HON115 Narrative Medicine - Fall 2023

Our medical system is often separated into parts: the cardiologist specializes in the heart, the orthopedic surgeon specializes in joints and bones, the ophthalmologist specializes in the eyes, and so on. Yet each part of the body has a story that is connected to the whole. Students in Amy Amoroso’s Honors 115 Narrative Medicine course began their study of narrative medicine by selecting one body part that was meaningful and explored that body part anatomically, physiologically, and metaphorically in an artist book.

To prepare for this project, students read poetry and essays by writers who focus on parts of the body in metaphorical language. They worked with writer and visual artist Caitlin Scholl to explore their inner landscape. They explored USM’s Special Collections and Osher Map Library, UNE’s Maine Women Writers Collection, and other sources for inspiration and information. Finally, book artist Rebecca Goodale led three inspiring book-making workshops to show students how the form of the artist book could help to tell their story.