Inside Duke Medicine

Healing Path proclaims commitment to patients, each other

The Healing Path, a handcrafted terrazzo floor design that can be seen from nearly every floor of the building, is the centerpiece of the Cancer Center’s atrium, and an unmistakable expression of the hope and compassion that the people who work there have for the patients and families they care for.

A few years ago, as they considered all the details that go into making a world-class cancer center, the team leading the design of the Duke Cancer Center facility had an idea – some appropriate part of the building itself that would inspire patients and staff.

“We hit upon the idea of a design that we now call The Healing Path,” said Tracy Gosselin, associate chief nursing officer for oncology services. “We had a vision of taking the inspiring words of patients, their families and staff and physically making them part of the building. We wanted something that would inspire, comfort and remind everyone why we’re all here each and every day – to promote healing.”

Now, The Healing Path, a handcrafted terrazzo floor design that can be seen from nearly every floor of the building, is the centerpiece of the Cancer Center’s atrium, and an unmistakable expression of the hope and compassion that the people who work there have for the patients and families they care for, Gosselin said. She hopes that The Healing Path will be a place where patients and families can find inspiration during busy and stressful days of treatment.

The words embedded in The Healing Path reflect the compassion and hope that support the healing mission of the Cancer Center.

“Words were chosen through a collaborative process,” said Cheyenne Corbett, Ph.D., director of the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program. “It was important that the Healing Path include contributions from patients, their loved ones, staff, and faculty.”

Patient support groups were consulted and offered suggestions. Staff responded to a request for ideas and the Health Arts Network at Duke provided support as well, Corbett said.

Over the fall, artisans constructed The Healing Path, in which inspiring words cut out of shining metal are set permanently into the stone floor. The design, which includes Gothic shapes reminiscent of the window design of Duke Chapel, was created by designer Jen Mango of Tsoi Kobus & Associates.

The circular path, designed to promote quiet contemplation, begins with the words of Nancy Emerson, Pam Leight, Susan Moonan, and Terri Schinazi, the four authors of “Finding the ‘CAN’ in Cancer,” an informational and inspirational book provided by the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program to all Duke cancer patients.

The first quote is attributed to Emerson, who in addition to being a patient and author, was a well-known Duke Hospital employee and volunteer: “Hope gives us the spark to live each day to the fullest.”

Words of The Healing Path

The words of the Healing Path were selected from a book written by Duke cancer patients and from suggestions offered by faculty, staff, patients and families. Here are the words of the path, which can be seen from the atrium of the Duke Cancer facility:

• Hope gives us the spark to live each day to the fullest.
• Peace comes from within.
• Being connected and loving is what we are all called to be to each other.
• Healing is a collaborative effort of mind-body-spirit.
• Let us practice compassion toward one another.
• Own your journey, find power within yourself.
• While we are here, we are family for one another, a family of faith.
• One breath at a time.
• Hope is a gift we give each other daily.
• Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass … it’s about learning to dance in the rain.
• Thanks to those who nurse the spirit as well as the body.