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Columbia University

Columbia University
Medical Center

School of Continuing Education

Chair: Dr. Rita Charon, Executive Director of the Program in Narrative Medicine

What We Do: The group meets from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., the first and third Wednesday of each month in the division conference room, General Medicine, Presbyterian Hospital, 9th floor, East Wing, Room 105 (PH9E-101).

History:

Years ago, a medical chief resident suggested that we start a medical center reading group. What started as a handful of residents reading a short story once a month has developed into a graduate-level literature seminar that meets twice a month for the serious study of literature. Pediatricians, nurses, internists, social workers, medical students, hospital administrators, pathologists, dentists, informatics faculty, psychiatrists and graduate students in English are some of the participants in Literature at Work.

Readings:

The Hare with Amber Eyes, by Edmund De Waal
December 7th: Part 1 ( pages 1 through 108)
December 21st: Part 2 (pages 109 through 234)
January 4th: Part 3 ( pages 235 to the end)

Past Readings:

The Spectator Bird, by Wallace Stegner
November 2 & 16, 2011

Crossing to Safety, by Wallace Stegner
October 5 & 19, 2011

The Love of My Youth, by Mary Gordon
September 7 & 21; October 5, 2011

Let the Great World Spin, by Colum McCann
July 7 and 21, 2010

In Search of Lost Time, Volume 1: Swann's Way, by Marcel Proust (preferably the Lydia Davis translation)
September 2, 2009: up to p. 102

September 16: to the end of "Combray"

Scenes of Clerical Life, by George Eliot

August 5, 2009: first two stories,  "Amos Barton" and "Mr. Gilfil's Love Story"

August 19: "Janet's Repentance"

The Mill on the Floss, by George Eliot

June 17, July 1, July 15     

Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje

October 1 Half the novel

October 15 Whole novel

Haroun and the Sea of Stories   by Salman Rushdie
September 3   Read up to end of Chapter 6
September 17   Read the entire novel

The Echantress of Florence   by Salman Rushdie

August 6, 2008 Please read half of the novel

August 20, 2008 Kindly finish the entire novel

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz

July 2, 2008 Read half of the book.

July 16, 2008 Read the entire novel.

Diary of a bad year: by J.M. Coetzee

June 4, 2008

Read till chapter 19.

The Sorrows of an American: A Novel by Siri Hustvedt

May 7, 2008 Read half of the novel

May 21, 2008 finish novel

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje

April 16, 2008-Please finish

Tin Drum by Gunther Grass

January 2, 2008 Book 1

January 16, 2008 Book 2

February 6, 2008 Book 3

Daniel Deronda by George Eliot

October 3 and 17, 2007 .

November 21, 2007 Final Session

Peeling the Onion by Gunther Grass

December 5 and 19, 2007

Dr. Robert Braham

Our Literature at Work discussion group has been renamed to honor Dr. Robert Braham, physician, Director of the Primary Care Residency Program, and Professor of Clinical Medicine at Columbia University. Bob Braham passed away suddenly on Tuesday, November 12th, 2002.

Dr. Braham was a powerful force in American medicine. He led the development of primary care medicine training at Cornell University/New York Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. His commitment to equitable health insurance for all Americans was legendary. Working within New York politics, internal medicine professional societies, and national advocacy groups, he moved us all the closer to universal health coverage and to justice for the sick.

Dr. Braham was also a core member of the Literature at Work discussion group, attending the meetings as often as his busy work schedule allowed, and devoting himself to careful consideration of the texts. During our study of Keats this summer, he brought his wife Susanne and his son Howard to one of the sessions, an example of his commitment to literature as something that had a real connection to his relationships and his work. He and Susanne often attended Narrative Medicine readings together, engaging in discussions with authors such as poet Linda Bierds and continuing the discussion about literature with colleagues in the General Medicine offices and hallways.

He contributed his medical knowledge to discussions of literature but also drew on his deep and detailed humanities background in the study of literature and life. After a discussion of Hawthorne's short story "Rappaccini's Daughter," in which he had identified a reference to The Prince, he brought a copy of The Prince from the shelf in his office and pointed out the particular passage from Machiavelli's discussion of how it is better for a prince to be feared than loved. This gesture is representative of his knowledge and generosity. With his engagement and curiosity, his tact and interest, Bob forged strong bonds with students, colleagues and friends alike, and is admired and respected by all who have known him and benefited from his gifts.