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HEALING STORIES: STRENGTHENING EMPATHY IN FUTURE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

Zainab Amina Bello
Published 23 February 2026
Vol. 14, No. 1 (2026)
pp. 23-28
CC BY 4.0
  1. 1
    Zainab Amina Bello
    Department of Family Medicine, Bayero University Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria
    NG

Recent shifts in medical education emphasize not only clinical competence but also the cultivation of empathy, ethical judgment, and reflective practice among healthcare professionals. Central to this transformation is medical storytelling, a pedagogical approach that leverages narratives—spoken or written—from patients, families, clinicians, and communities to enrich learning experiences. By engaging learners emotionally and intellectually, storytelling fosters a deeper understanding of the human dimensions of illness, healing, and recovery. Unlike traditional didactic methods, narrative-based education encourages reflection, enhances communication skills, and promotes patient-centered care, bridging the gap between biomedical knowledge and lived experiences. This paper explores the role of storytelling in medical education, highlighting its potential to cultivate empathy, improve learner engagement, and ultimately contribute to more holistic healthcare delivery.

JournalColumbia Journal of Medical Research and Practice
ISSN3065-0631
Volume / IssueVol. 14, No. 1 (2026)
Pages23-28
Published23 February 2026
DOI10.5281/zenodo.19660649
Access Open Access
LicenseCC BY 4.0 — reuse with attribution
PublisherKeith Publications
Bello, Z. (2026). HEALING STORIES: STRENGTHENING EMPATHY IN FUTURE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS. Columbia Journal of Medical Research and Practice, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 23-28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19660649

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