Mission
Inspired by an early, formative liberal arts education, the trials of our medical training, and a purely indulgent obsession with the magic of the spoken word, Northstar Narratives aspires to bring together a diverse group of healthcare professionals through live storytelling events. These events will be held in locations off campus where Rush University Medical Center affiliates can gather to share their experiences and fine-tune the skill of storytelling. At the core of medical education and practice is the power of a good story. Frequently, the culture of healthcare can tempt a person to neglect physical, emotional, and spiritual needs in exchange for one more hour studying, serving patients, or honing the clinical skills. Throughout this training process, people frequently lose touch with the fine arts implicit in medical practice. We know that this struggle for balance extends far beyond the preclinical curriculum and throughout the entirety of a career as a healthcare professional. While many of us are in close proximity to suffering, genesis, and innovation, we still find ourselves farther from some of the most rewarding and meaningful aspects of humanity. In a perfect scenario, the fine practice of medicine can heal more than just the body of a human being. As a community we must create a culture that holds space for people to decompress, reflect, and learn from past experience.
Contact Information
Co-Leader: Samantha Shih
Co-Leader: Andrew Mohama
Advisor: Jay Behel, Associate Dean of Medical Student Affairs