Documenting Medicine


In 2010, Pediatrician and Photographer John Moses and I launched a documentary mentorship for Duke physician residents nearing the end of their training. Residents are given the skills, equipment, mentoring and time to explore a medical issue, question or story using documentary methods. We offer mentoring in film, audio, photography, web and writing. At the conclusion of the mentorship, residents share their work with colleagues and medical students.

This program was recently featured in the News & Observer (http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/09/04/1456759/documenting-medicine-to-make-deeper.html) For more information about this program and opportunity, as well as opportunities we have for Duke medical students and physicians, visit:  http://documentingmedicine.com/


  • What makes us care? It's not about statistics. It's about using individual stories to create that connection, that empathy. - Nicholas Kristof, New York Times

    Once we have a face, a picture, and details about a person, we feel for them, and our actions and money follow. - Dan Ariely, Duke

    Forget about Powerpoint and statistics. To involve people at the deepest level, you need stories. - Harvard Business Review

    We have evolved to tell and respond to stories for learning about and developing relationships with the people around us. - Steven Pinker, Harvard

    Why does our brain seem to be wired for stories? The ability to read motivations and intentions enables not only our understanding of stories, but more crucially, the comprehension of real-life situations--an undeniable evolutionary advantage. - Jeremy Hsu, Scientific American Mind

    Students with more exposure to stories have stronger social and empathy scores. - Kevin Oatley, University of Toronto

    Tell me a fact and I'll remember it for a day. Tell, me a good story and I'll remember it forever. - Anonymous

http://www.wiredforstories.com/wp-content/themes/press