Graphic medicine

Dr. Ian Williams
Wales, United Kingdom

Modern comics demand academic consideration from narrative, healthcare, and art scholars. More...

Cruel to be kind

Dr. Thom Ferrier
United Kingdom

When does "eliciting a response using pain" turn into sadism? More...

Lovesickness in art and medicine

Frank Gonzalez-Crussi, MD
Chicago, Illinois

Have you ever suffered the pangs of romantic passion? More...

On not remembering faces

Christopher C. Hemond
Palo Alto, California

Comedian Groucho Marx said, “I never forget a face but for you I’ll make an exception." More...

The surgeon

John Graham-Pole, MD
Antigonish, Canada

Eli cannot remember a time before the warts, a time before they first plugged his airway. More...

Naming diseases

JMS Pearce, MD
Hull, United Kingdom

What criteria define what is or what is not a disease? More...

Shadowing artists
on the wards

Pamela Brett-MacLean, PhD
Edmonton, Canada

Positive impact of an arts-based medical elective for students. More...

On becoming a good physician

L. Lewis Wall, MD, DPhil
St. Louis, Missouri

In this dialogue set in Ancient Greece, Zeno tells Cleanthes what it takes to become a good physician. More

When you can't decide witch doctor to consult

Florence Gelo, DMin &
Rosemary Harris, MD
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This “Vodou Viagra” tale illustrates the role of indigenous healing practices. More...

Bed-side library

From Aequanimitas

A liberal education may be had at a very slight cost of time and money. Sir William Osler Bt., MD, FRS suggested a list of 10 books to the student of medicine. More...

Favorite quotes

If your doctor does not think it good for you to sleep, to take wine or some particular meat, do not worry; I will find you another who will disagree with him (Montaigne, 1580)
More quotations

There is an elephant in the room

David Valentine
Rochester, New York

“I’ve lost my erector spinae,” my husband said to me. “They make pills for that now,” I told him.
More...

Literary quiz

First sentences of great books!

From what books do these opening sentences come from?

Test your knowledge here!

Viola Moriarty

She takes the woman’s part, stepping back on her right. I try to lead, pushing her back into night
What color is cancer? More...

Glenn Webb

Poor R₀, so much abused.
Its calculation confused.
Sometimes high, sometimes low, More...

Shridhar Dwivedi

One who smokes hookah bidior cigarette,
Strews stubs bedside smoking late night,
Chewing tobacco gutka masala left right More..

Jim Gustafson

Wilma, on morphine, feels little pain
She is miles away from herself
Even further from her children More...

Glen P. Aylward

A thin film of depression,
gray. Bold slash of anger,
seems red. More...

Robert Ferrari

I paint to free myself of all my thoughts,
Smoking them out, purging them from my brain,
Setting fire to my eyes, ears and mouth More...