Patient Advocacy

This category contains a collection of moments students have had with their patients that helped renew their purpose in the field.

Catherine Potin Catherine Potin (1 Posts)

Medical Student Contributing Writer

Keck School of Medicine

 Catherine Potin is a 4th Year Medical student at Keck School of Medicine in the MD-MPH program. She was originally from the Gambia West Africa, went to Mercer University in Georgia for undergrad Catherine Potin is a 4th Year Medical student at Keck School of Medicine in the MD-MPH program. She was originally from the Gambia West Africa, went to Mercer University in where she grew her love of writing and Narrative Medicine.




Mirrored Resilience: Reflection from a Hospital Bed

Published by Catherine Potin

The poem describes the profound impact of an encounter between Catherin Potin, the narrator, recovering from a motor vehicle accident, and a young patient with a similar experience. Throughout our interaction, the patient’s strength and resilience illuminate a path towards healing, showing the narrator the power of shared vulnerability in overcoming trauma. This encounter serves as a reminder of the reciprocal nature of healing in medicine and the personal growth that can arise from patient interactions.

The Ward as Medicine

Published by Nicole Wong

The Ward as Medicine is about how one’s fellow patients on the psychiatry ward can act as mirrors, teachers and inspirations to a patient. Specifically, it is about a mom who, hospitalized for suicidality stemming from her guilt and anger over how she has mothered her children, gets reconnected with the identity of motherhood while interacting with others on the unit.

Monique S. John Monique S. John (1 Posts)

Medical Student Contributing Writer

Albany Medical College

 Monique John is a 2nd year medical student at Albany Medical College. She uses her influence to share her journey to medicine and aims to eradicate the bias that deter minorities from the field. Currently, Monique is interested in Surgery and enjoys social media content creation during her free time.