Graduated in “Ancient Christian Literature,” Francesca Bracco is now a professional Copywriter. She is interested in Narrative Medicine and is certified as a Narrative Medicine Lab Facilitator – advanced level – and has also joined the European Narrative Medicine Network, joining EUNAMES as an active member, Medical Humanities Scholar and Expert in Palliative Cares. Her deep interest in caring (developed over years of volunteering in the hospital and then a long, intense passage in hospice) is combined with her passion for writing book The Eleventh Room, published by Effatà Editrice, 201. Since August 2022 I have been in charge of the website of the Cultural Promotion Association “On the Path of Cicely Saunders” APS.
I am honored to be able to tell you, alongside distinguished exponents of Narrative Medicine and the Health Humanities of the world, about my journey within two Associations that are both very dear to me: “On the Path of Cicely Saunders APS,” dedicated to the cultural promotion of Palliative Care in Italy, and SIMeN, the Italian Society of Narrative Medicine.
What they have in common is the all-round care of the person through relational and communicative skills: the purpose of making oneself an instrument of cultural and scientific promotion is combined with a careful use of words and those techniques of active listening, empathy and storytelling that characterize Narrative Medicine. The added value and precious as gold is, in both, the presence of a community on the road, made up of professionals who are at the same time friends, in that profound sense that speaks of an affective bond nourished by common interests, purposes for good and the promotion of well-being in society through culture.
The passion for Dr. Cicely Saunders, long my beacon of light in approaching the terminally ill and their families, has found a fire that makes it ever more alive thanks to the meeting with the palliativists of the “Pathway”: a friendly group animated by fascinating ideals, of which I have the honor of becoming the narrator, with the aim of making Cicely’s figure, her work and her values still relevant today more widely known in Italy thanks, predominantly, to storytelling. Whether it takes the form of articles, book reviews, portraits of professionals, their points of view on current topics, or translates into webinars, where invited speakers, including authoritative witnesses such as Cicely’s younger brother Christopher Saunders, are joined by narrative interviews with various practitioners, such as nurses, we always maintain a simple and clear style, so that through the choice of language and images we reach everyone and can truly make ourselves an instrument of knowledge and insight into this delicate and complex discipline for the good of the community. Curiously, as far as I am concerned, the magic of this meeting happened precisely through the tool of the narrative interview and the book project that is in the pipeline and coming to fruition. The Association is growing many projects and dreams, including a collaboration with Cicely’s biographer, Prof. David Clark, which has already begun and is rich in content.
As for, then, SIMeN, I can only begin by saying how attached I feel to it and to its members, moreover doubled in this last year as a testimony to how capable it is of fascinating people by its contents, methodologies, and educational-cultural proposals of the highest level. I joined the Italian Society of Narrative Medicine after taking my first steps in the field with Istud and its Master’s program (a thrill in my heart, this first Master’s program, and a quality time for which I always feel grateful): in times of pandemic, SIMeN represented for me an island of authentic well-being, when I attended both “Courses for Laboratory Facilitators” (basic and advanced), learning so much on the theoretical and practical levels and getting to know, albeit virtually, many fellow students, to whom I am bound by a sincere affection. Having become, last year, members of an official Roll available to those in need in Italy, recently some of them met in an experiential and friendly three-day event: with much regret, I was unable to attend, but I know it was a profoundly fruitful meeting, on a project level and on a personal level.
The initiatives it proposes are, therefore, many and all valuable; I would like to recall a few: the “R-Exist” series of conferences, which takes up the name of the significant project of collecting stories in times of pandemic, which have now become a regular event for those who want to delve into lively and interesting themes with always stimulating guest speakers; the first “National Forum” last September, where Narrative Medicine met with institutions to reason about its use in clinical practice, academic paths and research: a pilot project has recently started in Piedmont…
And then how can we not mention the latest, very interesting proposal of the “SIMeN Prize – Thesis in Narrative Medicine,” aimed at students of Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, from any discipline, made between 2019 and 2022? A concrete and generous way of enhancing projects of excellence and significant contributions in the field, precisely, of Narrative Medicine.
My greatest wish is that this narrative community, both Italian and international, will always feel united by an affective and fraternal bond and a spirit of collaboration, believing them to be an essential basis for growth in knowledge and widespread well-being for the benefit of all.