TedxUCLA Radiation Oncology Salon
Let's Get Awkward to Get More Connected: Humanizing Those Who Heal
Our brain is a natural storyteller, and through storytelling, it’s possible for us to strengthen executive function, increase our sense of well-being, and foster connection. Studies related to this suggest the number one thing we can do to feel happier is engage in social connection. Specifically, being open to connecting with strangers and aiming to go deeper during conversation.
Building on these ideas as well as Dr. Matthew Farrell and Dr. Puja Venkat’s narrative writing workshop for medical students—where medical students who previously had their education experience impacted by COVID wrote and shared pivotal personal experiences—we crafted this Salon session, Let’s Get Awkward to Get More Connected, which endeavors to explore and test these theories on story and connection while simultaneously humanizing those who heal.
In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a statement regarding all-time high levels of loneliness and isolation in the United States. What if we put UCLA Radiation Oncology Featured Poet Bruce Springsteen’s artistic repairmen idea into practice? What if, through sharing stories, we were able to not only heal parts of ourselves, but also others? What if harnessing stories made us better practitioners through our increased ability to listen and connect? What if storytelling can help us become Springsteen’s repairmen—to make healers out of all of us?
Speakers
Sharin “Rin” Islam, MD
Seize the Day
Matthew Farrell, MD, MFA
Introduction
Kate Coursey, MD
124 Washington Road
Grace Yi, 4th Year DGSOM Medical Student
Reflection
Puja Venkat, MD
Poem and Direction from the Workshop
Followed By Group Conversation
