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Many people tend to identify as being either left-brained (science-minded) or right-brained (creative-minded). Although new research shows that this type of “brain split” is fallacy, one wonders what can result when science and creativity intersect. Could this intersection be the key to more passionate, empathic and effective healthcare?
Katherine Burke, MFA, Director of Medical Humanities at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (CCLCM) at Case Western Reserve University and Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, says, “Clinical expertise can only be enhanced by delving into the arts and humanities. By understanding the cultural context that caregiving takes place in, medical students are better equipped to be more empathetic towards patients and their families.”
The Program in Medical Humanities is an integral part of the curriculum at CCLCM and is designed to help students understand the broader context of the meanings of health, illness and healthcare. One of the program’s initiatives and one of the most compelling platforms students have to share their personal experiences is Story Slam. Now in its 11th year, the event draws participants not only from CCLCM but also other regional medical schools to share their creative work.
“Medical students are encouraged to process the challenges they face and share their stories with others, cultivating empathy and resilience with patients, their families and colleagues,” says Burke.
Empathy in action
This year’s Story Slam, held Oct. 8, was emceed by Tolulope (Tolu) Banjo (‘29) and Deanna Riley (’29), and featured a selection of poetry, prose and music.
The participants shared deeply personal and reflective pieces that explored the emotional and ethical complexities of working in medicine. The event fostered a space for vulnerability, connection and healing through storytelling.
The keynote speaker was Anne Song, MD (’18), a palliative medicine physician and third-year fellow in pulmonary and critical care medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Song says that she uses storytelling to make sense of suffering and loss both personally and professionally. For her, writing has become a vital tool for emotional processing, helping her stay compassionate toward patients and their families and avoid burnout.
“It has been integral to who I am and the career path that I’ve chosen to be able to reflect on the deeply human parts of medicine,” says Dr. Song.
Dr. Song read a short story titled “The Mirror” and a reflection titled “How We Persist,” which explores how caregivers continue to provide care under strenuous circumstances. She reflected on her work as a palliative and critical care physician, acknowledging the ongoing challenges of practicing medicine with empathy and endurance.
Seeing through the eyes of another
Reflecting on the event, Banjo says, “Story Slam is a beautiful opportunity for students to share their experiences with medicine through the eyes of a doctor, patient or loved one.”
Her poem, called “More Than a Ticking Timer,” explores the emotional and relational side of care. She says, “Even when treatments fall short, the work of a physician endures – walking, listening and being fully present with our patients.”
Below is an excerpt from Banjo’s poem:
“… And what happens when medicine falls short,
and the inevitable outcome presses in –
Have we failed?
Perhaps.
But that was never the goal.
Our calling is to meet patients where they are
and walk with them as the road bends,
through discomfort,
through happiness,
through fear,
through joy,
through triumph,
and at last,
through death.
“We accompany patients through time,
not against it.
We show up at milestones,
and the in-betweens.
The timer of life will still count down,
medicine cannot change that.…”
Banjo’s poem is just one example of the vulnerability and depth shared during Story Slam. This year’s participants also included:
Through these stories, short poems, music and memoirs, these students grapple with realities of healthcare while creating space for empathy, connection and healing.
The power of vulnerability
The medical humanities encourages medical students and professionals to embrace the part of themselves that connects to their humanity. As humans, storytelling is how we learn, connect and express ourselves. By embracing the human side of medicine, caregivers can build deeper connections with their patients and provide more compassionate care.
“It can make someone a better caregiver,” Burke says, “when you understand that these patients and doctors have stories.”
© 2025 “More Than a Ticking Timer,” Tolulope Banjo
