Writing Medicine

Reflective writing sessions for healthcare workers and their loved ones

Writing Medicine is a free, bi-weekly, reflective writing session for all healthcare professionals and our loved ones. We are residents, medical students, ICU physicians, OR nurses, physician assistants, surgeons, social workers, clinical chaplains, respiratory therapists, neonatologists, family practice physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, pediatricians, surgeons, anesthesiologists, emergency responders, trauma nurses, clinic and hospital administrators, psychiatrists, bioethicists, retired clinicians, nursing students, and so, so many more. We are also their spouses, partners, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers and parents. We login in from all over the world--Kerala, India and Whitehorse, Canada, to Johannesburg, South Africa and Detroit, MI; Brooklyn, NY to Palo Alto, CA. We started in March 2020 and have no plans for stopping.

Every first and third Saturday of the month we gather together virtually for an hour to pause, reflect, be a little more creative, and share.

Sessions are led by me, Laurel Braitman. We meet via Zoom from 10a-11am PDT on the first and third Saturdays of the month. All healthcare professionals and their loved ones are welcome. I ask only that you bring your curiosity, something to write with, and your willingness to be surprised—by yourself and others. No writing experience or Stanford affiliation necessary. Sign up for login details below.

 
 

Wondering what people have to say?

“Writing Medicine is like a hearty weekend brunch for the soul.”
— Jane Thomas, Stanford Medical student and founder of The Poetry Workshop at Stanford Hospital's inpatient psychiatric units
“This space is a mirror for me.”
— Amelia Ortega, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Amanecer Psychotherapy, NY, NY
“The sessions are profoundly helpful...The entire week, I am looking forward to Saturday nights…You allow us to think deep - this one hour is too precious to me”
— Dr. Tara Rajendran, Founder of Oncology & Strings, Kerala, India
“I appreciate having an encouraging space to start writing again.”
— Dr. Rachel Han, Department of Psychiatry, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
“This weekly group of writers from around the world who are vulnerable and kind, generous souls who have shared their hearts pull me in every time I login. As a social worker I’m a bleeding heart anyways, but often feel healed and nourished by these fellow travelers.”
— Jenny Kwak, Advanced Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Stanford Health Care
“When I see Laurel with her hat, selfless honesty and humor each Saturday (and recognize others that I know in the audience) then I know that I am ok. That is, if they are ok, then I must be ok also— this is invaluable to me during this time.”
— Dr. Yeuen Kim, MAS, Clinical Instructor, Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine
“Thank you eternally for these Saturday afternoons. They have inspired me to renew writing and an exploration of creativity— two things that faded significantly during my surgical residency.”
— Dr. M Francesca Monn, Reconstructive Urology Fellow, Eastern Virginia Medical School
“Thank you for extending a platform for me to tell a story, a personal one, for the first time. And for encouraging everyone in the workshops to bare their hearts and explore their minds. These are opportunities for growth and purpose during a challenging time for all of us.”
— Anthony Carli, Physician Assistant student, Midwestern University, Arizona
“Amazingly, the session brought subconscious into the conscious and it was therapeutic.”
— Dr Brenda Kubheka, Bioethicist and Risk lead, Health IQ Consulting, Johannesburg, South Africa

Reflective writing sessions are open to all healthcare professionals and their families.

Sign up here.

FAQs

 

What if I’ve never written before and don’t consider myself a writer?

It doesn’t matter.

How do I prepare?

Just make sure you have somewhere comfortable to sit and something to write with. Ideally pen and paper.

What will be doing exactly?

Writing & thinking. It will be easy.


 

I’d like to publish my work for others to read, are you going to cover that?

Yes. Yes, we will. But also, if you just want to write for yourself, that’s fine too.

Remind me who’s leading this thing again?

My name is Laurel Braitman. You can learn more about me here. I may or may not be wearing pajamas when we meet.

Still wondering about something?

Feel free to get in touch with any questions, big or little, that you have about the sessions.