The art of wellness in medicine

In a profession defined by precision, rapid decision-making and stringent protocol, it can be easy for health care professionals to place their own well-being at the bottom of the list. Yet, beyond the white coat and clinical responsibilities is a person with the same human need for balance, reflection and connection as the patients they serve. This shared humanity carries a universal need for wellness. 

Whole person wellness means recognizing that caring for others often begins with caring for oneself. For many physicians and learners, that wellness is found through creative expression of art, poetry and intentional reflection. These outlets provide space to process experiences, reduce stress and reconnect with the humanity at the heart of medicine.

For medical student Alan Harris, creativity became a meaningful source of renewal through a Humanism and Compassion in Medicine course.

As a part of a class assignment, Harris wrote a poem titled Passons, a name that emerged from an accidental misspelling of the word “Passions.”

What began as a personal reflection on the two things that bring Harris the most peace – his deep connection to music and his love for teaching – soon took on a deeper meaning. Originally written as a letter to be spoken over the music of one of his favorite bands, this evolved after Harris recognized the significance of the typo. Rather than focusing only on his own passions, Passons became a meditation on what we pass on to others.

By including subtle tributes to the mentors and friends who shaped him, the poem became a reflection on how the people we love and the things we care about live on through the way we connect with the world.

What began as a private classroom exercise has since resonated far beyond the university, earning selection for a national publication. This success highlights a lesson being realized across the medical community: that creativity is not a distraction from clinical work, but a vital form of resilience.

 “This didn’t feel like another task,” Harris said. “It felt like permission to be human. It reminded me that being able to connect deeply and authentically is just as important as anything I’ll learn in a textbook.” 

That lesson is central to whole person wellness. By stepping back and making the time for creativity and reflection, physicians are able to strengthen their own emotional wellness, empathy and presence that patients highly value. This habit of reflection can improve listening, help manage uncertainty and support the mental health needed to sustain a demanding career.

For Harris, those human qualities are just as important as clinical knowledge.  “Being human—listening, connecting, understanding—these tools have just as much use as any other tool in my toolbox,” he said. 

This shift in perspective is becoming a cornerstone of modern medical training. Beyond the walls of a single classroom, the act of practicing art and creative expression is being recognized as an essential discipline for physicians at every stage of their careers.

When physicians engage in creative outlets, whether through writing, music or visual arts, they are doing more than just “taking a break.” By practicing creativity and self-reflection, they are improving their ability to listen and handle the uncertainty of difficult medical cases. By maintaining a healthy balance between mental and physical well-being, physicians can better care for themselves while continuing to care for others at the bedside. 

For those entering the profession, Harris offers a reminder that wellness is not a luxury, but a necessity. “Making space for your creative passions isn’t a distraction from the work, it’s part of what allows you to truly thrive in it.”