Question re Medical Humanities

[Chris Johnston]

I've been involved in a couple of medical humanities groups for a few years, and it just occurred to me to wonder - are any other PAN members involved in medical humanities in any way?

For me it sits at the intersection of my interests: healthcare change and research on the one hand, and creative writing on the other. It's also a forum in which healthcare providers seem to find it easier to let go of the artificial barriers between professionals and patients, and just be present and human together.

Would be interested to hear from anyone else on your experience of medical humanities and whether you find it supports your patient partnership involvement.

[Alies Maybee]

@Chris-Johnston I have never heard of this but am interested. It sounds like a fit for how PAN and many of us within PAN think about healthcare.

[Debra Turnbull]

@Chris-Johnston Like Alies, I'm not rightly sure what medical humanities is...

I recently argued an ethics case and submitted to the hospital Ethics department. Does that fall within the definition?

[Kim Giroux]

I wonder if digital storytelling fits here. I have seen some amazing work in that space, though I have never done it myself.

[Joan Tu]

@Chris-Johnston Yes, I am involved, loosely more as a patient activist, not as a patient partner. I self-publish and have had educational resources (patient booklet, activity books, story books) reviewed by medical experts and scientists. My story book about my chemical allergy is part of the Green Chemistry library, and the second book about disability was funded by Calgary Arts development. This is a two book series called The Green Soap Girl. I also blog and post carousel stories on social media and patients, educators, and healthcare professionals engage with my content. This winter I am working on another storybook about a young patient with asthma, and also looking for ways to get funding for a comic book about experiences entering and leaving medical school.