Writing to Heal Thyself: Physician as Person & Person as Physician

An experienced physician-teacher shares her own experiences with loss in medicine and loss in her personal life. Through personal writings during her divorce, she exemplifies the healing effect writing can have during difficult transformations that occur in life. She shares her bias that physicians need to accept and own their emotions and can use reflective writing as a tool toward developing greater professional skills. In the end, reflective writing skills offer physicians a means to become more emotionally aware and more available to patients’ needs