We give voice to healthcare workers through our live performances and acclaimed medical storytelling podcast.

We give voice to healthcare workers through our live performances and acclaimed medical storytelling podcast.

We give voice to healthcare workers through our live performances and acclaimed medical storytelling podcast.

We give voice to healthcare workers through our live performances and acclaimed medical storytelling podcast.

By humanizing healthcare, we foster joy, creativity, and connection in the medical profession and the public it serves.

By humanizing healthcare, we foster joy, creativity, and connection in the medical profession and the public it serves.

By humanizing healthcare, we foster joy, creativity, and connection in the medical profession and the public it serves.

By humanizing healthcare, we foster joy, creativity, and connection in the medical profession and the public it serves.

DECEMBER 12, 2024

Dr. Rana Awdish, critical care physician and author of In Shock, reflects on her near-death experience and its transformative impact on her understanding of medicine and healing. Written seven years ago, In Shock marked her "first pass" at recovery. Now, as she prepares for her second book, she reframes healing as a recursive process rather than a linear journey, uncovering deeper layers of growth and emphasizing the power of listening, connection, and embodiment.


This episode of The Nocturnists is supported by The Bucksbaum-Siegler Institute for Clinical Excellence which is dedicated to fostering compassionate doctor-patient relationships and advancing clinical care. Each year, the Bucksbaum-Siegler Institute recognizes extraordinary healthcare professionals through The National Clinical Excellence Award. To learn more about the award, and to nominate a deserving clinician by January 15, visit bucksbauminstitute.uchicago.edu.

Dr. Rana Awdish, critical care physician and author of In Shock, reflects on her near-death experience and its transformative impact on her understanding of medicine and healing. Written seven years ago, In Shock marked her "first pass" at recovery. Now, as she prepares for her second book, she reframes healing as a recursive process rather than a linear journey, uncovering deeper layers of growth and emphasizing the power of listening, connection, and embodiment.


This episode of The Nocturnists is supported by The Bucksbaum-Siegler Institute for Clinical Excellence which is dedicated to fostering compassionate doctor-patient relationships and advancing clinical care. Each year, the Bucksbaum-Siegler Institute recognizes extraordinary healthcare professionals through The National Clinical Excellence Award. To learn more about the award, and to nominate a deserving clinician by January 15, visit bucksbauminstitute.uchicago.edu.

Dr. Rana Awdish, critical care physician and author of In Shock, reflects on her near-death experience and its transformative impact on her understanding of medicine and healing. Written seven years ago, In Shock marked her "first pass" at recovery. Now, as she prepares for her second book, she reframes healing as a recursive process rather than a linear journey, uncovering deeper layers of growth and emphasizing the power of listening, connection, and embodiment.


This episode of The Nocturnists is supported by The Bucksbaum-Siegler Institute for Clinical Excellence which is dedicated to fostering compassionate doctor-patient relationships and advancing clinical care. Each year, the Bucksbaum-Siegler Institute recognizes extraordinary healthcare professionals through The National Clinical Excellence Award. To learn more about the award, and to nominate a deserving clinician by January 15, visit bucksbauminstitute.uchicago.edu.

Conversations

Conversations

Conversations

listen

listen

listen

listen

Hi, I'm Emily.


Since childhood, I dreamed of becoming a doctor. But during my medical residency I found myself spending more time with computers than people, pressured to be efficient at the expense of human connection. This led me to ask deeper questions about our profession, and the direction it was taking.


In 2016, I founded The Nocturnists as a way to explore those questions. What began as a personal quest quickly grew into a vibrant community of healthcare workers celebrating our shared humanity through storytelling. To date, our live performances and award-winning podcast have featured the voices of over 450 frontline clinicians.


By airing our stories in a safe and generative public forum, The Nocturnists helps shatter the myth of the “physician God” and reveal the truth: that healthcare workers are human, just like everyone else, and that our humanity is our strength, not our weakness.


Welcome to our community.

Hi, I'm Emily.


Since childhood, I dreamed of becoming a doctor. But during my medical residency I found myself spending more time with computers than people, pressured to be efficient at the expense of human connection. This led me to ask deeper questions about our profession, and the direction it was taking.


In 2016, I founded The Nocturnists as a way to explore those questions. What began as a personal quest quickly grew into a vibrant community of healthcare workers celebrating our shared humanity through storytelling. To date, our live performances and award-winning podcast have featured the voices of over 450 frontline clinicians.


By airing our stories in a safe and generative public forum, The Nocturnists helps shatter the myth of the “physician God” and reveal the truth: that healthcare workers are human, just like everyone else, and that our humanity is our strength, not our weakness.


Welcome to our community.

Hi, I'm Emily.


Since childhood, I dreamed of becoming a doctor. But during my medical residency I found myself spending more time with computers than people, pressured to be efficient at the expense of human connection. This led me to ask deeper questions about our profession, and the direction it was taking.


In 2016, I founded The Nocturnists as a way to explore those questions. What began as a personal quest quickly grew into a vibrant community of healthcare workers celebrating our shared humanity through storytelling. To date, our live performances and award-winning podcast have featured the voices of over 450 frontline clinicians.


By airing our stories in a safe and generative public forum, The Nocturnists helps shatter the myth of the “physician God” and reveal the truth: that healthcare workers are human, just like everyone else, and that our humanity is our strength, not our weakness.


Welcome to our community.

Hi, I'm Emily.


Since childhood, I dreamed of becoming a doctor. But during my medical residency I found myself spending more time with computers than people, pressured to be efficient at the expense of human connection. This led me to ask deeper questions about our profession, and the direction it was taking.


In 2016, I founded The Nocturnists as a way to explore those questions. What began as a personal quest quickly grew into a vibrant community of healthcare workers celebrating our shared humanity through storytelling. To date, our live performances and award-winning podcast have featured the voices of over 450 frontline clinicians.


By airing our stories in a safe and generative public forum, The Nocturnists helps shatter the myth of the “physician God” and reveal the truth: that healthcare workers are human, just like everyone else, and that our humanity is our strength, not our weakness.


Welcome to our community.

Emily Silverman, MD

Creator + Host + Showrunner

Emily Silverman, MD

Creator + Host + Showrunner

Emily Silverman, MD

Creator + Host + Showrunner

Emily Silverman, MD

Creator + Host + Showrunner

The Nocturnists asks questions like: What is caring and healing? What fuels alienation or connection in healthcare?

The Nocturnists asks questions like: What is caring and healing? What fuels alienation or connection in healthcare?

The Nocturnists asks questions like: What is caring and healing? What fuels alienation or connection in healthcare?

The Nocturnists asks questions like: What is caring and healing? What fuels alienation or connection in healthcare?

the satellites program

the satellites program

The Nocturnists Satellites helps clinicians and clinician groups produce live storytelling shows in their communities. By partnering with people across the country, we amplify the movement we’ve been building over the last eight years to support clinician wellbeing through creative expression.

The Nocturnists Satellites helps clinicians and clinician groups produce live storytelling shows in their communities. By partnering with people across the country, we amplify the movement we’ve been building over the last eight years to support clinician wellbeing through creative expression.

The Nocturnists Satellites helps clinicians and clinician groups produce live storytelling shows in their communities. By partnering with people across the country, we amplify the movement we’ve been building over the last eight years to support clinician wellbeing through creative expression.

The Nocturnists Satellites helps clinicians and clinician groups produce live storytelling shows in their communities. By partnering with people across the country, we amplify the movement we’ve been building over the last eight years to support clinician wellbeing through creative expression.

Featured Project

Uncertainty in Medicine

Uncertainty in Medicine

We are delighted to announce that The Nocturnists — in collaboration with Arts Practica, and with generous support from the ABIM Foundation, Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation — is producing a new podcast series on the theme of "Uncertainty in Medicine."

We are delighted to announce that The Nocturnists — in collaboration with Arts Practica, and with generous support from the ABIM Foundation, Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation — is producing a new podcast series on the theme of "Uncertainty in Medicine."

We are delighted to announce that The Nocturnists — in collaboration with Arts Practica, and with generous support from the ABIM Foundation, Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation — is producing a new podcast series on the theme of "Uncertainty in Medicine."

We are delighted to announce that The Nocturnists — in collaboration with Arts Practica, and with generous support from the ABIM Foundation, Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation — is producing a new podcast series on the theme of "Uncertainty in Medicine."

Coming 2025

Coming 2025

Listener Reviews

“What a beautiful show. Often it feels like medicine gets too much credit, but The Nocturnists made me feel like it gets too little.”

“What a beautiful show. Often it feels like medicine gets too much credit, but The Nocturnists made me feel like it gets too little.”

• BJ MILLER, MD •

• BJ MILLER, MD

“As a chaplain whose hope it is to see a gentler and kinder medicine emerge from our broken system, these stories are like little cups of cold water in the desert.”

“As a chaplain whose hope it is to see a gentler and kinder medicine emerge from our broken system, these stories are like little cups of cold water in the desert.”

• JOANNAH H •

• JOANNAH H

“I am so grateful for your work. Always relevant, thoughtful, inspiring. I am a public health pediatrician and writer, among other things. This podcast feels like home.”

“I am so grateful for your work. Always relevant, thoughtful, inspiring. I am a public health pediatrician and writer, among other things. This podcast feels like home.”

• JENNIE A. MCLAURIN, MD, MPH •

• JENNIE A. MCLAURIN, MD, MPH

newsletter

Stay updated with our newest stories, episodes, and events.

Stay updated with our newest stories, episodes, and events.