Health Affairs

Narrative Matters essays tell personal stories with a health policy point. Because these stories are good listening as well as good reading, we are pleased to offer audio versions of authors reading their full essays, as well as abridged three-to-four-minute versions.

Contact:
Ellen Ficklen, editor of Narrative Matters, at 301-656-7401 or eficklen@projecthope.org.
The Narrative Matters section is published with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation

"Witness to Disaster"
The stories of those who offered medical care in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita bear witness to devastation and strength in American life.

Audio posting:[August 25, 2010]; Originally published in March/April 2006 Health Affairs.
W. Richard Boyte, "Raymond, Mississippi: August 31" - Listen to full essay (4:36) | Read essay
Buck Taylor, "New Orleans: September 5" - Listen to full essay (3:06) | Read essay

Ron Capps, "Back From The Brink: War, Suicide, And PTSD"
A veteran describes his odyssey with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Audio posting:[July 16, 2010]; Originally published in July 2010 Health Affairs.
Listen to full essay (17:48) | Listen to short version (3:26) | Read essay

Jonathan Han, "Serious Side Effects"
A doctor works on--and worries about--a way to care for needy patients who use free drug samples from pharmaceutical companies.

Audio posting:[September 25, 2009]; Originally published in March/April 2009 Health Affairs.
Listen to full essay (19:29) | Listen to short version (3:55) | Read essay

Veneta Masson, "Luck Of The Dying"
A nurse witnesses her mother's month-long dying process and ponders its lesson.

Audio posting:[October 15, 2009]; Originally published in May/June 2005 Health Affairs.
Listen to full essay (15:38) | Listen to short version (4:09) | Read essay

Melinda Morton, "Buying Lunch...And What Else?"
A medical student who believes that free lunches and free drug samples provided by the pharmaceutical industry are far from free finds her "no-free-lunch" resolve being tested.

Audio posting:[October 14, 2009]; Originally published in March/April 2009 Health Affairs.
Listen to full essay (15:19) | Listen to short version (3:12) | Read essay

Phyllis Richman, "Shuffling In Grandmother's Footsteps"
Two generations later, a cure for Parkinson's disease is still said to be "probably ten years away."

Audio posting:[September 25, 2009]; Originally published in September/October 2009 Health Affairs.
Listen to full essay (15:14) | Listen to short version (3:40) | Read essay

Eric Frederick Trump, "Love In The Time Of Organ Transplants"
When post-transplant medication costs more than $1,000 a month, how much of a girlfriend's appeal might be because she comes from a country that provides universal health care?

Audio posting:[September 25, 2009]; Originally published in January/February 2009 Health Affairs.
Listen to full essay (15:53) | Listen to short version (3:02) | Read essay