Connections
A list of “connections” with others whom I personally value and whose work I want to promote.
Please Note: These are external links to other websites and connections which I recommend. I by no means claim their work as my own.
Here is a link to the UNESCO site about that special, mysterious and spiritual rock off the Southwest coast of Ireland (“Sceilg Mhichil” as Gaeilge). It is definitely worth a trip if you can make it happen – especially during puffin season, May through early July, each year.
Pulse (voices from the heart of medicine)
This is an awesome online journal which circulates a new narrative every Friday edited by family physician Paul Gross (also a musician!) and his team
I worked with Therese in our department at UMN for about a decade. Therese is passionate, purpose-driven and a great communicator. She donates to fund a medical student award each year for the best published narrative. Subscribe to her blog!
I knew Carl during his busy career as an interventional radiologist in St Paul, MN. He retired from Medicine in his 50’s to pursue his other passion – oil painting. Carl is an incredibly talented person. He helped educate medical students with me for several years. Check out his amazing art!
Ron Epstein and Mick Krasner have established themselves as global leaders in Mindfulness in Medicine. I have been fortunate to have participated in a number of their workshops over the years. Most memorable was 4 days spent in person at the Chapin Mill retreat house in Rochester, NY which is an active Zen Buddhist temple!
Society of Teachers of Family Medicine
STFM are “my people”. These are fellow academic family physicians at medical schools and residency programs around the country. I support their efforts and try to attend one of their conferences annually.
International Institute for Restorative
Reproductive Medicine
I first came to the United States in 1992 out of an interest in Natural Family Planning and the Lactational Amenorrhea Method and worked with Dr Tom Hilgers affiliated with Creighton University in Omaha, NE and there met Dr Joseph Stanford of University of Utah. Along with Irish physician, Dr Phil Boyle, they have worked with their teams to develop this institute to promote a more natural approach to reproductive technologies.
Society of Teachers of Family Medicine
STFM are “my people”. These are fellow academic family physicians at medical schools and residency programs around the country. I support their efforts and try to attend one of their conferences annually. They publish the journal, “Family Medicine” where I have published a few times.
Midwest Physician Writers Retreat
This annual weekend conference was created by Dr Liz Fleming, faculty at University of Wisonsin-Madison to allow amateur physician writers (like myself), residents and students to learn more about narrative medicine. I’ve been thrilled to attend each retreat since its’ inauguration in 2025.
It makes me particularly nostalgic to attend this retreat since my uncle, Richard Power (also an amateur writer but who received acolades for “The Hungry Grass” and “The Land of Youth” novels) attended the University of Iowa’s Writers Workshop and obtained an MFA, with his wife and family in 1959. His brother (and my dad’s twin) uncle Victor (who baptized me) then attended this same workshop and also obtained his MFA in 1970 and met his future wife there.
Center for the Art of Medicine
I really appreciate that my medical school sufficiently values the Arts to have established this Center to cultivate and promote artistic efforts by physicians.
Despite the age gap, I really love the message in this Billie Eilish song – indeed, “what are we made for?…”
Scullion: “Eyelids into snow”
I started medical school at aged 18 at University College Galway. I vividly recall the impression that this band (with Philip King and Sonny Condell on vocals) made upon me, performing in a lecture theater. I’ve been a fan for life!
Queen: “Who wants to live forever?”
In 1979, at age 18, a medical school friend told me that he had an extra ticket for that night to hear Queen at the RDS in Dublin and asked if I wanted to go. Being poor students in a poor country (at the time) I believe that we both biked there. I’ve been a lifelong family of Freddie Mercury (what a voice!) and Brian May (what a lead guitarist!) and I still remember Freddie singing “Danny Boy” in his cut-off outfit with a cut-off mike.
Robert Plant / Band of Joy: “Angel Dance”
I’ve been a lifelong fan of Led Zeppelin. So excited that during an STFM conference in New Orleans in 2011, I was able to get a ticket to hear Robert sing with his band at the time, Band of Joy. What a voice!
David V. Power 