I studied Russian Literature during undergrad and earned my M.A. in Comparative Literature with a focus on Russian formalism and the medical humanities. Overall, I love reading books and theory that depicts medical encounters and thinking about ways the humanities can improve our practices as health professionals.
Favorite Media: Medical Storyworlds: Health, Illness, and Bodies in Russian and European Literature at the Turn of the Twentieth Century Book by Elena Fratto
I’m excited by medical humanities as a space where creative storytelling, science communication, and medicine intersect. Through leading a science journalism consortium and studying linguistics in college, where I further developed my interests in reading and writing, I’ve come to see language and narrative as central to how we practice and understand medicine.
Favorite Media: The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
I’m drawn to the medical humanities because they help contextualize illness and care within the broader lives of patients. I’m particularly interested in narrative medicine, and it was a medical anthropology course during undergrad that first sparked this interest!
My primary interest has been in the history of medicine. I am especially interested in how the social and political history of the United States have shaped our medical institutions and perceptions of the field!
I joined the board of the Medical Humanities Council at PSOM to facilitate all the amazing interests and talents my peers bring to the human side of medicine. My personal passion in this domain is the history of medicine—before I was a medical student, I was a graduate student unrolling ancient medical dissection scrolls and teasing apart the historical forces that shape contemporary medical practice. Medicine is messy, and the poetry, painting, music, and ethics with which we infuse it help us make sense of it all!
Favorite Media: My screensaver of high-definition frog pictures
I grew up in a musical household and almost became a professional musician before switching career tracks. I’m interested not only in how musical skills shape us into better doctors, but more importantly, how they restore our humanity so we can bring our full selves to every patient.
Favorite Media: My favorite movie is Kung Fu Panda and my favorite song is La Bikina (Luis Miguel)!
My artistic interests lie in creative writing, poetry, and visual arts (painting, sketching, photography, digital art)! I am also drawn to narrative medicine and the intersection of art, patient care, and community-based advocacy.
In my role as Community and Patient Engagement lead, I look forward to leading medical humanities initiatives that tell the stories of the patients and community members of West Philadelphia! :)
During undergrad, I minored in anthropology with a focus in medical anthropology coursework. I am particularly interested in narrative medicine and the role that cultural values play in patient-centered care delivery and health outcomes.
Favorite media: Works by Agatha Christie! (and most British murder mysteries)
The intersection between music and neuroscience was among what drove me to medicine, which I pursued during my undergraduate years through coursework and music fellowships. I am also interested in narrative medicine and bioethics as a way to advocate for patients and their unique life experiences.
Read More about Tova Tachau (she/her)
Read More about Neha Mani (she/her)
202fRead More about Lydia Chen (she/her)
Read More about Melody Gao (she/her)
Read More about Andrew Scherffius (he/him)
1f9dRead More about Pierre Younes
Read More about Haya Alkiswani (she/her)
Read More about Micaela Alpert (she/her)
Read More about Kevin Bryan (he/him)
Read More about Amanda Finegold Swain, MD
