Patient Narrative Project

The Patient Narrative Project is inspired by the My Life, My Story program at the VA. It brings narrative medicine into clinical care by inviting patients to share meaningful stories from their lives. Medical students conduct interviews and craft brief, respectful narratives that reflect the person behind the patient. With permission, these narratives are integrated into the electronic medical record (EMR), allowing the patient’s voice and values to become part of their care.

This project is rooted in the belief that stories humanize healthcare. Our goals are to:

• Empower patients to share their own narratives in the EMR, shifting the lens from diagnosis to identity.
• Counteract bias by making space for the person, not just the chart.
• Foster deeper connections between patients and providers through shared understanding.
• Train future clinicians to see illness in the context of patients’ lives, communities, and the broader social fabric.

After each round of patient interviews, students gather to reflect as a group. These sessions explore:

• What stood out in the stories?
• How did it change how we see our patients?
• What does it mean to truly listen in medicine?

Through storytelling and reflection, students deepen their empathy, enhance their communication skills, and carry forward a more human-centered approach to care.

Led by Drs. Bassem Ghali, Robin Goldman, and Zhenya Krapivinsky.