Heather Summerhayes Cariou is a classically trained actress, singer, dancer, and writer. She has a big, colorful personality and a contagious laugh. She is fun, funny, passionate, and intelligent, and you can usually find her where the crowd is. Heather is also sensitive and introspective. In her book, "Sixty-five Roses," she shares the heartbreaking story of her sister Pam, living with and dying from cystic fibrosis.
With her background and talent, it's no surprise to those who know her that Heather is a post-graduate Fellow in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University and a recipient of the 2019 Paul Kalanithi Writing Prize at Stanford Medicine.
Narrative medicine began as a movement in the 1970s. In 2000, Rita Charon, a general internist and literary scholar, brought it to Columbia University with the first Program in Narrative Medicine. Nine years later, Columbia introduced it as a Graduate Program. Today, medical schools worldwide recognize the value of such a program and offer workshops, certificates, or advanced degrees. Charon describes narrative medicine as "a commitment to understanding patients' lives, caring for the caregivers, and giving voice to the suffering." She encourages students to treat the body like literature or art to be interpreted and translated. Through this practice, the clinician may better understand the patient's story and provide more invested and intimate care. One of Charon's inspirations was author Henry James who wrote, "Try to be one of the people on whom nothing is lost."
Heather didn't realize how quickly she would use her education. While still a student, her husband was hospitalized with chest pain. The scene took place in a New York City Cardiac ICU just a few hours post-surgery for emergent atrial valve replacement. Heather was allowed ten precious minutes with her husband as a nurse quietly worked in the sterile room. She practiced what she was learning and began a conversation with the nurse. "Before I leave, can I just tell you a little about my husband?" "Of course!" the nurse responded. "This is Len. He is a Tony award-winning Broadway actor, but that's not all he is." Heather chose three specific things to share - enough to let the nurse peek into the person that Len is without overwhelming her with too many descriptors. "He loves baseball. He is a grandfather. And, his favorite thing to eat is roast chicken." The nurse appeared to come to life and suddenly saw Len as a person, not just a patient. She walked over to Len and held his hand as she looked into his eyes. "Hi, Len," she said, "I'm going to take good care of you."
When Heather left the room, she knew that her husband was seen.
"A difference was made in less than ten minutes." Heather says, "It proves that narrative medicine is not a time issue. It's a skills issue."
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