Dartmouth Events

Dartmouth Health Care Foundations Eric Eichler ’57 Foundations in Medicine and Humanities Seminar Series at The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice

Sometimes You Need a Doctor Who Can Read Poetry

Tuesday, April 25, 2023
6:00 to 7:00 PM Eastern
Via Zoom, free, open to all

Advanced registration required: https://www.dartgo.org/e57apr23

We need clinicians who expertly understand medical science. But that is not enough to holistically care for another person. The practice of medicine requires other forms of knowledge. Learning to closely read poetry or other forms of literature can develop a particular set of skills that are critical to helping patients and other team members navigate situations of uncertainty and moral ambiguity. Dr. Kathy Kirkland has worked with her multidisciplinary palliative care team to develop their reading skills and will share an exercise that illustrates how the practice of close reading is essential to the work of healing.

Guest Speaker: Kathryn B. Kirkland, MD, MED ’86
Professor of Medicine,  the Geisel School of Medicine;
Professor, The Dartmouth Institute;
Dorothy and John J. Byrne, Jr., Distinguished Chair in Palliative Medicine;
Section Chief and Director, Palliative Care;
Director, Humanities in Medicine  program, Department of Medicine