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.
This poemee wanted to share her experience as a surgical resident, offering insight into the traditions that define this unique culture: the relentless pressure to succeed, the deference to those in higher positions, and the often-cold interactions that accompany a field-wide drive for speed and efficiency.
“Sometimes I feel so helpless,” said this resident, reflecting on all of the challenges faced by the young patients and their families whom she served. Over the last several days, she has become increasingly overwhelmed by events in the news and has questioned her ability to make a difference in the world.
