Narrative medicine is a medical approach emphasizing a patient's story as a way to promote healing. Focusing on the patient's story helps address the relational and psychological dimensions that occur in tandem with physical illness. In doing this, narrative medicine aims not only to validate the experience of the patient, but also to encourage creativity and self-reflection in the physician. I'm joined today by David Ring, MD, PhD. Dr Ring is the Associate Dean for Comprehensive Care and Professor of Surgery and Psychiatry at Dell Medical School which is part of the University of Texas at Austin. He's at the forefront of the narrative medicine movement. He's here to discuss the importance of understanding a person's story as fully as possible in order to prevent unnecessary medical or surgical interventions, and improve outcomes. It's great stuff. Check it out.