Literature at Work: The Robert Braham Seminar

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. Since March 18th of 2020, the group now meets from 4-5 p.m., the first and third Wednesday of each month, on Zoom. Email Esther Modell at esthermodell@gmail.com(link sends e-mail) to be added to the list for readings and for details on how to join the online meeting. Prior to March 2020, the group had met in-person in the division conference room, General Medicine, Presbyterian Hospital, 9th floor, East Wing, Room 105 (PH9E-101).

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 the seminar now titled "Literature at Work." Our Literature at Work discussion group has been named 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.

Audience: All Columbia faculty and staff are welcome, as well as alumnx from the Columbia professional health and narrative medicine programs.

Chair: Dr. Rita Charon, Chair, Dept. of Medical Humanities & Ethics and division chief of  Narrative Medicine

When: The group meets from 4-5 p.m., the first and third Wednesday of each month, via Zoom. Email Esther Modell at esthermodell@gmail.com(link sends e-mail) to be added to the list for readings and for details on how to join the online meeting.

Readings

2025

April 2| The Old Manse(link is external and opens in a new window) - Nathaniel Hawthorne

March 19| Feathertop: A Moralized Legend - Nathaniel Hawthorne

March 5| Rappaccini's Daughter - Nathaniel Hawthorne

February 19| North Woods - Daniel Mason 

February 5| North Woods - Daniel Mason

January 22| Enter Ghost - Isabella Hammad

January 8| Enter Ghost - Isabella Hammad