Earthed Lightning: A Prescription for Poetry in Practice and Teaching

Area of Science:

• Medical Humanities
• Poetry Therapy
• Clinical Education

Background:

• Clinician-educators increasingly use poetry to navigate the complexities of medical practice.
• Poetry provides a framework for understanding the emotional and intellectual challenges of doctoring.
• Traditional medical education may not fully address the development of professional identity and coping mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the value of poetry in medical education for students and residents.
• To demonstrate how poetry can foster self-connection, empathy, and professional growth.
• To present an alternative to traditional teaching methods through "Post-Call Poetry" sessions.

Main Methods:

• The article describes a clinician-educator's use of poetry in medical training.
• Illustrates a "Post-Call Poetry" session with examples of shared poems.
• Incorporates the perspective of poetry as a tool for connection and meaning-making.

Main Results:

• Medical students and residents consistently appreciate poetry sessions.
• Poetry is valued for its ability to foster connection with self, patients, and peers.
• Learners recall poetry experiences more frequently than traditional pathophysiology lessons.

Conclusions:

• Poetry serves as a powerful tool in medical humanities, aiding in professional identity formation.
• Integrating poetry into medical education can enhance empathy, coping strategies, and self-reflection.
• This approach offers a valuable supplement or alternative to conventional medical teaching methods.