About Narrative Medicine
What is narrative medicine? Narrative medicine is a medical approach that recognizes the value of people's narratives in clinical practice, research, and education as a way to promote healing. humans with individual stories, rather than simply the symptoms displayed on their medical chart. It aims to treat patients as humans with individual stories, rather than simply the symptoms displayed on their medical chart. By taking into account how an illness affects people's relationships and psychological health, narrative medicine validates the experience of the patient, and encourages creativity and sel;f-reflection in the physician. During the diagnosis stage, narratives encourage empathy and promote understanding between clinician and patient, and may supply useful analytical clues and categories during the treatment. Narratives encourage a holistic approach to management and may lead to additional therapeutic options. In the education of patients and health professionals, narratives are often memorable, are grounded in experience, and encourage reflection. In research, narratives help to set a patient-centered agenda, may challenge received wisdom, and may generate new hypotheses.
--Renee Nicholson, Wikipedia in Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Magazine, West Virginia University, Fall 2016, p.7
When one of Jamie's physicians introduced him to Renee Nicholson, a unique partnership developed. Jamie knew that ALS had limited his physical abilities, but he also knew that he needed to remain the engaged and productive individual he had always been. He had begun to capture his stories prior to working with Renee, when Candice Elliott helped him record and transcribe their discussions about the memories Jamie wanted to capture. When Jamie began to work with Renee, the two of them were able to place their work together in the framework of narrative medicine and begin to share what they were learning with others. Jamie eagerly accepted invitations to share the story of his illness and how it affected him when asked to do so. He and Renee presented to a graduate class on Personal Wellness at West Virginia University to share how he maintained a sense of well being even while facing a terminal disease. He also shared his story with the first year medical students at WVU in their Neuro-anatomy class and with students enrolled in WVU's Intensive English Program after they had read Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom in their Advanced Reading class. The publication of Off Belay: A Last Great Adventure by Jamie Shumway with Renee Nicholson represents the culmination of their narrative medicine work together.
--Renee Nicholson, Wikipedia in Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Magazine, West Virginia University, Fall 2016, p.7
When one of Jamie's physicians introduced him to Renee Nicholson, a unique partnership developed. Jamie knew that ALS had limited his physical abilities, but he also knew that he needed to remain the engaged and productive individual he had always been. He had begun to capture his stories prior to working with Renee, when Candice Elliott helped him record and transcribe their discussions about the memories Jamie wanted to capture. When Jamie began to work with Renee, the two of them were able to place their work together in the framework of narrative medicine and begin to share what they were learning with others. Jamie eagerly accepted invitations to share the story of his illness and how it affected him when asked to do so. He and Renee presented to a graduate class on Personal Wellness at West Virginia University to share how he maintained a sense of well being even while facing a terminal disease. He also shared his story with the first year medical students at WVU in their Neuro-anatomy class and with students enrolled in WVU's Intensive English Program after they had read Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom in their Advanced Reading class. The publication of Off Belay: A Last Great Adventure by Jamie Shumway with Renee Nicholson represents the culmination of their narrative medicine work together.