Beyond the Medical Record

Creative Writing Retreat for Doctors

12 - 14th March 2010  Lennox Head, NSW

As doctors we are involved in writing ‘stories’ every day. The medical record is our interpretation of our patients’ stories (history) and a summary of our response to this (examination and management plan).
 

The medical record does not allow for much creativity on the part of the writer, and is very limited in its ability to assist the doctor in making sense of what has gone on for them at a personal level.
 

The workshop will allow participants an opportunity to experience the use of stories and writing as a means of helping them to make better sense of what it means to be a doctor.
 

Practical writing exercises will guide participants through a series of creative tasks which assist them in reflecting on the effect the practice of medicine has on their lives with the goal of increasing their enjoyment of medicine and life in general. Most of all, it will be an opportunity for some light hearted fun with colleagues.
 

The workshop will be facilitated by Dr Jacinta Halloran, award winning author and Melbourne based GP, and Dr Hilton Koppe, Senior Medical Educator with North Coast GP Training, who has been running successful creative writing workshops for doctors for many years.
 

Learning Objectives

By the end of the workshop, participants will have had the opportunity to:

• Learn new skills in creative writing
• Refl ect on what it means to be a doctor through the use of structured writing exercises
• Develop skills in using refl ective writing as a way of personal debriefi ng about experiences at work
• Reignite previously lost passions for creativity
• Marvel at the brilliance of their colleagues
• Share some of their creative brilliance with colleagues, if they choose to
• Experience being with medical colleagues in a totally different way to other CPD events

Click here for the program and registration form.