Poetry Heals: Doctors Find Solace in Verse

Medical professionals are increasingly finding that engagement with the humanities, particularly the arts and poetry, significantly enhances their practice. Beyond scientific knowledge, understanding human behavior and emotions is deemed crucial for effective patient care. This perspective suggests that skills often labeled 'soft' are, in fact, essential competencies.

Studies and anecdotal evidence indicate that physicians involved with the arts demonstrate higher levels of empathy, which they sustain throughout their careers. This engagement is seen as a powerful tool for managing the emotional burden of healthcare, addressing factors contributing to burnout and 'moral injury'.

Narrative medicine, as practiced by Dr. Fiona Reilly at the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, utilizes writing and poetry to help healthcare workers process experiences of suffering. It also aids families in understanding their children's importance to the medical staff, fostering stronger connections.

Poetry readings, such as Emily Dickinson's 'If I Can Stop One Heart from Breaking' or Edward Hirsh's 'I Did Not Know the Work of Mourning,' are now integrated into medical education. These poems communicate complex emotional truths more effectively than lengthy explanations, aiding doctors like Dr. Albert Kim in processing their feelings and experiences.