I recently attended a performance by choreographer, Gregory Maqoma, from South Africa. I was not aware of the profound reflections that would occur during the movements of his dance; a depiction of the life-story of his great-grandfather. […]
Latest articles
Ayesha Ahmad: Call for ‘Stories’; Symposium edited by Tod Chambers
Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics will publish an issue devoted to personal stories from bioethicists about the experience of being ill or caring for a person who is ill. We are particularly interested in those stories that have affected how a bioethicist “does” ethics. We want true, personal stories in a form that is easy to read. […]
Seema Biswas and Professor Mark Clarfield: ‘In a Better World’
How often when we seek to do good can we cause real harm? The Academy award-winning Danish film, In a Better World, explores this paradox through the lives of Elias and his parents: for Elias’ father – a doctor – trying to save the world comes at a heavy price. Written by Anders Jensen, who also penned […]
Ayesha Ahmad: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – A Socio-Political Construct or Illness Entity?
I recently attended a seminar meeting at St Pancras Hospital, chaired by Dr Khaldoon Ahmed, on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Amongst an elite crowd of Dr Walter Busuttil, Medical Director at Combat Stress, Professor Roland Littlewood, University College London, and Dr Brock Chisholm, Forced Migration, whether PTSD is a socio-political construct or illness entity was […]
Ayesha Ahmad: Seminar June 20th 2012 on ‘Narrative Epileptology’ by Dr Maria Vaccarella, Kings College London
Dr Maria Vaccarella will present her ongoing research at an open seminar at the Centre for Health and Humanities, King’s College London. Dr Vaccarella’s subject refers to the cultural history of epilepsy in the West, and narrative medicine applied to epilepsy care; creating a valuable insight into the interaction between health and the humanities. The […]
James Poskett: Digital surgeons at sea
A few months ago I was raving about the prospects of a maritime history of medicine, the ship’s medicine chest being the focus of some of my latest studies. Since writing that piece, the Wellcome Trust and National Archives have completed the digitisation of the Royal Navy Medical Officers’ journals. The project, entitled Surgeons at […]
Ayesha Ahmad: Seminar Details – The Role of Non-medical Professions in the Health Humanities: A Roundtab
The Role of Non-medical Professions in the Health Humanities: A Roundtable Discussion King’s College London, Council Room June 12, 2012 18:00-19:30 Hosted by Dr. Jessica Howell and Rachael Renaud for the ‘Re-reading Nursing’ Research Group Professor Brian Hurwitz, Professor Anne Marie Rafferty and Dr. Angela Woods […]
Ayesha Ahmad: Hearing Voices; Illusions and delusions as God enters the doctor-patient dialogue
As medicine evolves, or rather reveals, nuances that speak of an inherent interdisciplinary nature, how are we to recognise and become accustomed with voices other than the language of textbooks; the sounds of monitors and machines; and the neutral tone of the doctor to patient dialogue? What happens when the patient hears God? […]
Ayesha Ahmad: Call For Abstracts – Second Annual Western Michigan University Medical Humanities Conference
Second Annual Western Michigan University Medical Humanities Conference September 27-28, 2012; Kalamazoo, Michigan Proposals should be submitted electronically by July 15—in either .doc/.docx or .pdf format—to medical-humanities@wmich.edu […]
Ayesha Ahmad: Introducing ‘The Sublime Object of Psychiatry: Schizophrenia in Clinical and Cultural Theory’ by Dr Angela Woods
‘The Sublime Object of Psychiatry’ studies representations of schizophrenia, and acknowledges a wide range of disciplines, including biological and phenomenological psychiatry, psychoanalysis, critical psychology, anti-psychiatry, and postmodern philosophy. Such an analysis permits a privileged view of the way in which schizophrenia has been framed within different discourses. […]