Learning From Experiences of Chronic Illness: A Book Review of The Room Sinatra Died In and Other Medically Adjacent Stories
In this book review, author Ted Meyers reflects on his own writing process and how it has impacted his perspective on his life and chronic illness. “Writing is my way of preserving … moments,” he notes. In her commentary that follows, Priyanka Bhakta highlights the role of the caregiver in family-centered care as presented in Meyers’ book: “The stories convey the unavoidable impact of health on one’s relationships…” Teaching Tools at the end of the article suggest two of Meyers’ stories for healthcare students, with Discussion Points.
Advocating for Palliative Care Is Our Role: A Physical Therapist Perspective
This insightful and moving article argues for wider use of palliative care in end-of-life situations. Written from her personal experience with terminal patients, the author notes how, ironically, a focus on positivity can deny the much-needed comfort that palliative care provides. Contrasting a rural southern hospital and a top urban neurorehabilitation facility, she notes how her patients received more end-of-life comfort in the former. She calls for physical therapists to “advocate for better integration of palliative care principles into PT practice.”
Utilizing Drama to Teach Intervention Strategies for Patients With Alzheimer’s Disease: The Intersection of Humanities and Clinical Science
Clinical simulations are often used in entry-level healthcare education. However, according to the authors, these simulations lack the depth of understanding that drama can provide to students. This research report details how a two-act play written by the authors and presented here, employing professional actors, increased student understanding of effective interactions with Alzheimer’s patients.
Building Community Through Storytelling: A Case Report
These authors report on their most recent ‘StorySlam’ – an event hosted by USC’s Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy – where Division members described their personal encounters with diversity, equity, and inclusion. The storytellers (including faculty, students, and patients) spoke for just 5 minutes each. But the attendees – many quoted here – noted the impact of those stories, and their enhanced sense of connection with their fellow Division members.
A Quarter-Century Post-Olmstead, We’re Still Waiting for Freedom
doi: 10.18737/0607333584 AMA Citation: Kelly D. A Quarter-Century Post-Olmstead, We’re Still Waiting for Freedom. J Hum Rehabil. 2024; Fall. doi:10.18737/0607333584 Download the article (pdf) Table of Contents Twenty-five years ago, the Supreme Court’s ruling in Olmstead v. L.C.1 was seen as a victory for disability rights. Led by Georgia disabled advocates Lois Curtis and Elaine […]
Art, Well-being and Medicine at the Barnes Foundation
A key mission of the Barnes Foundation is the promotion of education through art appreciation. Its Art, Well-Being and Medicine program was created in 2017. Practitioners and patients alike experience the Barnes’ vast collection through seven guided exercises; the results can be profound. This article takes the reader into an encounter with art at the Barnes, and shows how the questions raised among colleagues can impact clinical perspectives.
Female CHF 89
This gentle poem honors a lovely lady—“a hundred birthdays…give or take”—who gave her body to science. As the clinicians dissect, observe, and study, the poet juxtaposes the harsh procedures with softer observations. This lady was loved and cared for. The poem pays homage to a life well-lived, and to a final decision to help others learn.
Running Before I Could Walk
Physical therapists who fulfill a clinical rotation abroad often quickly gain new cultural and medical insights. The experience can be particularly intense for students. In this soul-searching account, SPT Mitchel Fenrich describes his day-by-day enlightenments while seeking to help a child with cerebral palsy in Tanzania. He notes the new perspectives he gained on clinical assessments, treatments, cultural mores—and on himself as a practitioner.
Anxiety
In a poignant cry of honesty, [poet] takes the reader on a journey inside a mind experiencing crippling anxiety. The poem moves from a vivid portrayal of daily fear toward a gradual englightenment about the nature of the condition, and finally, to a warrior-like acceptance of what anxiety is—and most importantly, what it is not.
Mirroring Each Other: Beyond AI’s Capability
doi: 10.18737/0607247888 AMA Citation: Miller C. Mirroring Each Other: beyond AI’s capability. J Hum Rehabil. 2024; Fall. doi:10.18737/0607247888 Download the article (pdf) Table of Contents Congratulations to Doctor of Physical Therapy Student, Caitlin Miller (George Washington University), finalist of the annual Student Essay Contest, co-sponsored by the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT) and […]