Kathy Kirkland is a professor of medicine and interim chief of the section of palliative medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health in Hanover and Lebanon, NH. She coordinates efforts to promote activities in humanities and narrative medicine in the Department of Medicine, helps facilitate cross-disciplinary activities with colleagues at Dartmouth College, and integrates narrative medicine teaching into medical student and residency training, and faculty development. Kathy has received grant support from the Mellon Foundation and the Gold Foundation for work in the medical humanities and narrative medicine. Her interests include the role of narrative practice in delivering effective healthcare and in promoting professionalism and joy in work, both in palliative care and more broadly.