Our mission

MedHumChat (short for Medical Humanities Chat) strives to foster reflection, empathy, and connection in healthcare through engagement with the arts and humanities.

what we do

The cornerstone of MedHumChat is our Twitter chats. The first and third Wednesdays of each month at 9pm EST we gather on Twitter under the hashtag #MedHumChat and discuss two works (poems, short stories, essays, paintings) on a shared theme. The works, discussion questions, and a handful of participant comments are later published on our website as discussion guides.

our story

MedHumChat was created by resident physician Colleen Farrell, who found that discussing poetry with her fellow medical trainees helped her make sense of, and even find beauty in, the rigors and heartaches of medicine. The first chat on January 2, 2019 drew dozens of participants. Since then, MedHumChat has continued to grow, and is now supported by a team of volunteers. Read Colleen’s reflections on our beginnings here.

diversity, equity, and inclusion

We at MedHumChat believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential in healthcare. We strive to feature creative works by writers and artists that reflect the rich diversity of our world. We are committed to exploring themes related to social justice and including the voices of women, people of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, people who identify as LGBTQ+, religious minorities, patients, and the full breadth of health care professionals. Our Twitter chats are open to all. We are especially appreciative of patient participation.