Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Narrative medicine invites clinicians into a simple yet profound practice: listening differently. Kristen Copeland, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, Nimisha Bajaj, MD, Palliative Care Specialist, Children’s National Hospital, and Anoushka Sinha, MD, Adolescent Medicine Specialist, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, explore how storytelling, reflective writing, close listening and the humanities can deepen understanding of children and families navigating illness, trauma, grief and uncertainty. Grounded in the pioneering work of Dr. Rita Charon and the narrative medicine program at Columbia University, the conversation highlights how these practices can strengthen trust, cultivate empathy and bring greater humanity into pediatric care.
Featuring:
Kristen Copeland, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center
Nimisha Bajaj, MD, PhD, Palliative Care Specialist, Children’s National Hospital
Anoushka Sinha, MD, Adolescent Medicine Specialist, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals
Host/Producer: Carol Vassar
00:00 Welcome to Well Beyond Medicine
00:36 What Is Narrative Medicine?
02:26 Understanding Health Through Stories
04:12 Why Relationships Matter in Pediatric Care
05:03 How Three Pediatricians Found Narrative Medicine
07:46 The Origins of Narrative Medicine at Columbia
09:40 Bringing Humanities into Clinical Practice
11:32 Starting with Strengths, Not Symptoms
12:27 Storytelling in Pediatric Palliative Care
13:46 How Narrative Medicine Builds Trust
15:19 “There Isn't Time for Narrative Medicine”
17:42 Barriers to Adoption in Health Care Systems
19:32 A Story That Changed a Clinical Encounter
21:40 Connecting Through Shared Stories and Grief
24:34 Can Narrative Medicine Be Measured?
27:09 The Power of Reflective Writing
28:20 How Clinicians Can Start Today
29:25 Using a “Shadow Chart” to Build Empathy
30:29 Small Practices That Change Patient Care
31:41 Final Thoughts on the Art of Medicine
Thanks for listening to Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children’s Health Podcast. How do you go well beyond medicine in your own life or community? How do you celebrate it?
🎙️ Share your story or leave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/NemoursWell...
Your message could be featured in a future episode.
🌐 Listen to more episodes and explore the podcast: nemourswellbeyond.org
📩 Sign up for our monthly newsletter for new episodes, stories, and updates: nemourswellbeyond.org/news
Follow Nemours Children’s Health:
Instagram: / nemours
X (Twitter): / nemours
Facebook: / nemours
LinkedIn: / nemours
Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children’s Health Podcast explores children’s health, pediatric care, health equity, mental health, social determinants of health, and health care innovation—from food security and community-based care to meeting families where they are with accessible health and wellness resources. We highlight the people and ideas shaping the future of pediatric health care and building the healthiest generations of children ever.
#WellBeyondMedicine #NemoursChildrensHealth #Pediatrics #ChildrensHealth #HealthEquity #HealthcareInnovation #MentalHealth #socialdeterminantsofhealth
Narrative medicine invites clinicians into a simple yet profound practice: listening differently. Kristen Copeland, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, Nimisha Bajaj, MD, Palliative Care Specialist, Children’s National Hospital, and Anoushka Sinha, MD, Adolescent Medicine Specialist, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, explore how storytelling, reflective writing, close listening and the humanities can deepen understanding of children and families navigating illness, trauma, grief and uncertainty. Grounded in the pioneering work of Dr. Rita Charon and the narrative medicine program at Columbia University, the conversation highlights how these practices can strengthen trust, cultivate empathy and bring greater humanity into pediatric care.
Featuring:
Kristen Copeland, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center
Nimisha Bajaj, MD, PhD, Palliative Care Specialist, Children’s National Hospital
Anoushka Sinha, MD, Adolescent Medicine Specialist, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals
Host/Producer: Carol Vassar
00:00 Welcome to Well Beyond Medicine
00:36 What Is Narrative Medicine?
02:26 Understanding Health Through Stories
04:12 Why Relationships Matter in Pediatric Care
05:03 How Three Pediatricians Found Narrative Medicine
07:46 The Origins of Narrative Medicine at Columbia
09:40 Bringing Humanities into Clinical Practice
11:32 Starting with Strengths, Not Symptoms
12:27 Storytelling in Pediatric Palliative Care
13:46 How Narrative Medicine Builds Trust
15:19 “There Isn't Time for Narrative Medicine”
17:42 Barriers to Adoption in Health Care Systems
19:32 A Story That Changed a Clinical Encounter
21:40 Connecting Through Shared Stories and Grief
24:34 Can Narrative Medicine Be Measured?
27:09 The Power of Reflective Writing
28:20 How Clinicians Can Start Today
29:25 Using a “Shadow Chart” to Build Empathy
30:29 Small Practices That Change Patient Care
31:41 Final Thoughts on the Art of Medicine
Thanks for listening to Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children’s Health Podcast. How do you go well beyond medicine in your own life or community? How do you celebrate it?
🎙️ Share your story or leave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/NemoursWell...
Your message could be featured in a future episode.
🌐 Listen to more episodes and explore the podcast: nemourswellbeyond.org
📩 Sign up for our monthly newsletter for new episodes, stories, and updates: nemourswellbeyond.org/news
Follow Nemours Children’s Health:
Instagram: / nemours
X (Twitter): / nemours
Facebook: / nemours
LinkedIn: / nemours
Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children’s Health Podcast explores children’s health, pediatric care, health equity, mental health, social determinants of health, and health care innovation—from food security and community-based care to meeting families where they are with accessible health and wellness resources. We highlight the people and ideas shaping the future of pediatric health care and building the healthiest generations of children ever.
#WellBeyondMedicine #NemoursChildrensHealth #Pediatrics #ChildrensHealth #HealthEquity #HealthcareInnovation #MentalHealth #socialdeterminantsofhealth
