Narrative Medicine : New and Selected Essays / Arthur L. Lazarus.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lazarus, Arthur L., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Clinical medicine.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (0 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Washington : Academica Press, [2025]

Summary:

Narrative Medicine: New and Selected Essays, by Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA, contains the thoughtful curation of the author's best work alongside new contributions. The book is divided into two sections: Section 1: New Essays In this section, 10 vibrant essays serve as a bridge between reflection and the future of the medical profession. They focus on themes that have emerged since the COVID-19 pandemic and have taken on a new urgency in light of our evolving healthcare landscape. Section 2: Selected Essays Here, 50 essays were chosen for their significance and quality, representing the author's finest additions to the discourse on contemporary medical practice. These essays explore a range of topics critical to the medical field: the arduous journey through medical training, the ethical dilemmas doctors face, the rise of artificial intelligence, the importance of mentorship and reflective writing, and the career challenges that can either make or break a physician's resolve. Within these pages you will find a comprehensive gathering of essays and viewpoints that reflect the complexities of modern medicine and explore the intricate relationship between practice and storytelling, offering insights into how narrative shapes our understanding of patient care.

Contents:

Narrative Medicine:New and Selected Essays

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Narrative Medicine:New and Selected Essays

Academica PressWashington~London

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Lazarus, Arthur L. (author)

Title: Narrative Medicine: New and Selected Essays | Lazarus, Arthur L.

Description: Washington : Academica Press, 2025. | Includes references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2025934747 | ISBN 9781680535815 (hardcover) | 9781680535822 (e-book)

Copyright 2025 Arthur L. Lazarus

ALSO BY ARTHUR LAZARUS

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome and Related Conditions (co-author)

Controversies in Managed Mental Health Care

Career Pathways in Psychiatry: Transition in Changing Times

MD/MBA: Physicians on the New Frontier of Medical Management

Every Story Counts:Exploring Contemporary Practice Through Narrative Medicine

Medicine on Fire: A Narrative Travelogue

Narrative Medicine: The Fifth Vital Sign

Narrative Medicine: Harnessing the Power of Storytelling through Essays

Story Treasures: Medical Essays and Insights in the Narrative Tradition

21st Century Schizoid Health Care:Essays and Reflections to Keep You Sane on Your Medical Travels

Narrative Rx: A Quick Guide toNarrative Medicine for Students, Residents, and Attendings

To my family - my stories, your stories, our stories.

And to all caregivers dedicated to the healing and well-being of others.

Contents

Preface xvii

Prologue I Was Traumatized by a Patient I Never Met xix

Section1: New Essays 1

1. The Growing Discrepancy Between Healthcare Promises and Practice 3

2. Dark Humor Allows Us to See the "Light" in Medicine 7

3. What I Discovered While Walking Through the Cemetery 11

4. Strategies for Healthcare Practitioners to Re-Engage with Patients 15.

5. Embracing Mental Health Openness in the Medical Profession 19

6. Who Cares for the Healers? 23

7. Transitioning from Sick Care to Health Care 27

8. Utilization Review is a Crap Shoot 31

9. The Last of the Independents 35

10. The Big Picture in Psychotherapy 41

Section 2: Selected Essays: Physician Issues 47

11. I Am Not What Others Think of Me 49

12. My Biggest Blind Spot is Me 51

13. Memoirs of a "Recovering" Peer Reviewer 55

14. Call Me In, Not Out, for My Transgressions 59

15. Like Many Physicians, I've Forgotten How to Relax 63

16. Sending in "Tougher Canaries" Won't Fix the Problemof Physician Well-Being 67

17. Burnout On the U.S.S. Enterprise 71

18. Autism and Doctors: Strengths, Challenges, and Stories 75

19. Your Employment History Isn't Spotless,So Learn to Master Job Interview Questions 79

20. Blues Power: Turning Heartache Into Healing 83

Selected Essays: Education, Training, and Development 87

21. The First Time I Felt Like a Doctor 89

22. Breaking Point 93

23. Coping With Rejection Requires Resilience 97

24. I May Be Old School, but I'm Not Outdated 101

25. The Jobs You Hold Prior to Medical School are Important,but Not for the Reason You Think 105

26. Faking Your Way Through Medical School 109

27. I Competed with My Best Friend in Medical School.It was My Worst Nightmare. 113

28. From Resident to Academic Attending: The Challenges Ahead 117

29. The Ebb and Flow of Mentorship in Medicine 121

Selected Essays: Patient Care 125

30. Allegory Is a Powerful Tool in Medicine 127

31. Treatment Is a Two-Way Street 131

32. What Does It Mean When We SaySomeone Has Lied After a Long Illness? 135

33. Medicine Has Become the New McDonald's of Health Care 139

34. Spread "Aloha" in Health Care 143

35. Appreciate the People in Your Life 147.

36. How the Time-Honored Tradition ofa Baseball Catch Became a "Test" for a Brain Injury 151

37. The Power of "Enough-ness" in Medicine 155

38. First Impressions Count in Health Care 159

39. Hidden Heroes Who Fought for Women'sReproductive Rights in the 1950s 163

Selected Essays: Practice and Career Concerns 167

40. I Retired After Speaking Out. Now I Can Speak My Mind. 169

41. Whatever Happened to Professional Courtesy? 173

42. Have You Lost Your Desire to Practice? 177

43. When an MBA Degree Meets Medicine:An "Eye-Opening" Experience 181

44. Medicine Is a Joke, Except No One is Laughing 185

45. Never Ask Me to Be a Medical Expert Witness (Again) 191

46. Euthanizing Our Pets Teaches Us AboutProgressive End-Of-Life Care 195

47. The Artificially Intelligent Physician 201

48. How Should Unethical Legacies in Medical History Be Handled? 205

49. I Was Quietly Fired Even Though I Complied 209

Selected Essays: Writing and Reflection 213

50. Narrative Medicine Writing Saved My Sanity 215

51. On Juneteenth I Learned the Ugly Truthof My New Hometown. It Restored My Faith in Humanity. 219

52. Discovering Self Through Creative Writing and Medicine 223

53. A Season of Emotions: Spring, Trauma and Healing 227

54. Man's Search for Meaning is Spiritual, and Relevant to Medicine 231

55. Transitioning From Academic Writing to The Narrative 235

56. Why Aren't You Writing? 239

57. Kick Start Your Writing with a Surprise 243

58. The Real Story Behind Woodstock is Not the Brown Acid 247

59. My Journey of Missed Journaling Opportunitiesin the World of Medicine 251

60. The Power of Story 255

Afterword: Live Longer, Die Shorter:The Surprising Health Secrets to a Vital Old Age 259

Notes and Sources 263

About the Author 265

- Paracelsus

Preface.

In the constantly changing landscape of medicine, where the demands on healthcare professionals continue to intensify, narrative medicine offers a vital lifeline - a way to connect with the human experience that underpins all we do as physicians and healthcare providers. This collection of essays, drawn from a lifetime of observations, experiences, and emotions as a psychiatrist, reflects not only the challenges and triumphs of practicing medicine but also the deeply personal stories that shape

Fifty of the essays included here have been previously published in one of my earlier volumes, selected as what I consider my most resonant work, representing my best attempts to capture the heart of contemporary medicine. They explore a variety of issues that I believe are critical to understanding not only where we are but also how we, as medical practitioners, might strive toward something better. From the systemic dysfunctions of the healthcare industry to the personal struggles of burnout a

The ten new essays serve as a bridge between reflection and the future of our profession. They focus on themes that have emerged more recently or have taken on new urgency in light of our evolving healthcare environment. They also address, more personally, my own transformation as both a physician and a patient - someone who continues to grapple with our missed interpersonal connections, the painful realities of patient suffering, and the moral challenges that arise in this work.

My journey through narrative medicine began as a way to understand, to critique, and, at times, to simply make sense of this path we walk as caregivers. Writing became a space to reconcile the disillusionment I, and many others, have felt with the often unmanageable demands and new characteristics of the system. It became a way to maintain my own sanity, as I watched systems around me consolidate, deteriorate, and crumble.

In writing these essays, I have drawn upon my own experiences and those of the countless patients and colleagues who have shared their stories with me. It is through these narratives that we find meaning and connection, allowing us to traverse the most intimate moments of our profession with empathy and resilience. In the spirit of John Fogerty, who "Wrote a Song for Everyone," I wrote these narratives for everybody who is part of this world of healthcare - whether as a physician, a patient, or

May these essays inspire reflection and dialogue, fostering a deeper understanding of the human condition and the pivotal role we play as healers. As you explore them, I invite you to consider your own narratives and the impact they have on your practice and personal growth. Together, through mutual stories and experiences, we can continue to campaign for a more compassionate and effective healthcare system.

Prologue I Was Traumatized by a Patient I Never Met

Soon after midnight, after a busy day on the inpatient psych unit, I slipped into a deep sleep. Then the phone rang in the residents' on-call room.

"Dr. Lazarus," the voice on the other end inquired?

"Yes," I replied, half asleep.

"This is Dr. Hendricks (not her real name) in the ER. Are you the on-call psych resident tonight?"

"I am," I answered drowsily.

Every physician knows that nightly awakenings are part and parcel of being on-call. And like most residents, I had learned how to short-circuit several stages of sleep to quickly attain alertness when paged. But tonight, it was really difficult to wake up.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781680535822

168053582X

OCLC:

1515459810