Stories of Care: Individual readings and group reflections for a new health paradigm with the "Narrative Medicine Reading Group"

The next meeting of the "Stories of Care" Reading Group will take place on Friday, May 22, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, at the Central Medical Library, Strada di Fiume 447 (Cardiology Center, third floor).

The "Stories of Care" Reading Group is a group of people who decide to read the same literary work on the topics of care, health, and narrative medicine. They then meet to share ideas, interpretations, and personal reflections on the reading experience.

The moderator will be professor Paolo Labinaz, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Theory of Language at the Department of Humanities at the University of Trieste.

The book we will discuss is "Doctor Semmelweis" by Louis-Ferdinand Céline.

The story is inspired by the true story of the 19th-century physician Ignaz Semmelweis. His observation of a drastic reduction in mortality from puerperal fever thanks to handwashing met with a lack of understanding from the scientific community, ultimately leading to his isolation. The text invites reflection on what happens when medical practice distances itself from the concrete experience of patients: what is observable can go unrecognized, and suffering risks being omitted from shared knowledge.

How does a reading group work?

• Read the book suggested for each meeting; even if you haven't finished it, you're welcome to join the group.
• At the beginning of each meeting, there will be a short presentation of the book to kick off the discussion.
• The group is open to everyone, subject to availability, by reservation.

• There's a welcoming atmosphere where you can share your thoughts and experiences.

  For several years, the Department of Medical, Surgical, and Health Sciences at the University of Trieste has been engaged, in close collaboration with the Department of Humanities, in a comprehensive and multidisciplinary educational project to address and discuss sensitive and controversial issues related to health, illness, treatment, and empathy. This project draws on contributions from experts in the humanities (literature, philosophy, pedagogy, sociology, anthropology, etc.) and health disciplines (medicine, surgery, nursing, etc.).
  Literature has often explored themes related to physical, mental, and social well-being, analyzing the experience of illness, healing, treatment, and death through narrative, poetic, and nonfiction texts. Sharing the experience of reading can enhance the understanding and interpretation of texts, transforming reading into a journey of reflection, learning, and growth. The "Narrative Medicine Reading Group" was created precisely with these goals in mind.

To participate in the group, reading the book is recommended, but not required!

Sign up by sending an email to the Medical Library: bibcenme@units.it