Yale School of Medicine.

Yale School of Medicine
Department of Internal Medicine
Residency Training Programs
PO Box 208030
New Haven, CT 06520-8030

Writers’ Workshop

History of the Writers' Workshop

The Department of Internal Medicine established the Writers’ Workshop in 2003 to create an opportunity for residents to enhance their powers of observation and to share these observations with their colleagues. Our aims were to provide an outlet for the creative energy among our housestaff, to increase empathy, and to help residents reflect on their experiences through learning the craft of writing. We felt that this focus had the most potential to help our residents appreciate the richness of their patients' stories and the power of these stories to transform the doctor-patient relationship. The workshop also provided an exceptional opportunity to improve writing skills, whether in fiction or non-fiction writing. Dr. Abraham Verghese designed and led the first workshop.

Workshop guest leaders and special guests have included writers Dr. Abraham Verghese, Dr. Richard Selzer, and Anne Fadiman. Dr. Anna Reisman has led the workshop for the last several years and will welcome Dr. Lisa Sanders as co-leader in the 2009-2010 workshop.

We are grateful for the exceptional administrative support of Lori Williams and, for many years, Patricia King. Dr. Ashgar Rastegar created the initial workshop and supported it for its first six years. Dr. Stephen Huot now oversees the workshop and has been instrumental in recruiting residents from other departments. Dr. Helena Hansen was deeply involved with the first workshop in 2003.

Stories and Essays by Residents

Each year, the Writers’ Workshop produces a booklet called Capsules, which is a collection of stories and essays written by the workshop participants. Read selected stories and essays by clicking on the links below.

Capsules, 2003-2004

Capsules II, 2004-2005

Capsules III, 2005-2006

Capsules IV, 2006-2007

Capsules V, 2007-2008

Capsules VI, 2008-2009

Listen to Stories and Essays by Residents

Each January, the Writers’ Workshop participants read their pieces aloud at a noon conference to students, residents, and faculty. Listen to some of their stories and essays by clicking the links below.

Read Comments from Residents about the Workshop

"We had similar experiences in residency...how do we conceptualize and describe these experiences differently?"

"I didn’t realize some of the emotions I was feeling until writing them down...they weren’t processed until writing."

"(I learned to use) individual words that you would never use in a progress note...what the patient looked like, smelled like...It makes you look at them in a different way...The act of writing changes the way you look at patients."

"...(writing showed me that) I can learn everything I need to know from the patient. I try to impress that on the interns."

"I’ve been interviewing for jobs...every single place asked about the workshop, more than the other things on my resume."

"Part of the ripple was having had Grand Rounds and distributing our writing. It infuses the culture of this place...I’ve talked to faculty, and also to other residents who wished they’d been brave enoughto sign up."

"The writing and discussion group had an immediate and profound impact on me in residency, through the process of clarifying experiences in writing, then commiserating and sharing with trusted colleagues; but also lasting impact, through encouraging my sustained interest in writing. The workshop led me not only to a research focus on the utility of reflective writing in medical education, but also to my own continued writing. I now incorporate reflective writing exercises in teaching seminars for med students, residents, and mixed provider groups; and I am starting to see my work published, here and there. This has been so rewarding."

Press Featuring the Writers' Workshop

In 2006, Drs. Anna Reisman, Helena Hansen, and Asghar Rastegar published an article about the workshop in the Journal of General Internal Medicine entitled "The Craft of Writing: A Physician-Writer's Workshop for Resident Physicians".
[PDF]
The article received much attention from the press, both locally and nationally.

Published Writing by Workshop Participants

A number of workshop participants have published essays and stories in journals and newspapers, including The New York Times and JAMA.

Writing and Medicine Grand Rounds Speakers

Each January, the Department of Medicine sponsors a "Writing and Medicine" Grand Rounds which features various physician-authors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can participate in the Writers’ Workshop?
The workshop is open to Yale residents in internal medicine and other specialties, including surgery, pediatrics, OBGYN, emergency medicine, and psychiatry. If your department is not listed but you are interested, please contact anna.reisman@yale.edu. You must be PGY-2 or above; interns are not eligible.

Is the workshop open to residents or students outside of Yale?
At this point, we can only accept residents from Yale programs.