Medical Humanities Commons^™

I Want You To Want Me, Marianne Koleng

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This piece calls to the theme of "attention" through a mixed media piece incorporating collage, ink, and colored pencil. It embraces the nuances of both anatomy and popular music, rock-and-roll, to be specific. The title is taken from the popular song by Cheap Trick, of the same name in an effort to elude to the desire for human attention in a human form.

Even Flow, Marianne Koleng

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This piece attempts to connect the "ebb and flow" of music and art with the sometimes strict interpretation of anatomy. It calls to attention what often seem as opposites - the cold nature of medicine and science with the seemingly warm and free nature of music and art. While many see them as opposites, this piece attempts to convey they are really two sides of the same coin.

Pick & Choose, Sana Lulu

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To me, attention goes hand in hand with patience and is a core part of my creative process. When it comes to my art, I generally ride inconsistent waves of inspiration, meaning I often churn out pieces all in one session, finessing a piece until I am satisfied. In that span of time, all that matters to me is getting my piece as close to how I picture it in my mind as possible, giving it my full undivided attention. I tend to fixate on projects and have a hard time revisiting them once I decide to end the session. …

Anne-Katrine, Tiffany Tran

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I wrote “Anne-Katrine” in memory of my late cousin. The poem explores how our attention lingers on those who have shaped us, reflecting the quiet, persistent act of remembering someone across time and space. It examines how mindful attention allows us to honor the past and keep cherished moments alive, even when we cannot hold them.

Book Review On Joan Didion's "The Year Of Magical Thinking", Antea Garo

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This essay and review explores how Joan Didion's memoir The Year of Magical Thinking connects mourning with attention, and analyzes how the healthcare system struggles to deal with grief.

Listening Beyond The Stethoscope, Lia M. Smerina, Priya Darbhanga

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No abstract provided.

"Sees" The Day, Angelica M. Ruiz

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No abstract provided.

What The Stethoscope Can’T Hear: A Book Review Of Every Patient Tells A Story, Faith Abraham

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My love for reading has always shaped the way I see people and stories. Through books, I’ve learned to listen deeply to characters, voices, and emotions. That same curiosity drives how I approach medicine and the humanities. Reading reminds me that every person carries a story worth understanding, and that healing often begins with paying attention.

More Than Medicine: The Quiet Power Of Attention, Eleni Geletu

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This short reflection is based on my experience as a Patient Advocacy Representative. It tells the story of a phone call with a patient in distress and shows how simply paying attention and showing care can make a real difference. The piece reminds us that healing often begins with compassion, not just medicine. It highlights the importance of listening, empathy, and human connection in healthcare.

Keywords: compassion, patient care, attention, empathy, narrative medicine, advocacy, healing

The Crystal House Of The Valley, Melissa Gonzalez

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No abstract provided.

Reflections On Paying Attention, Cyril Blavo

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This is a reflection on attentiveness in communiciation.

More Of, Maxwell Corrigan

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More of is an album I produced and released in my second year of medical school. Writing music can be a way to process, much like journaling or other forms of artwork. In this way, my albums reflect many personal experiences, thoughts, and other innerworkings. My songwriting process is done in a free association style, as I find my music is most meaningful when it comes from a deeper consciousness. While many of the songs in More of resonate with classic imbalances of attention and care within relationships, my music functionally acts to draw out the things I often need …

Stillness, Fatima Bawaney

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No abstract provided.

The Cost Of Having Everything, Aaron E. Lamont

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This essay explores how our attention is shaped and often scattered by the digital world, especially within the environment of medical school. I hope it can help to encourage others to think more carefully about what really deserves their focus.

Continuing On, Stephanie Singer

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No abstract provided.

A Gaze That Lingers, Vidhi Raval, Naman Gupta

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No abstract provided.

The Gift Of Attention, Ahron J. Petrillo

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This poem explores the shifting rhythms of attention as both a challenge and a gift in the life of a student of medicine. It illuminates the path toward knowledge and healing. Woven into its lines is the tension between effort and rest, intellect and care, science and humanity. The imagery of fire and thread reflects how learning is not only about the consumption of information, but also the shaping of character. Ultimately, the poem affirms that rest, presence, and attention are not distractions from becoming a healer, but integral to the art of it.

Curating Serenity, Archana Banda

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Attention to me is appreciating the simplest things amidst the joys and hardships of life. Throughout my medical school journey, I have rediscovered the importance of practicing self-care, gratitude, and embracing an abundance mindset. Being self-aware about our own health and optimizing it allows us to care for patients with the utmost compassion and generosity. Paying attention as future physicians means empathizing with patients at their most vulnerable moments and restoring hope in a brighter future. Attention and generosity are inherently interconnected because when providers are attentive to their patients’ health concerns, they can be generous with their time and …

Returning Back To Piano, Pooja Sai Singu

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This piece reflects my journey with the piano, a relationship that began with joy, faltered under the weight of competition, and has now been renewed with gratitude and perspective. Writing it was both a way of honoring the memories tied to music and a reminder of how returning to something familiar can restore balance in the midst of new challenges. For me, piano is no longer about perfection, but about presence.

Conversations In Silence: Connecting With Nonverbal Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Allyson Nepomuceno

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No abstract provided.