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Editor's Note

Narrative medicine is an interdisciplinary field at the intersection of healthcare and the humanities. Writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) more than two decades ago, Rita Charon noted that narrative medicine “examine[s] and illuminate[s] 4 of medicine's central narrative situations: physician and patient, physician and self, physician and colleagues, and physicians and society…. By bridging the divides that separate physicians from patients, themselves, colleagues, and society, narrative medicine offers fresh opportunities for respectful, empathic, and nourishing medical care”¹.

Storytelling and memoirs are not new in medicine, but recent contributions in the field moved beyond mere biographies of doctors’ training and practice to thoughtful and engaging reflections on the delivery of care, medical error, and how physicians and other health providers can learn from patients. Popular authors such as Atul Gawande, Jerome Groopman, Sandeep Jauhar, and Abraham Verghese introduced millions of readers to new perspectives on medical diagnosis and treatment².

In 2024, students enrolled in upper- and lower-level courses on the Practice of Medicine read several recent books that examined medical training and practice with a critical lens. At its core, narrative medicine seeks to bridge the gap between the often impersonal nature of clinical practice and the deeply personal experiences of illness and healing. Since the narrative medicine literature includes both patient and provider perspectives on health, illness, and medical treatment, students in my courses prepared their own narratives about an experience they’d had with the U.S. health care system.

The contributions within this collection present a multifaceted view of health and health care that is both personal and practical. By sharing these student stories, we hope that future clinicians can develop a new appreciation of the patient’s experience – and in the process, become more empathetic and compassionate clinicians and health care leaders.

“In an era where new technologies and data-driven approaches dominate the healthcare landscape, narrative medicine serves as a vital reminder that medicine is, at its core, a deeply human endeavor. By engaging with patients' narratives, healthcare providers develop greater empathy for their patients, and a deeper understanding that patients are more than just a collection of symptoms and diagnoses in an electronic health record. This ‘narrative competence’ allows clinicians to see patients as whole persons, rather than as ‘cases.’ Patient stories also underscore the need for better coordination of care and a more comprehensive understanding of patient needs.”

To protect the privacy of the persons and institutions portrayed in these narratives, the names of providers, patients, and hospitals have been changed.

We are grateful for the steadfast support of Mark Caprio, Director of the Phillips Memorial Library, and the tireless efforts of Megan Lessard, the Head of Digital Projects at the Phillips Memorial Library, who embraced our proposal for this new initiative with enthusiasm.

Dr. Robert Hackey,
Professor of Health Sciences
Co-Editor, Narrative Medicine: Essays on Health and Care