Stories from Residents and Fellows for the KNN, Vol. 2

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Now in its second year, this anthology of poems and their origin stories marks the continued partnership between the KNN and The Good Listening Project to uplift and support Graduate Medical Education (GME) trainee flourishing through poetry and facilitated conversation.

About this Anthology

Listener Poets connected with individual GME trainees and opened each one-on-one session with a simple question: “What would you like to have a poem about today?” Then they listened and wrote a custom poem and origin story. Following these sessions, trainees met in small groups to reflect on their poems and explore the themes that emerged in relationship to the KNN’s Framework for Flourishing.

Amplifying Voices of Black Women Physicians in Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Programs

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Each poem and origin story in this collection was created as the result of a partnership between The Good Listening Project (TGLP) and Health4Equity, an initiative of the WPP Racial Equity Programme.

About this Anthology

Through one-on-one conversations, professional poets – called Listener Poets – invited Black women Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) residents to pause and reflect on one simple, yet powerful question: “What would you like your poem to be about?”

Then, they listened.

The Good Listening Project is committed to working with partners who are actively engaged in ensuring that all members of society receive high quality, compassionate, and respectful care and healing. In the case of people and communities who have experienced histories of medical neglect, bias, and harm, this is not just about professionalism but is also a matter of justice. The women whose stories are reflected in poetry in this anthology are simultaneously professionals in the medical establishment and members of a group that historically received – and, tragically, too often currently receives – care from that establishment that does not fully acknowledge their whole humanity. 

Our hope is that their stories will be helpful to other Black women who are currently in training and those who are hoping to enter the discipline of obstetrics and gynecology. We also hope that the volume provides insights for professionals who work alongside, educate, support, and train these physicians.

Yvette Perry, PhD
Lead Project Editor & The Good Listening Project Health Equity Programs Lead

Hysteriography by Julia McDonald

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The image shown is the cover of HYSTERIOGRAPHY: Poems about Uteruses, Menstruation, Pregnancy, Abortion, Loss, and Childbirth

HYSTERIOGRAPHY: Poems about Uteruses, Menstruation, Pregnancy, Abortion, Loss, and Childbirth (by Julia McDonald)

About this Anthology

Hysteriography is a collection of listening poems and origin stories, birthed from intimate conversations and bound in a hand-screen-printed cover (by Little Chair Printing). In conjunction with The Good Listening Project, physician poet Julia McDonald elevates lived uterus experiences with lyrical language and vivid imagery while spanning an emotional spectrum from heartbreak to grrrl power humor. Arriving into a divided and violent world at a critical time for people with uteruses and those who love them, Hysteriography is a perfect antidote for these times: applicable, timely, and devastatingly beautiful.

All proceeds after publication costs will be donated equally to The Good Listening Project, SisterSong, and National Abortion Federation.

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Our Why: Stories from the American Cancer Society’s Patient Support Team

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Each poem and origin story in this collection was created for team members of the American Cancer Society’s Patient Support Pillar as part of the “My Why” professional development program – a space to reflect on purpose, resilience, and connection to the ACS mission.

About this Anthology

Through one-on-one sessions over Zoom, Listener Poets from The Good Listening Project asked each participant a simple, powerful question: “What would you like your poem to be about?”

Then, they listened.

These conversations opened windows into personal stories, motivations, and the unique “why” that inspires each person’s work. This anthology brings together those poems and stories as a testament to the purpose-driven spirit of the ACS community.

Inside these pages are expressions of courage, connection, love, and humanity. We invite every person who opens this book to join Patient Support team members in their reflection – because we all have a story worth sharing.

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Say Her Name: Honoring Henrietta Lacks' Legacy and Impact on Medicine and Research Ethics

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The image shown is the cover of Say Her Name: Honoring Henrietta Lacks' Legacy and Impact on Medicine and Research Ethics and contains a teal background with white text.

This anthology features poems by Listener Poets from The Good Listening Project (TGLP), inspired by one-on-one conversations with 13 women in the Cedars-Sinai community. The poems capture both the participants’ personal and professional experiences, as well as their reflections on Henrietta Lacks’ legacy. This collaboration is part of both organizations’ commitment to advancing research and health equity, offering a multi-layered narrative that underscores the ongoing importance of health justice today.

“To the Lacks family, we offer this poetry anthology as a gesture of gratitude, recognition, and continued advocacy. Henrietta’s gift to the world is immeasurable, and we hope to offer something in return: the promise that her name, her story, and her humanity will never be forgotten.”

- Cedars-Sinai Editors

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