Literature and Medicine

“Sharing Our Past — Shaping Our Future” Since 1974

A Sampling of Books

 

Between the

Heartbeats: Poetry and Prose by Nurses

Cortney Davis and Judy Schaefer, eds.

 

The Cider House Rules

John Irving

 

Singing Boy

Dennis McFarland

 

A Life in Medicine: A Literary Anthology

Robert Coles, M.D. and Randy Testa, eds.

 

Medical Readers' Theatre: A Guide and Scripts

Todd Savitt, ed.

 

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down

Anne Fadiman

 

Regeneration

Pat Barker

 

Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague

Geraldine Brooks

A New Kind of Reading and

Discussion

Program

Literature and Medicine: Humanities at the Heart of Health Care is about sharing stories — those of published authors as well as our own. With dynamic, monthly, facilitated book discussions, health-care workers use literature to illuminate issues central to caring for people — well, sick, or dying.

 

The Vermont Humanities Council brought this innovative health-care program — a seven-year success in Maine —  to Vermont in 2003.

 

Health-care workers at thirteen of Vermont’s fourteen hospitals meet monthly — sharing stories that explore issues of whole people, not just sick bodies, and how health care affects lives beyond the hospital doors.

 

LITERATURE AND MEDICINE:

Humanities at the Heart of Health Care

· A monthly reading and discussion program over dinner for hospital workers and allied staff, facilitated by professionals.

· Expands perspectives and promotes awareness of cultural backgrounds, resulting in care that is patient-centered, humane, and holistic.

· Enhances relationships, increasing respect and understanding among co-workers, preventing burnout, and improving patient care.

· An opportunity to listen, share, and reflect, using the powerful medium of story.

 

Active at Ten Vermont Hospitals

· Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (Brattleboro)

· Central Vermont Medical Center (Berlin/Barre)

· Fletcher Allen Health Care (Burlington)

· Gifford Medical Center (Randolph)

· Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (St. Johnsbury)

· Northwestern Medical Center (St. Albans)

· Porter Medical Center (Middlebury)

· Rutland Regional Medical Center

· VA Medical Center (White River Junction)

· Vermont State Hospital (Waterbury)

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Office in Montpelier

 

11 Loomis Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05602

802.262.2626

Fax: 802.262.2620

E-mail: info@vermonthumanities.org