HeNReG 2020-21 Virtual meetings starting in October

Health Narratives Research Group 2020-21/ Virtual Meetings Starting in October

Invitation From Carol Nash PHD :

The HeNReG meets weekly on Wednesdays, between the first week in October and the last week in April. There is a natural break at the end of the calendar year and new members often join in January.

The Health Narratives Research Group (HeNReG) allows researchers the opportunity to take the personally relevant stories that initiated their commitment to health care and develop them into narratives with a particular point of view. The process includes both personal reflection and the willingness to share one’s story and gain additional insights from the rest of the group.

The HeNReG is a voluntary, non-credit group, free of charge, open to any member of the university community interested in health care. Diversity of membership is both supported and encouraged.

Participants may develop their narrative into a piece for publication in either written (e.g. memoir, poem) or alternative format (e.g. graphic novelization).

As a result of COVID-19 limitations, meetings now take place entirely online over a hybrid-model, private Facebook group platform.  Created by Dr. Nash, the private Facebook group includes all members of the 2020/21 HeNReG.  To participate, potential members require:  a Facebook account, to “friend” Dr. Nash, and be willing to join this private Facebook group.

Participants can join anytime by contacting Dr. Nash at carol.nash@utoronto.ca.

The HeNReG is facilitated by philosopher of education Dr. Carol Nash, who as Scholar in Residence in the History of Medicine created this process for developing narrative in 2012 in collaboration with Professor Edward Shorter, the Hannah Chair in the History of Medicine. Since 2015, the group has been supported by the Health Arts and Humanities Program directed by Dr. Allan Peterkin.  From 2015-2020, the group’s meetings occurred in the Department of Psychiatry at the Mount Sinai Hospital.

University of Toronto Residents’ Creative Writing Group March 12th

From the : University of Toronto Residents’ Creative Writing Group

Are you interested in stretching your creative muscles? Looking to refine a creative work for publication? Or perhaps just to inject a dose of humanities into your medical practice?

The University of Toronto Residents’ Creative Writing Group is here to help!

We comprise of a group of residents and fellows at the University of Toronto interested in sharing and improving our writing.Meetings are held approximately once a month,  2-3 hours in length.

We welcome house staff from any discipline, and with an interest in any genre of writing (narrative medicine pieces, poetry, fiction, memoir, creative non-fiction) as long as it’s written to be read.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday, March 12th at 6:45 p.m. at the By the Way Café (400 Bloor St W).

If you wish to attend or would like more information, please join our facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1490804187882797/) or email me at jonah.himelfarb@mail.utoronto.ca.

Happy writing!

Jonah

Jonah Himelfarb
Internal Medicine Resident University of Toronto
Jonah.Himelfarb@mail.utoronto.ca

Resident Creative Writing Group

We are a group of residents and fellows at the University of Toronto interested in sharing and improving our writing. We currently hold monthly meetings, capped at 10 attendees. Each meeting is co-facilitated by an experienced physician-writer or medical writer, who helps guide the discussion with the benefit of his or her experience. We welcome housestaff from any discipline, and with an interest in any genre of writing (narrative medicine pieces, poetry, fiction, memoir, creative non-fiction) as long as it’s written to be read.

Attendees are selected on a first-come, first-served basis, with preference given to residents who can regularly attend or who have work to present. Scheduling and location are to be determined by group consensus.

Participating housestaff will:
1. Learn how to critique writing and be critiqued in a supportive environment
2. Become comfortable with standards of confidentiality when writing about patients and peers
3. Receive constructive feedback on writing
4. Learn about the publishing process
5. Learn about combining writing with medical careers
6. Receive exposure to experienced physician-writers who can comment on all of the above.

For more information, including information about upcoming meetings and speakers, please contact Raffi Rush MD  at raffir@gmail.com