Medical College of Wisconsin MedMoth Provides a Night of Powerful Storytelling

Each semester, the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) MedMoth invites 12 learners, faculty, and staff to take the stage and share a five-minute story with the audience. Nothing is too big, small, or unusual to tell – so long as it's family-friendly and sensitive to patient information.

During a recent event, listeners heard about a moped crash on a busy Mexican highway, a chaotic camping trip with 11-year-old boys, and the intentional act of choosing love over prejudice.

“Everyone who shared a story was so vulnerable, thoughtful, and genuine,” says Angela Li, a second-year medical student who shared a story about finding belonging and identity as an immigrant. “There was something really special about being in a space where people could bring so much honesty, humor, and heart to the stage.”

Unmuting Your Voice and Finding a Receptive Listener

MCW MedMoth was the brainchild of then-medical student Scott Lamm, MD ‘22, who wanted to package his love of musical theater into a wellness activity for medical students.

After gaining the backing of Cassie Ferguson, MD, professor of pediatrics, and Bruce Campbell, MD, professor emeritus of otolaryngology and communication sciences, as well as early funding from multiple sources, including the Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities and later the Department of Family and Community Medicine and the Charles E Kubly Foundation, the group was born in the fall of 2019.

While MCW MedMoth derives its name from The Moth, a national story-telling organization, there are no formal ties to the group. MCW MedMoth does, however, take inspiration from The Moth’s storytelling workshops. These workshops, led once or twice a semester by Dr. Campbell, give prospective speakers the chance to generate or fine-tune their story ideas before the actual event. The group has also brought in Ex Fabula, a Milwaukee-based storytelling organization, to lead storytelling workshops.

“It’s a good, low-stakes opportunity to test the waters to see if you have a story to tell and if you’re comfortable doing so," says Steven Du, second-year medical student and MCW MedMoth co-president.

During the event, around 10 presenters tell a story to an audience composed of learners, faculty, and staff. Their stories tend to connect everyone in the room.

“When the speakers go up, I look over and everyone is engaged,” says Jordan Wang, second-year medical student and MCW MedMoth co-president. “In this day and age, where people are always checking their emails or doing something, it’s amazing to see people set aside whatever’s going on outside and just hone in on one person’s experience.”

“The amount of support and kindness I received from my peers was overwhelming,” says Carla Aleman, a second-year medical student who told a story that explored the gifts and challenges of family. “They were able to gain a new perspective on who I am and the mindset I carry throughout medical school.”

The Power of Storytelling

Storytellers from a recent MedMoth event at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

MCW MedMoth is a student-run, collaborative initiative that offers the chance to develop skills that extend beyond the auditorium.

“As students, getting our message clearly across through a story is a skill we can all constantly practice,” says Du.

“It’s also important to learn how to do the opposite, which is to listen and reflect on all aspects of someone’s story, even if they are from different walks of life,” adds Wang.

As students move into their careers, MCW MedMoth can also remind them of their passions.

“Sometimes people have lost the drive and are just going through the motions,” says Dr. Campbell. “MCW MedMoth is a disrupter in the sense that it allows participants a moment to pause, listen, and reflect. The more we build that into our personal practices as human beings, the more we thrive.”