Would you like to explore, improve, and publish creative writing? This year is the inaugural start of a physician creative writing group at PHC facilitated renowned poet and teacher, Dr. Ray Hsu.
This pilot project establishes a facilitated Physician Creative Writing Group designed to help medical staff process the emotional and psychological complexities of clinical practice. This initiative provides a structured, virtual space (via Zoom) for physicians from SPH and MSJ to engage in guided writing and peer sharing.
This year’s writing group consists of two 1-hour teaching sessions led by an expert facilitator. Session 1 focuses on introductory creative exercises and drafting, while Session 2 centers on workshopping and sharing pieces in a psychologically safe environment.
Beyond the sessions, the facilitator provides individual editing support to help participants prepare manuscripts for submission to medical humanities journals. There is also a funded lunch get-together to get to know other physicians in the creative writing group.
Sponsored by the PHC-PASS Inspiring People & Teams Pillar.
The commitment is being present in both sessions and trying creative writing. Spots are limited (10 physicians this year), first come first served.
Details:
Physicians frequently encounter profound experiences that are difficult to process through conventional channels: the weight of clinical decisions, grief, moral injury, and the deeply human dimensions of medicine.
This group offers a structured, psychologically safe space to translate those clinical reflections into powerful narrative art. Whether your goal is personal processing, building community with cross-disciplinary peers, or professional publication, this cohort is designed to respect your time and elevate your voice.
Dr. Ray Hsu is a published poet, award-winning author, and veteran university creative writing instructor. He has taught at the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University, and has extensive experience facilitating reflective writing masterclasses for professional and healthcare audiences.
- View his academic profile and literary background at the Simon Fraser University Faculty Directory.
What this involves:
- Expert Guidance: Learn the mechanics of narrative framing, voice, and emotional vocabulary from a professional writer.
- 1-on-1 Editing Support: Post-session, Dr. Hsu will provide individual, personalized editorial oversight on your pieces.
- Mentorship for Publication: Explicit mentorship focused on polishing and structuring your reflections for submission to medical humanities journals
- The Lunch Social: Connect face-to-face with fellow physician-creatives at a fully funded cohort lunch.
Program Structure and Timeline:
Session 1: Introduction & Creative Exercises (1 Hour | Virtual Zoom)
- 30 mins: Facilitated instruction on narrative medicine and guided prompts.
- 30 mins: Protected, independent live drafting time.
Session 2: Sharing & Workshopping (1 Hour | Virtual Zoom)
- 30 mins: Structured, peer feedback in a psychologically safe container.
- 30 mins: Deep-dive discussion on framing pieces for a broader audience.
Post-Session: Manuscript Preparation (optional)
- Individual asynchronous editing support from Dr. Hsu to finalize your piece.
The Community Piece: Funded Lunch Social
- An informal, in-person gathering to build creative connections across SPH and MSJ sites.
Note: Exact dates and times for the virtual sessions will be determined by consensus among the accepted cohort members to maximize participation.
Registration Details:
- Capacity: Strictly limited to 10 PHC physicians across SPH and MSJ to ensure intensive, high-quality editorial feedback.
- Cost: Fully funded by the PASS People Pillar (Free to participating physicians).
- Selection: First-come, first-served based on completion of the intake form.
For questions regarding the cohort or curriculum, please contact project lead Dr. Janny Ke at janny.ke@ubc.ca