Spencer Barfuss, Pediatric Cardiology Fellow. “I have always loved the humanities and this seemed like a great opportunity to explore some of the moments in medicine that hit differently. This piece is about one such moment. The line between doing things for the patient and doing things to the patient can be quite thin and is frequently blurry without the benefit of hindsight. This is part of the burden we signed up for – the burden we carry.”
Liam Clark, Neurology. “Story came to me because of all the time we spend answering pages, and how the beep will change how you feel, whether you’re waiting for it or it keeps happening when you wish it wouldn’t.”
Sarah Coomes, Pediatrics. “I began my creative journey in the visual art sphere, but have grown towards non-fiction writing during medical training as it does not require a wood shop, and I can bring my notebook into the mountains with me.”
Ben Drum, Internal Medicine-Pediatrics.
Guinn Dunn, Internal Medicine.
Kristen Durbin, Triple Board. “I’m trying to make sense of my identity as a person and physician through writing and reflective practice while drawing wisdom and inspiration from my patients and colleagues across these three medical disciplines.”
Thomas George, Internal Medicine-Pediatrics.
David Haak, Internal Medicine.
Jared Hilton, Internal Medicine. “I’m interested in pulmonary critical care, sliding downhill on sticks, and human stories.”
Josh Klonoski, Pathology. “I am a physician scientist who loves neuroinfectious disease and neuroimmunology as much as I love music, art and poetry.” Courier New is the standard font of a pathology report.
Becca Powell, Triple Board. “Going on a date outside the house feels frivolous at this time in the pandemic. Donating blood together felt relevant, and arriving with my partner, who is not in healthcare, was an experience for both of us. It was near Valentine’s Day, which seemed strange as it is such a normal day to celebrate and we had both forgotten. I was struck by the unfairness that phlebotomists at the donation site hadn’t yet been vaccinated despite their close proximity to volunteers while I had the ability to work from home and had received the vaccine.”
Hanna Saltzman, Pediatrics. “I believe in writing and reading as conduits for healing, social justice, and joy.”
Dallas Shi, Occupational Medicine. “I kept a 1 sentence a day journal throughout intern year. This story evolved from a sentence on 12/3/2018.”
Michelanne Shield, OB/GYN.
Sean Stokes, Surgery. “In August, I will be moving to Tampa, FL to train in surgical oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center. Cancer care is what originally inspired me to pursue medicine, and I am excited to continue my career as a surgical oncologist. I never thought I would write poetry (or write creatively at all), but I have found it to be a good way to explore the meaning of my work. I enjoy writing narratives, short stories, and poems about the good and the bad in healthcare and surgery.”