Presentation for leadership development at the American Medical Association, Building on Foundations meeting

1. Building on Foundations
Stories Worth Telling
Reflection, writing and telling stories
Katherine Ellington
Vice President
Program Development
Friday, April 29, 2011

2.  About Stories Worth Telling
 Inspirational video clip
 Exercise 1
 Exercises 2
 Storyteller clip
 Exercise 3
 Next steps

3. AliyeRunyan, Carol Williams-Nickelson, Colin McCluney,
Danielle Salovich, David Marcovitz, Elizabeth Wiley,
John Brockman, Katherine Ellington, Matt Stull,
Meeghan De Cagna, Pete Thomson, Jack DePaolo,
Kimberly Kimes, Lindsay Martin-Engel, Liz Morgan,
ShaziaMehmood, Sonia Lazreg

4.  an organizational experience using stories of self
and us to create our AMSA story, together;
 connecting national leaders and staff across
boundaries for a unique shared experience,
 offering the develop professional and leadership
skills in reflection, self-awareness and
communication

5. Learning Objectives:
• experience self-awareness and reflection as tool for
professional development;
• nurture skills in the use of imagination and creative
expression in bearing witness, telling stories and forming
narrative;

6. Learning Objectives:
• practice active listening and feedback in small-group
settings and
• connect the power of story to establish a community of
effective leaders who will transform the face of
medicine through education and advocacy.

7. Small group formation
Exercises 2 and 3 are completed in small group formation to
a) facilitate moving from discussion to dialogue,
b) create a space to build connection and
c) deliver us from silos for shared-experiences.
Small groups are self-directed with 4 to 5 people from
across leadership groups.

8. Facilitators
• Keep time
• Enable for full participation
• Allow for positive feedback and support

9. Reflection, writing and telling stories
a. On A First Name Basis
b. Talking Back
c. Stories Worth Telling

10. Exercise #1
“On a First Name Basis”
 Write for five minutes about the story of your
first name.
 You may opt to tell less personal aspects of your
story
 Share this story by reading out loud

11. DISCUSSION

12. Stories are the most basic tool for connecting us to one
another. Research shows that storytelling not only
engages all the senses, it triggers activity on both the left
and right sides of the brain. Because stories elicit whole
brain/whole body responses, they are far more likely
than other kinds of writing to evoke strong emotions.
—Mary Pipher, activist and author Writing to Change The World

14. Building on Foundations
Stories Worth Telling
Reflection, writing and telling stories
Katherine Ellington
Vice President
Program Development
Saturday, April 30, 2011

15.  an organizational experience using stories of self
and us to create our AMSA story, together;
 connecting national leaders and staff across
boundaries for a unique shared experience,
 offering the develop professional and leadership
skills in reflection, self-awareness and
communication

16. Learning Objectives:
• experience self-awareness and reflection as tool for
professional development;
• nurture skills in the use of imagination and creative
expression in bearing witness, telling stories and forming
narrative;

17. Learning Objectives:
• practice active listening and feedback in small-group
settings and
• connect the power of story to establish a community of
effective leaders who will transform the face of
medicine through education and advocacy.

18. Book Discussion Webinars
Dr. Bergman
• this program presents exemplars, who enable empathic care in Dr. Baruch
the practice of medicine by offering meaningful stories from
their experiences, imaginations and mindsets;
• ultimately, these stories provide practical and valuable lessons in
Dr. Jauhar
the intersections of illness, disease, cure healing for clinicians, Dr.Mullan
practitioners, patients, teachers, and students,
• physicians discuss their books, writing pursuits, work
experiences and lives;
Dr. Transue • an opportunity to listen in on their storytelling may inform your
understanding in the making of physicians, lessons in patient-
Dr. Firlik
physician relationships and communication, professionalism,
bioethical competence and health policy can be explored; and
• themes of physician advocacy and activism also emerge.
Dr. Verghese
Dr. Chen
Dr. Peterkin Dr. Ofri
Dr. Klass Dr. Dean
“Power remains in the basics of attentive listening, close reading and reflexive
Dr.Watts
writing.”
Dr. Young
Katherine Ellington
Host

19.  stories of self
why I’ve been called here
“We develop the story of ourselves so we can relate to
others, building community, leadership and mobilizing…”
—Marshall Ganz, Ph.D.

20. “Human beings are more complex
than an issue, we are grounded in
values…these are the emotional
commitments that move us…we get at
values through narrative…. ”
—Marshall Ganz, Ph.D.

21. a. On A First Name Basis
b. Talking Back
c. Stories Worth Telling

22. Exercise #2
Think of a situation in which you have spoken truth to
power, advocated on behalf of yourself or another or
bear witness to such an experience in your life.

23. DISCUSSION

24. Stories Worth Telling
http://bit.ly/storiesworthtelling

25. “Writing can help us see why our stories matter and why
we feel a sense of urgency to tell them.”
—Mary Pipher

26. Reflection, writing and telling stories
a. On A First Name Basis
b. Talking Back
c. Stories Worth Telling

27. • I found AMSA when
_________ and got
involved because
____________
• My first experience with
AMSA involved
_______________

28. • I first came to AMSA when
_____________ and
became a member in _____
while I was
______________
• AMSA has amazing ______
• ________makes AMSA a
place to _____________

29. DISCUSSION

30. I found AMSA when _________ and got involved because
____________

31. My first experience with AMSA involved _________________

32. My most memorable time at AMSA was _____________

33. I first came to AMSA when __________ and became member
in _________________ while I was _________________

34. ________________ makes AMSA a place to ___________

35. AMSA has amazing _________________

36. You can also tell us your AMSA story in 55 words.
#55wordstories

37. DISCUSSION

38. Rally for single-payer in Vermont, March 26, 2011

39. Stories Worth Telling
http://bit.ly/storiesworthtelling

40. Sign-up sheet for telling your story via
video is available.

41. When the end is the beginning…