University of South Carolina Beaufort Interdisciplinary Studies Conference
Call for Papers
"Balm: Binding Art, Life, Medicine"
An Interdisciplinary Online Conference on Narrative Medicine and Health Humanities
Conference Date: March 26 & 27, 2026
Location: Virtual and in person: Most of the conference will be held virtually, allowing all participants full remote access. A small portion of presentations will be both in Bluffton (and virtual) to facilitate networking and collaboration for those able to attend
Submission Deadlines:
- Early submission - December 15, 2025
- Second round - February 1, 2026
About the Conference
In a world increasingly shaped by clinical efficiency, digital documentation, and technological intervention, the profound human stories at the heart of medicine can be marginalized. Yet, it is these stories of illness and healing, caring and loss, resilience and meaning that offer the richest insight into the lived experience of health and wellness.
The conference theme, “Balm: Binding Art, Life, Medicine,” invites scholars, clinicians, writers, artists, educators, and advocates to explore how narrative medicine and health and medical humanities serve as essential salves in both practice and policy. We seek to highlight the reparative power of story and creativity in healthcare, as well as their vital role in shaping empathy, understanding, and improved health outcomes.
Topics of Interest
We welcome interdisciplinary proposals that explore, interrogate, or illuminate the central theme, including but not limited to:
- Narrative Competence in Clinical Practice
How can storytelling help providers more deeply connect with patients, families, and communities? What role does narrative play in diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care? - Creative Expression and Catharsis
How do poetry, fiction, journaling, visual art, and performance art offer therapeutic avenues for practitioners, patients, caregivers, and support persons? - Narrative Medicine and Public Health
In what ways can storytelling be leveraged in public health campaigns, education, and policy-making to foster more inclusive, effective, and compassionate health systems? - Interdisciplinary Pedagogies
How are narrative medicine and health and medical humanities being taught across fields? What collaborative models exist between the arts and sciences in medical education?
How can educators (from clinicians and medical education to k-12) use health, illness, and medical narratives to promote better understanding of complex issues such as pain, disability, neurodiversity, and identity among others? - Ethics, Empathy, and Power
How do narratives complicate or clarify ethical dilemmas in healthcare? How might they empower marginalized voices or reveal systemic inequities? - Case Studies and Lived Experience
What can we learn from specific examples (clinical encounters, personal journeys, or community initiatives) that demonstrate the binding power of art, life, and medicine?
Submission Guidelines
We invite proposals for:
- Scholarly Papers (15–20 minutes)
- Creative Presentations (performance, readings, multimedia, hybrid formats)
- Panel Proposals (3–4 presenters)
- Workshops (interactive or practice-based sessions)
Abstracts (250–300 words) and a brief bio (100 words) should be submitted via google form link by December 15th for early consideration. Please indicate the format of your presentation and any technological or accessibility needs.
Audience
This conference is intended for a wide audience including, but not limited to, scholars in the humanities and social sciences, medical professionals, nurses, therapists, creative writers, public health workers, students, and patient advocates.
Why Participate?
This is more than a conference: it is a gathering of voices that recognize the deep and often unseen threads tying together health, art, and human experience. In a time of global uncertainty and systemic challenges in care delivery, this event seeks to explore what binds us, what heals us, and what we must remember in order to move forward.
Let's explore together how narrative is balm—restorative, connective, and urgently needed.
Questions?
Please direct inquiries to Libby Ricardo or Amy Leaphart at IDSTCONF@uscb.edu.