Narrative Medicine for Providers: A Generative Workshop

Only available as part of a package

Session Summary: Provider stories have become increasingly popular (think: "Being Mortal," "That Good Night," "When Breath Becomes Air," etc.) for good reason: we need to tell our stories, and we need to hear the stories of others. Narrative medicine is a powerful tool that allows us to engage in the integration work that is critical to mitigating against burnout and keeping us connected to the humanity in those we serve, and in ourselves. We will present the available research related to narrative medicine, provide chances for our audience to engage in some reflective exercises in real time, and share about some of the presenters' foray into podcasting. Finally, our session will also discuss potential ways to bring this work back to interdisciplinary teams and entire staff teams.


Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the concept of narrative medicine and connect the dots between personal reflective practices and health equity
  • Access a handful of storytelling questions/prompts that they can use for personal practice and/or group sharing in order to continue to integrate both the difficult and the inspiring elements of the practice of medicine
  • Distinguish between self-care, decompression, and integration as distinct movements necessary for healthcare worker wellbeing and the mitigation of burnout.

Alexandra Donovan, MFA; BCC (Board Certified Chaplain)

Associate Director, Employee Well-Being & Spiritual Health

Optum Health

Alex Donovan is a board certified chaplain who has worked in settings including hospice, hospital, correctional, and behavioral health. She currently works for Optum Health as the Associate Director of Employee Wellbeing and Spiritual Health in a role of staff support and patient-care consultation. She lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, 3 year old son, and 1 year old daughter.
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