Narrative piece written by McGarrity published in NJEM

A creative writing piece written by Dr. Thomas McGarrity, professor of medicine and member of the Penn State Cancer Institute at Penn State College of Medicine, has been published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

The first-person narrative, titled “Roulette,” recalls the discovery of a freckle in his right eye by McGarrity’s ophthalmologist. It was written as part of McGarrity’s participation in the Physician Writers Group, a workshop for clinicians who are interested in creative writing for publication in professional medical journals. The group is run by the Department of Humanities at the College of Medicine and led by Dr. Kimberly Myers, professor of humanities and medicine and member of the Penn State Cancer Institute.

McGarrity, a practicing physician in gastroenterology and hepatology, dedicated his piece to the gastroenterology physicians “who are, as Teddy Roosevelt wrote, ‘in the arena,’ taking and giving as best they can.”

Read McGarrity’s piece in the New England Journal of Medicine

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