Modern medicine has both science and technology on its side, with its sophisticated diagnostic imaging, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled drug studies and complicated surgical procedures. These contribute to better patient outcomes, but sometimes a patient might feel overwhelmed. Our guests have found that human contact through poetry can contribute powerfully to healing.
Guests: David Watts, MD, practices gastroenterology and is Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. He produced the documentary “Healing Words: Poetry and Medicine” for public television and has written a number of books, including Taking the History, Bedside Manners and The Orange Wire Problem. Online links include: www.poetry-and-jazz.com (Books and Music); www.healingwordsproductions.com (The PBS Documentary); www.dominican.edu (The Healing Art of Writing Workshops); and www.wolfridgepress.com (Small Press Publishing). The photo is of Dr. Watts.
John Fox is a poet and certified poetry therapist. He is the founder of the Institute for Poetic Medicine and author of: Poetic Medicine: The Healing Art of Poem-Making, The Spirit of Writing, and The Soul of Creativity, among other works. His Web site is poeticmedicine.org
The podcast of this program will be available the Monday after the broadcast date. Podcasts can be downloaded for free for six weeks after the date of broadcast. After that time has passed, digital downloads are available for $2.99. CDs may be purchased at any time after broadcast for $9.99.
