In the midst of daily clinical work, moments of transition, vulnerability, and connection often pass quickly and are not always fully recognized.

Engaging with the written word through poetry allows us to fine-tune our concentration and attention as practitioners. It creates space to notice what might otherwise be overlooked: the tensions between professional responsibility and personal life, the complexities of our roles as healers, and the contrasts between the clinical setting and the world beyond.

Drawing upon a growing body of poetic works on healthcare themes, this two-part workshop explores poetry as an accessible vehicle for reflection and creative self-expression. Structured around close reading of sample poems, guided writing exercises, and group discussion, participants will learn how to engage with language in ways that deepen their understanding of both patient care and their own healthcare experiences.

Reflect on the narratives that shape your practice. Uncover how cultivating attention through reading and writing can sharpen observation, support meaning-making, and offer new modes for appreciating the human dimensions of care.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be better able to:

• Analyze how healthcare-themed poetry illuminates themes of illness, caregiving, and professional identity through use of language, voice, and perspective.
• Create written reflections that explore human dimensions of patient care and professional practice.
• Identify ways that creative writing and literary reflection can be incorporated into professional development, wellness, and reflective clinical practice.

Target Audience

Designed for healthcare professionals at any stage of practice, this workshop focuses on reading and writing as a vehicle for building skills in close reading, attention, and reflection.

Session Dates & Times

Sessions will take place online during the following dates and times:

1. Thursday, November 12, 2026 from 6:00 – 8:30 pm ET
2. Thursday, November 26, 2026 from 6:00 – 8:30 pm ET

Instructor

Lori-Anne Noyahr is an anesthesiologist and poet based in Toronto. Her medical practice in the diverse community of Scarborough, where she grew up, informs her writing on family, community, and health. She is member of the League of Canadian Poets, and has completed her Advanced Certificate in Narrative-Based Medicine with the NBM Lab. She is also a lecturer in the University of Toronto’s Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine where she developed a pilot narrative medicine curriculum for residents.

Her work has appeared in a variety of literary and health humanities venues, including Ars Medica, Ricepaper Magazine, Pulse Voices, The Healing Muse, In-Training, Poetry Pause, Auscultation: A Health Humanities Podcast, and Adventitious Sounds: A Chapbook for Medical Practitioners, Learners, and Poets.

Recently, Lori-Anne’s poem “Through the Glass” won the City of Orillia’s K. Valerie Connor Prize (third place) in 2025. Bringing together her creative talents and interest in narrative-based medicine, Lori-Anne presented her poetry and discussed ideas in the health humanities during the “Cross Pollinations” lecture series in fall 2025, a collaboration between the League of Canadian Poets and the Health Arts Research Centre.

Fee

The program fee is $590 CAD plus 13% HST.

All amounts are in Canadian Dollars (CAD $) and are subject to 13% HST.

Cancellation

Cancellations will be accepted until Thursday, October 29, 2026 11:59pm ET and are subject to a processing fee of $60 plus applicable taxes. Refunds will not be processed after this date.

Requests for cancellation must be made in writing to cpd.programs@utoronto.ca .

Registrations are not transferable.

The University of Toronto reserves the right to cancel events. Registrants will be notified at the earliest possible date in the event of a cancellation. Registration fees for events cancelled by the University will be refunded; however, the University will not be liable for any loss, damages or other expenses that such cancellations may cause.

Accreditation

Continuing Professional Development (CPD), Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, is fully accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Continuing Medical Education (CACME), a subcommittee of the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS). This standard allows CPD to review and assess educational activities based on the criteria established by The College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (Royal College) has established agreements with each of the American Medical Association (AMA), and the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME®) where activities approved for Royal College MOC Credits are eligible for conversion to AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ and UEMS-EACCME European CME Credit (ECMEC®) credits, respectively.