A Portuguese surgeon-poet is bridging the gap between medicine and poetry to foster empathy in trainee doctors.
João Luís Barreto Guimarães, a distinguished reconstructive surgeon and acclaimed poet from Porto, Portugal, is merging medicine and poetry to instil empathy in future physicians.
With a repertoire of poetry books under his belt and prestigious awards such as the António Ramos Rosa National Poetry Award and the Armando da Silva Carvalho Poetry Award, Guimarães is not only excelling in the operating room but also leaving a profound mark in the literary world.
At Porto University’s medical faculty, trainee doctors are embarking on an innovative elective course delving into the essence of modern poetry.
This initiative comes when healthcare systems worldwide are increasingly focused on the importance of patient-centred care.
Guimarães, the visionary behind this initiative, believes that poetry uniquely cultivates holistic connections between doctors and patients, shifting the focus from mere medical issues to the individual behind the ailment.
‘These days, doctors often don’t have time to stop and think, so everything quickly gets reduced to the technical and mechanical. I try to convey to the students that, as with a poem, each of their patients is unique,’ he told The Guardian.
‘Poetry has the capacity to awaken empathy, compassion, and solidarity within students, qualities indispensable for effective medical practice.’
A seasoned breast cancer specialist with 30 years of experience, Guimarães seamlessly navigates between his surgeon and poet roles.
His deep understanding of both fields allows him to curate a syllabus that resonates with medical students, drawing from renowned poet-medics such as Júlio Dinis, William Carlos Williams, Gottfried Benn, and Miroslav Holub.
Through poems depicting doctor-patient relationships and familiar healthcare settings, students are encouraged to transcend clinical routines and recognise the humanity within each patient.
‘Every poem we analyse serves as a reminder of the personhood inherent in every medical case,’ he said.
Guimarães aims to inspire a new generation of doctors who prioritise empathy and human connection in their practice by integrating poetry into medical education.
The Introduction to Poetry course has run since 2021 and is part of the Integrated Master’s in Medicine plan at the Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS) at the University of Porto.
In a world where time constraints often overshadow personal interactions, this initiative serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring value of compassion in healthcare.
