Hirthler Presents at Medicine/Writing Conference

Second-year MFA candidate Maureen Hirthler has been selected to host a discussion at the eighth annual Examined Life Conference, April 10-12, sponsored by The University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. The three-day conference will focus on the links between the science of medicine and the art of writing. Keynote presentations alternate with smaller sessions, which include panel discussions, mini-workshops, discussion groups, and academic presentations.
Dr. Hirthler’s presentation “MD to MFA—Why, How, and What Next” will explore the value of an MFA to physician writers, compare and contrast the types of programs available, explain the admissions process, and highlight the multiple ways in which the MFA can enhance both clinical and writing practices. UMKC’s MFA in Creative Writing and Media Arts will serve as an example of a physician-friendly program.
Several UMKC MFA candidates sent submissions to The Examined Life Journal, which will be released at the time of the conference. The poem “dressing room” by Ramona McCallum, a first-year MFA candidate, has been accepted for publication.