In this episode, Dr. Ron talks with Dr. Emily about the art of the narrative, how it can be the medicine we all need. "Where do you want this story to go?" and "What do you want to happen next?" are questions Emily asks her patients and herself. She discusses how as physicians, nurses and others learn to tell their own narratives, perhaps they can teach their patients to do the same. The Nocturnist podcast in the middle of Covid-19, the mixed feelings on how common military medicine metaphors are used during these times, and how storytelling and science might need to work together a little more in the near future.
We all have a narrative. This is how we see ourselves and how we want to tell our own story. When we listen to the narratives of our veterans and military families, we can almost feel the honor, pain, pride, sorrow, joy, and inspiration. It can be therapeutic for the storyteller, to dive in and then come up for air feeling relief - that he or she is heard and we are listening. This is the kind of service that our guest, Dr. Emily Silverman and her team at The Nocturnists provide: To shine their light on how valuable storytelling is for the body, mind and soul.
The American healthcare system is making doctors and other healthcare workers sick — physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Even before COVID-19, we faced a crisis of burnout, depression, and suicidality. Now the situation is worse.
We founded The Nocturnists in 2016 because we wanted to create a space where healthcare workers could express themselves in their full-fledged humanity. During these challenging times, we continue to serve as a creative outlet for you. We also feel it's important to document this unprecedented moment in medical history.
You are not alone.
Your story matters.
We are listening.
-Emily and The Nocturnists Team
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To learn more and connect with us at Home Base:
www.homebase.org/homebasenation
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Home Base Nation Team:
Steve Monaco, Marine Veteran Brendan McCaffrey, Maureen Roderick, Charlotte Luckey, Karianne Kraus, Dan Berg, DeeDee Kearney, Natalie Bonelli
Producer and Host:
Dr. Ron Hirschberg
Home Base Media Lab Chairman:
Peter Smyth
Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation.
The views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.