Exploring Personhood, Patienthood and Dignity with Professor Harvey Chochinov

Integrative Oncology Talk

Harvey Max Chochinov, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Manitoba and Senior Scientist at CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, is widely considered one of the most influential and respected palliative care scholars and researchers in the world today. He has authored over three hundred publications, including several groundbreaking books in medicine. His achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being named an Officer in the Order of Canada and an inductee in the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. His newest book, Dignity in Care: The Human Side of Medicine, explores why being a patient is such a difficult pill to swallow and what healthcare providers can do to allow patients to retain their humanity, pride, and feelings of personhood. His book contains a distillation of decades of clinical research, experience, and wisdom. It also introduces a method of patient interaction that combats the often cold and de-humanizing structure of institutionalized healthcare systems.