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College of Arts and Sciences

The Principles and Practice of Narrative Medicine  

Craig IrvineOn Thursday, April 5th, 2018 from 5 to 6:15 p.m. in the University Center Chancellor's Suite, the College of Arts and Sciences brings to campus the renowned Dr. Craig Irvine (Columbia) to discuss "The Principles and Practice of Narrative Medicine."

Dr. Irvine is the founder and Academic Director of the pioneering Program in Narrative Medicine at Columbia University. The nature and goal of narrative medicine is described as follows. "The care of the sick unfolds in stories. The effective practice of healthcare requires the ability to recognize, absorb, interpret, and act on the stories and plights of others. Medicine practiced with narrative competence is a model for humane and effective medical practice. It addresses the need of patients and caregivers to voice their experience, to be heard and to be valued, and it acknowledges the power of narrative to change the way care is given and received."

Professor Irvine holds a doctorate in philosophy and is a co-author of "The Principles and Practice of Narrative Medicine" (Oxford University Press, 2017). For more than 15 years, he has been designing and teaching cultural competency, ethics, Narrative Medicine, and Humanities and Medicine curricula for residents, medical students, physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, dentists, and other health professionals. Dr. Irvine has published articles in the areas of ethics, residency education, and literature and medicine and has presented at numerous national and international conferences on these and other topics.

Please join us for this very provocative talk and a wine and cheese reception to follow!

This event is sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences and with generous support from the President's Advisory Committee.