Penn State Health News

Connecting Through Literature: Classic American Short Stories Session 4
2026-04-08 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Online Discussion – Short Story: “Recitatif” by Toni Morrison
Description from Wikipedia:
“Recitatif” is Toni Morrison’s first published short story. It was initially published in 1983 in Confirmation: An Anthology of African American Women, an anthology edited by Amiri Baraka and Amina Baraka, and is the only short story written by the acclaimed novelist. The story was reissued as a stand-alone book, introduced by Zadie Smith, published in February 2022.
“Recitatif” is a story in racial writing, as the race of Twyla and Roberta are debatable. Though the characters are clearly separated by class, neither is affirmed as African-American or White. Morrison has described the story as “the removal of all racial codes from a narrative about two characters of different races for whom racial identity is crucial.”
Request this text through the PSU Libraries catalog here.
Register to receive the Zoom link the week of the event. Please add to your own calendar.

The Connecting Through Literature Book Club’s Classic American Short Stories series is a collaboration between the Harrell Health Sciences Library and Department of Humanities. Join in on one, a few, or all of the discussions in the series as suits your time and interest. You do not even need to have read the story beforehand to listen in on the conversation – are welcome.

Contact edonne@pennstatehealth.psu.edu if you would like to receive email updates for all of this year’s discussions.

Learn more here.

Powerful Pronunciation
2026-04-08 12:00 - 13:00 | Webinar
Are you a professional who speaks English as an additional language? Do you want to boost your speech confidence and refine your pronunciation skills in a supportive, expert-led environment?
Join us for an interactive webinar introducing Powerful Pronunciation — a dynamic English communication program designed to help you speak clearly, confidently, and effectively in professional and healthcare settings.
Program Highlights:

Enhance Patient & Provider Communication
Learn how clear pronunciation can improve experiences and reduce misunderstandings in healthcare environments.
Master American English Sounds
Get practical techniques for all 21 vowel and 26 consonant sounds — with a focus on medically relevant terms and phrases.
Build Confidence in Real-World Scenarios
Practice pronunciation in context to feel more confident in your daily interactions.

Who Should Attend? Any professional who identifies English as an additional language and is ready to take their pronunciation skills to the next level.
Registration – Wednesday, April 8
Let your voice be heard — clearly and confidently.
Sponsored by the Office of Health Advancement & Community Engagement. OHACE@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
