Join Artists in Residence Matthew Dettmer, MD; Michelle Duke, RN; and Kristen Tetzmann’s for their FREE Poetry Workshop Vital Signs: Writing on Healthcare and Its Leftovers!

About the Event:
In healthcare, every scrap of gauze, every syringe, glove, and mask tells a story—not just of care, but of cost: environmental, emotional, and human.

Vital Signs is a poetry workshop that invites participants to explore the complex intersections of healing and harm, care and consumption, patient and provider. Through guided prompts, readings, and group discussions, we’ll unpack the often-overlooked environmental impact of healthcare waste and examine how poetry can serve as a tool for reflection, resistance, and reimagining.

Whether you’re a writer, a healthcare worker, a patient, or simply curious, this workshop offers a welcoming space for the community to reflect on the contradictions within our systems, bodies, and  environments. Together, we’ll transform disposables and lived experience into verse.

No prior experience in poetry or healthcare is required—just a willingness to observe, engage, and write. Please bring a notebook and a pen. All other materials will be provided. Reserve your spot below!

This FREE workshop is an extension of the installation, “The Leftovers”, on view Wednesday, September 3 - Saturday, September 27 at Akron Soul Train. With an opening celebration on Friday, September 5th, from 5:00 - 7:30 PM!