3 Questions with Lisa Machado: Making Room for the Patient Experience
Lisa Machado, advocate for patients and caregivers, shares how we can champion patient voices in an interview with Damian Tarnopolsky.
New Podcast from the Narrative-Based Medicine Lab
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Recent Articles
Reflections on a Collaboration by David Zitner
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Could Your Beach Reads Heal? Notes From Bibliotherapy
Friday, August 15, 2025
Fall in the Foothills by Paula Holmes-Rodman
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Lab Offerings
Foundational Certificate in Narrative-Based Medicine (Certificate Program)
Registration now open for 2025 & 2026
Dive into the principles and practices of Narrative-Based Medicine in this unique certificate program. Join learners from across Canada and around the world.
Narrative Approaches to Resilience in Practice: Tools and Techniques for Well-Being
Four-Part Online Series Starts Oct. 23, 2025
Together, we’ll explore narrative approaches and resources for well-being through discussion, text reading, and reflective writing.
Illness Narratives and Patient Perspectives: Cultivating Deep Listening Skills
Two-Part Online Workshop: Nov. 5 & 12, 2025
The first step in better understanding stories of illness is to listen — and deep listening is an invaluable skill that can be developed with practice.
All Narrative-Based Medicine Offerings
Browse our workshops, multi-session series, and activities taking place throughout the year. Part of the Advanced Certificate, our stand-alone offerings can also be completed on their own.
Creative Work
“The Tree of Life” by Petal Abdool
Listen along and trace the passage of time woven through the lines of this poem penned by Petal Abdool. Read More
“Bannock as Medicine” by Ryan Giroux
Ryan Giroux reads a personal narrative reflection that contemplates identity, resilience, and belonging. Read More
Reflections on a Collaboration by David Zitner
David Zitner reflects on a collaboration with Dominic Covvey that aims to empower patient engagement. Read More
Darian Goldin Stahl reads from "Embodied Books"
Darian Goldin Stahl invites us to expand our perspective on what a book is, and what the act of reading a book entails. Read More
“Teachings” by Rory O’Sullivan
Rory O'Sullivan reads from an original short narrative: "Teachings.” Read More
NBM Talks Podcast
A Conversation with Petal Abdool
October 8, 2025
Petal Abdool shares how storytelling and lived experience bring medicine to life.
A Conversation with Ryan Giroux
September 12, 2025
Ryan Giroux shares how narrative-based medicine can honour stories and empower meaningful change in medical education and patient care.
A Conversation with Rory O’Sullivan
September 2, 2025
Rory O'Sullivan chats with us about his work as a writer and family physician.
3 Questions with Lisa Machado: Making Room for the Patient Experience
August 12, 2025
Lisa Machado, advocate for patients and caregivers, shares how we can champion patient voices in an interview with Damian Tarnopolsky.
Narrative Happenings
Could Your Beach Reads Heal? Notes From Bibliotherapy
August 15, 2025
Amina Zafar explores bibliotherapy, the practice of using reading to support mental well-being.
Leadership Bites: An Interview with Ian McCoog
July 30, 2025
Foundational Certificate alum Ian McCoog shares the inspiration that led to his first book: Leadership Bites.
“Silently dissenting to what they wanted me to become” by Sarah Kim
May 30, 2025
An original poem read by Sarah Kim.
“A life in spilt medications” by Muiris Houston
May 30, 2025
Muiris Houston reads a creative piece that began from a visual writing prompt facilitated by Damian Tarnopolsky in a section of the Foundational Certificate in Narrative-Based Medicine.