What if the key to better patient care isn’t just medical expertise but also the art of storytelling? Mark Kissler (’11SPS, Narrative Medicine) believes that narrative medicine bridges the gap between clinical precision and human connection.
Kissler is an internal medicine hospitalist and an assistant professor of hospital medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where he integrates narrative medicine into his clinical and teaching practices. In a recent interview with SPS, Kissler shared how his background in engineering and literature led him to the Master of Science in Narrative Medicine (NMED) program, how his time at Columbia shaped his approach to patient care and medical education, and details of his ongoing work on attention in clinical practice.
What led you to Columbia’s Narrative Medicine program?
I studied chemical engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder but was always drawn to literature and writing. The NMED program offered the perfect opportunity to deepen my engagement with the humanistic aspects of clinical work.
I first heard about the program through word of mouth when it was still in its early years. the Narrative Medicine Rounds event series at Columbia and the thought-provoking discussions intrigued me. Conversations with faculty and recommendations like Arthur Frank’s The Wounded Storyteller convinced me of the program’s intellectual depth.
I enrolled in the NMED program as a full-time student right after undergrad while preparing for medical school. This immersive experience allowed me to fully engage with the material and take advantage of opportunities like shadowing a palliative-care group at NewYork-Presbyterian and exploring New York’s art scene. It was a formative period that shaped how I view my work in medicine.
Were there any professors, classes, or projects that had a lasting impact on you?
The program provided a rich interdisciplinary curriculum that shaped how I think about clinical encounters and patient care. Craig Irvine’s philosophy course and close-reading seminars with Maura Spiegel were particularly formative. I’ve continued engaging with thinkers whose work we studied, and I now integrate close reading into my own teaching. For me, close reading extends beyond literature—it’s a foundational approach to understanding patients, their words, and their experiences.
How does narrative medicine inform your work as an internal medicine hospitalist in Denver?
I spend most of my time caring for hospitalized patients with a wide range of conditions, making diagnoses, and coordinating care. Narrative medicine plays a role in how I listen to patients, interpret their stories, and make decisions. In the hospital setting, where patients are often at critical junctures, the ability to bridge technical expertise with compassionate engagement is essential.
Can you tell us more about your work on attention in the clinical environment?
I’ve always been interested in attention—not just as a personal practice but in its philosophical and clinical implications. In medicine, our attention is constantly fragmented by multitasking and interruptions. I’ve been working with colleagues in Colorado to explore how environmental design, workflow, and cognitive load influence patient care. Our goal is to create systems that support a rigorous practice of attention, ultimately strengthening the patient-clinician relationship. This work is deeply connected to the interdisciplinary spirit of my narrative medicine training.
What advice do you have for students interested in narrative medicine?
It’s important to think about how narrative medicine and the broader field of health humanities will fit into your future career. The program offers more than just interesting material—it provides new ways of thinking. Having a clear sense of how you want to apply these concepts, whether in clinical practice, research, or education, can help you make the most of your time in the program.
What’s next for you?
I’m continuing to develop curricula both locally and nationally and working on a writing project about attention in clinical practice. We’re also planning a symposium in Colorado focused on improving work environments in health care, with attention as a core theme. I’m excited about expanding collaborations and continuing to bridge theory and practice in medicine.
About the Program
Columbia University’s Master of Science in Narrative Medicine prepares health professionals, writers, and scholars to apply the skills and values of narrative understanding to improve outcomes for both patients and caregivers. It offers a rigorous and in-depth study of close reading of creative texts, illness and disability narratives, narrative ethics, philosophy, creative writing, and other perspectives.
The fall 2025 application deadline for the M.S. in Narrative Medicine program is June 1. The program is available for part-time or full-time enrollment. Learn more about the program here.
