Inside Duke Medicine
DRAH mammographer uses poetry to reach patients
posted April 5th, 2010Susan Ghiassi, a mammographer at Duke Raleigh Outpatient Imaging, never knew she would publish a book that would touch her patients' lives. She was simply providing the best care she could for her patients, but that care led to a special book full of her patients' thoughts.
As a mammographer, Ghiassi developed a passion for patients and helping them cope with the anxiety that mammograms can bring. She decided to use the power of words and poetry to calm patients during the stressful tests.
"I gave my patients a copy of Ode to Mammograms, by an anonymous author to help them pass the time and not think about their results," Ghiassi said.
After reading the poem, she would encourage patients to write their own poems or add to the poem they read. She would keep all the writings she received.
After patients and families expressed how much they enjoyed the poems, Ghiassi began to think about publishing a book.
Recently she self published her collection, Thank God I Only Have Two of These: A collection of patients' writings gathered by a mammographer.
"I wanted to honor my patients, and this was the perfect way to do it," she said. "These poems will comfort you, inspire you, make you cry and make you laugh."
The book can be purchase on Amazaon.com or Lulu.com.
$1 from each book will go towards breast cancer research and patients.