Truly understanding how to help someone heal from illness or injury often requires more than just tests and scans; it requires listening patiently and with empathy to the experiences behind the symptoms.
This perspective—shaped in part by her personal experience with illness—is what brought Nathalie Felton to Columbia’s M.S. in Narrative Medicine (NMED) program as a full-time student. What she continued to uncover there was the important role storytelling plays in human health.
An opportunity through Columbia’s Global Engagement program, supported by the SPS Academic & Professional Development Grant, brought Felton to The Gambia for her capstone project in summer 2024. In spite of the language gaps and different systems and ways of living between The Gambia and the U.S., she found that “the core human need to be heard and to make sense of illness experiences remained constant.”
In a recent interview, Felton discussed her background leading up to her time at Columbia, her past and present work, and her views on the place of the narrative in health care.
What first drew you to narrative medicine, and why did it resonate with you?
I first encountered the field of narrative medicine during my freshman year at Brown University in a course called Literature and Medicine. Having spent years as a patient navigating a complex diagnostic journey with a rare connective tissue disease, I often felt that something was missing in my interactions with the medical system. This course put words to that feeling: the recognition that illness extends beyond its physical manifestations and that truly helping someone heal requires not just scientific knowledge, but also the ability to listen, empathize, and bear witness to another’s experience. When these elements are not prioritized, essential pieces of a patient’s story can be missed, compromising the quality of care.
That realization fundamentally shifted my perspective on health care. I went on to co-found the Brown Journal of Medical Humanities, creating space for patients, caregivers, and clinicians to share their stories and explore the human dimensions of medicine. Through that work, I was introduced to students and alumni from Columbia’s NMED program, which ultimately inspired me to pursue the master’s degree after graduating college.
Why did you choose Columbia’s program, and how did the experience shape your perspective?
Columbia felt like the natural choice because it’s where narrative medicine began. The field was established here in 2000 by Dr. Rita Charon, professor and founding chair of the Department of Medical Humanities and Ethics and professor of medicine at Columbia University, and the M.S. program was launched in 2009. Many of the scholars who helped shape the principles of narrative medicine are still teaching in the program, and I was excited about the opportunity to learn directly from the pioneers who helped develop the field. Equally compelling was the opportunity to learn alongside classmates who, like me, are deeply committed to understanding the lived experiences of patients and caregivers and to elevating those voices to improve health care.
The program challenged me to examine health care through multidisciplinary lenses and to appreciate the profound complexity of illness experiences. It also pushed me to think critically about how narrative approaches can be thoughtfully adapted for different contexts, from clinical settings to global health initiatives to the broader health care industry.
Can you tell us about your capstone project in Gambia?
I entered the NMED program eager to apply narrative medicine to help others and sought out opportunities to do so. Conversations with alumna Stephanie Francalancia (’22SPS) inspired me to explore this work in a global health context and gave me insight into the practical challenges involved.
Through Columbia’s Global Engagement program, I joined an interdisciplinary cohort led by Dr. Shannon Marquez, the dean of Undergraduate Global Engagement and director of the Columbia University Center of Undergraduate Engagement (UGE), working on health and environmental initiatives in Gunjur, a fishing village in The Gambia. For my capstone, I proposed adding narrative medicine workshops to the existing program.
As a cohort, we collaborated with local groups like CETAG and Gunjur Youths for Health, contributing to efforts such as diabetes screenings, school health education, and beach cleanups that turned collected plastic into jewelry and keychains. Alongside our group projects, I led narrative medicine workshops with Gunjur Youths for Health. With guidance from my capstone advisor, Stephanie Adler Yuan, I adapted the traditional model to the local context, considering factors like English fluency, cultural norms, and educational differences. Her mentorship was especially helpful as I navigated balancing the integrity of narrative medicine workshops with the specific needs and dynamics of this community. Some adjustments were planned; others were refined in real time based on observations and local input.
Though slightly different in format, the workshops were deeply powerful, with participants sharing moving reflections on their roles as both health care trainees and community members.
What did this cross-cultural application teach you about narrative medicine?
The experience reinforced something fundamental about storytelling: its universality transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries. Even though the setting, language, and cultural context were different from typical narrative medicine workshops in U.S. health care settings, the core human need to be heard and to make sense of illness experiences remained constant.
It challenged me to think beyond the traditional applications of narrative medicine. Working with the Gunjur Youths for Health showed me how these approaches can be meaningfully adapted for community health workers who bridge multiple worlds: their rural origins and urban medical training, traditional healing practices and contemporary medicine. Many participants approached me afterward seeking guidance on how to lead their own workshops, demonstrating both the immediate impact and the potential sustainability of this approach.
How did the SPS Academic & Professional Development Grant make this work possible?
This project would not have been feasible without the generous support of SPS. More than just financial support, the grant represented an institutional commitment to applied learning and community engagement that I found motivating.
The funding allowed me to bridge the gap between academic theory and practical application in a way that created genuine value for our community partners, something I believe should be central to any meaningful global health work.
How has your Columbia NMED experience influenced your current work at VOZ Advisors?
After completing my master’s, I joined VOZ Advisors, a health care consulting firm that helps biopharmaceutical companies engage meaningfully with patient communities. The skills I developed in the NMED program continue to guide my approach to patient engagement.
I consistently draw on what I learned about listening deeply, interpreting experiences across different contexts, and ensuring that patient perspectives genuinely inform strategy rather than simply validate predetermined approaches. Additionally, my capstone experience taught me the importance of adapting methodologies to meet communities where they are.
What advice would you give to current students or those considering similar projects?
Don't be afraid to make the work genuinely your own. Narrative medicine is remarkably flexible and can be thoughtfully adapted for different communities and settings. If you're applying for the SPS grant or developing a capstone project, choose something that genuinely sparks your curiosity and that you’re open to learning from in unexpected ways.
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 master’s program is available for part-time or full-time enrollment. Learn more here.
The program also offers a Certification of Professional Achievement (CPA) in Narrative Medicine. The spring 2026 application deadline for the CPA program is November 1.
