Health Humanities and Arts Research Collaborative

April 8, 2025: Medical Improv, Enhancing Clinical Practice Through Improvisational Skills
Join us for a special interactive workshop led by Dr. Belinda Fu ("theImprovDoc"), an international leader in medical improvisation and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine. This session explores how improvisational theater principles can enhance essential clinical skills including empathy, communication, and teamwork. Dr. Fu will demonstrate how "medical improv" techniques address critical challenges in healthcare, from difficult patient conversations to interprofessional collaboration and clinician wellness.

Through dynamic, participatory exercises, attendees will learn how improvisation skills can be adapted to medical contexts to improve emotional intelligence, team dynamics, and cognitive flexibility. Dr. Fu brings her extensive background as both a family physician and performing artist to illuminate the evidence-based connections between improvisational skills and improved healthcare outcomes.

March 20, 2025: The Story of a Project, Part 2, From Field Notes to Publication - Navigating Ethnographic Reality
Building on February's session, this follow-up presentation will take participants into the realities of implementing ethnographic research in healthcare and public health settings. Dr. Kathryn Rhine shares candid reflections on the challenges and adaptations required when theoretical research designs meet real-world conditions in northern Nigeria.

The session will explore the journey from field notes to finished products, discussing the transformation of research data into both a dissertation and a book. Participants will gain valuable insights into the practical aspects of conducting ethnographic research, including managing unexpected challenges, adapting methodologies, and navigating the writing process across different formats and audiences. No prior attendance required - all are welcome to join this standalone lunch and learn event.

February 20, 2025: The Story of a Project, From Inspiration to Implementation in Ethnographic Research
This session traces the journey of an ethnographic research project examining the lives of HIV-infected women in Northern Nigeria. Dr. Kathryn Rhine will guide participants through the early stages of the project, “Positive Living and Antiretroviral Therapy: Marriage, Divorce and the Life Course of HIV-Infected Women in Northern Nigeria,” from its initial conception through the complex process of proposal development.

The presentation will offer a step-by-step look at crafting research questions, developing methodological approaches, writing grant and dissertation proposals, and preparing for fieldwork. This session is designed to provide practical insights for researchers interested in ethnographic approaches to health humanities, offering a transparent look at the process of transforming an idea into a funded research project.

January 23, 2025: The Story of a Project, Part 2, Lessons from the Field
This follow-up session explores what happened when theory met practice in the Expressive Writing Project. Renée Nicholson shares candid insights about the project's evolution, including unexpected challenges, successful adaptations, and key learnings from implementing a health humanities protocol in a clinical setting.

Join us for an honest discussion about navigating the gap between research design and real-world implementation, and discover valuable takeaways for future interdisciplinary health humanities research. No prior attendance required - all are welcome to join this standalone lunch & learn event.

Sept 26, 2024: What are the Health Humanities and How do We DO Them?
This session introduces the health humanities, showcasing examples and encouraging research exploration at the University of Colorado.

Oct 24, 2024: Combining Research Practices
This session explores interdisciplinary research in health humanities, addressing healthcare problems and potential collaborations at CU and beyond.

Nov 21, 2024: The Story of a Project
This session examines a health humanities research project from inception to impact, offering practical insights for interdisciplinary researchers.