A University of Vermont physician, nurse, “standardized patient” and medical students took to the stage this past weekend to create awareness of end-of-life issues and spark discussion on the complex nature of dying in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Wit”. The production was performed in the Davis Auditorium at the UVM Medical Center’s medical center campus in Burlington September 11 through 13, 2015. All proceeds went to support the UVM Palliative Care Collaborative. 

“Wit” presents the story of a woman facing terminal ovarian cancer. It is the only play written by Margaret Edson, a public school teacher from Georgia, who attended the Saturday, September 12 7:30 p.m. performance and conducted a Q&A session after the show.

The production was being organized by the UVM Medical Center Ethics Committee under the leadership of Robert Macauley, M.D., UVM professor of pediatrics and medical director of clinical ethics, who was one of the participants acting for the first time.

Playing the main character was Vivian Jordan, a professional actress and standardized patient (SP) at the UVM Clinical Simulation Laboratory. As an SP, Jordan trains physicians, medical students, nurses, EMTs and members of the military to focus on the importance of empathy and respect in patient interactions. UVM Class of 2018 medical students Gilana Finogenov and Emily Ryan also acted in the play.

PUBLISHED

09-09-2015
Michael Carrese