Narrative Medicine in the Community: “The Stories We Carry” at The Chelsea

On October 14, Dr. Wendy Nielsen led “The Stories We Carry,” a narrative medicine gathering at The Chelsea at Washington Township, a senior living community. Residents, supporters, and staff spent a warm morning together doing the simplest and most powerful work of narrative medicine: reading closely, listening, and sharing the stories a text brings to the surface. 

The group read Mary Oliver’s poem Wild Geese, then talked about the memories and feelings it stirred. Participants were invited to jot down a few words or sketch a story of their own. No experience was needed, and everyone was welcome just as they were. 

Dr. Nielsen, Professor of English and instructor in the Medical Humanities Program, developed Montclair’s first course in Narrative Medicine and holds a Certificate of Professional Achievement in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University, thanks to Montclair State University's Career Development Fund. Her work brings the practice out of the clinic and classroom and into the community, where listening becomes a form of care. 

The gathering is part of an ongoing community partnership. On November 9, Dr. Nielsen will return to The Chelsea with students from her Medical Humanities course, who will co-create interviews with residents and write Memory Letters that reflect back the stories they hear.