upon and articulate their intentions, thus empowering them to better define the kinds of physicians they will become

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