Origins of the Stories Project

Can a story have the power to reinvigorate the practice of medicine?

 

The Stories Project seeks to answer this question. In 2022, Jeffrey Lee, then a third-year internal medicine-psychiatry resident, was struck by the complexities of patients' illnesses and the sometimes overwhelming psychosocial barriers they faced. He wished not to lose sight of the larger context of how his patients were living with their illnesses, which was sometimes forgotten in a fast-paced healthcare environment. Motivated by this concern, he met with Katherine Henderson, Chaplain at the Duke Outpatient Clinic (DOC), a primary care clinic in Durham, NC. They found a common interest in recognizing and honoring the rich life stories of each patient. Soon after, Elissa Nickolopoulos (Clinical Social Worker), Michelle Tang (Medical Student), John David Ike (Internal Medicine physician), and Jane Gagliardi (Internal Medicine-Psychiatry physician) joined the effort, rounding out an interdisciplinary team to lead this project.

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This project consists of a series of audio conversations, recorded by the team, and photographs of patients from the DOC. Each photo portrait was co-created by Jeffrey Lee and the participant. This collaborative effort seeks to humanize and empower patients while creating opportunities to foster empathy in healthcare workers. It is easy to forget that behind every diagnosis lies a unique story filled with laughter, sorrow, and hope. Ultimately, we hope these stories lead to conversations and connections among healthcare professionals and patients on the basis of our shared humanity.

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Please immerse yourself in the life stories that these individuals have graciously shared. Scan the QR codes accompanying each photo to visit a website where you can listen to the voices behind these photographs. We invite you to listen with compassion and discover how your own story may be mirrored in those you hear today.

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Finally, we thank the Duke Trent Center and Duke Signature Care for their generosity in funding this project.

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Sincerely,

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The Stories Project Team

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Jeffrey Lee, Internal Medicine-Psychiatry Resident

Katherine Henderson, Chaplain

Elissa Nickolopoulos, Clinical Social Worker

Michelle Tang, Medical Student

John David Ike, Internal Medicine Physician

Jane Gagliardi, Internal Medicine-Psychiatry Physician