Browsing by Author "Porter, Amber"

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    Empathy and Compassion in the Medicine and Literature of the First and Second Centuries AD
    (2014-08-26) Porter, Amber; Toohey, Peter
    This dissertation examines the emotions of empathy and compassion in the first and second centuries AD of the Greco-Roman world. It focuses on the medical texts of the period, but also explores the other genres of the ancient Greek novel and moral philosophy. Despite lacking a specific word for it, the first and second-century Greeks and Romans understood and expressed empathy in their writings. Compassion, on the other hand, does have a vocabulary. The terms which are used to express it often conform to traditional Greek definitions; however, many instances also show that it has widened its application as well. There also appears to be a significant amount of ‘cross-chatter’ between some of the literature in this era. The medical writer Aretaeus demonstrates a high level of empathy and compassion towards his patients and their families. A contextual and philological analysis of each passage exhibiting these emotions serves to highlight and evaluate Aretaeus’ empathy and compassion and the conditions that elicit these manifestations of emotion in his text. Soranus and Rufus, two other contemporary medical writers, show an acknowledgement and awareness of patients’ emotions, beliefs and attitudes as well. They also exhibit compassion within the construct of the patient-physician relationship. Two other physicians, Caelius Aurelianus and Scribonius Largus, take compassion to a new level, using the terms misericordia and humanitas, which serve to connect with the emotion of compassion and the concept of medical ethics. Plutarch, a moral philosopher, and the novelists, Achilles Tatius and Chariton, exhibit this ‘cross-chatter’ between genres of the period. Plutarch’s Moralia shows his compassionate concern with the moral implications of breeding and slaughtering animals. Chariton’s Chaereas and Callirhoe contains many references to the concept of φιλανθρωπία as an expression of mercy, compassion, benevolence and humanity. Achilles Tactius’ Leucippe and Clitophon explores the power one’s suffering has to affect another through empathy and compassion. Finally, Aretaeus’ ability to ‘feel’ his way into organs and diseases through personification demonstrates his empathy. Taken all together, this suggests that a permeability of genres appears to have occurred in this era whereby empathy and compassion became a common concern.
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    Institutional Partnerships for the Design and Launch of Four Blended Online Graduate Nursing Programs
    (2019-11-15) Stawnychko, Leda; Porter, Amber; Marei, Nedal N.; Hafez, Aya
    A collaborative partnership between healthcare leaders, students, alumni and university scholars resulted in the design and launch of four blended online graduate nursing programs. The programs, consisting of one-year certificates leading to a Master of Nursing degree, are the first in Canada to be offered in a technology intensive format. They meet the accessibility needs of healthcare professionals whose work and other responsibilities prevent them from pursuing graduate education. The certificates are available in four specialization areas: contemporary topics in aging; addiction and mental health; innovations in teaching and learning; and leadership for health system transformation. Each graduate certificate can be earned alone or combined for credit towards the MN degree. The impact of the program on educators and students is significant. Student access in the graduate programs of the Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary will increase by 300%. Teaching in the new technology intensive program requires educators to critically examine their teaching and learning practice; adopt blended T&L technologies; and closely consider SoTL principles to support student learning. Student admissions are currently underway for the first cohort to join the program in Fall 2019. We will share lessons learned from program design including partnerships with AHS, the UCalgary’s Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning, the Faculty of Social Work, Werklund School of Education, Haskayne School of Business and the department of Continuing Education.
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    Teaching and learning with technology for the design and launch of a first-in-Canada blended Master of Nursing program.
    (2019-11-07) Stawnychko, Leda; Porter, Amber; Marei, Nedal; Hafez, Aya
    Oral presentation and workshop facilitation at the Symposium on Scholarship of Teaching and Learning held in Banff, Alberta on November 7- 9, 2019.