New York City

I gave a talk at the Columbia University Narrative Medicine Rounds in New York City on September 3. Narrative Medicine is a program for medical students and faculty at Columbia University that was started by Dr. Rita Charon. The purpose of the program is to use poetry, writing and the visual arts to help doctors learn to be more deeply compassionate toward their patients. Dr. Charon wrote the foreword for my book. At the lecture (accompanied by a slide show), the audience consisted of doctors, psychotherapists, medical students, eating disorders specialists and more. It was truly humbling and yet exciting to be able to talk about my book and the idea of compassion for ourselves and each other. I wondered if the act of compassionate photography can help people heal?

On September 5, a balmy Friday evening, I gave a private reading to a group of about 35 people at my friend Caroline’s beautiful rooftop apartment near Central Park in New York. We had very congenial group of old and new friends who enjoyed wine and conversation. I gave a 20-minute reading and then we had books available for people who wanted to buy them. The party was scheduled to end at 9:00 but it went until 11:00, just as the rain moved into the city.