The Power of 55 Words: Creative Writing, Reflection, and the Future of Rural Care

Colleen Fogarty, MD, MSc, chair of Family Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center, joins us for a conversation that blends creativity, reflection, and the realities of rural healthcare.Colleen talks about how 55-word stories can help trainees and clinicians pause, reflect, and make sense of the moments that define their work. These short narratives become powerful tools for learning, writing, and self-understanding.We also discuss her recent research on rural physician shortages, including why the decline is accelerating, what her team uncovered in the national data, and how new rural training pathways at URMC aim to strengthen the primary care workforce.The episode ends with Colleen reading one of her published 55-word stories—Blue Velvet—a powerful example of how concise writing can illuminate the human side of medicine.Colleen completed residency here at URMC in 1996.Links mentioned in this episode:A piece of my mind. The stories: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.283.15.1934Fifty-five Word Stories: “Small Jewels” for Personal Reflection and Teaching: https://howlround.com/sites/default/files/55%20word%20stories%20reference%20by%20Fogarty%20CT.pdfFamily Physician Workforce Trends: The Toll on Rural Communities, Colleen T. Fogarty, Hoon Byun and Alison N. Huffstetler: https://www.annfammed.org/content/23/6/535Physician Shortage in Rural Areas of the U.S. Worsened Since 2017: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/physician-shortage-in-rural-areas-of-the-u-s-worsened-since-2017More about Colleen: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112358775-colleen-t-fogartyColleen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-fogarty-057570111/