The Transformative Experience of Wearing the White Coat
by EMILY TARQUIN
As a theater producer , I know a costume ’ s power in transforming the person wearing it . A costume is a visual depiction of the human traits a character embodies and is one of the most impactful elements of theatrical storytelling . The Wear the White Coat Experience had a similar transformational impact on me . As I donned the white coat , I donned its meaning . I pledged myself to the service of humanity , I honored the noble tradition of medicine , and I vowed to uphold the utmost respect for human life . Making these declarations launched me into this experience , while also affirming my work at the intersection of arts and wellness , and being of service to the community I ’ m in .
I was fortunate to shadow both Dr . Valerie Briones-Pryor and Dr . James Patrick Murphy . Both experiences added to my understanding of the immense empathy and expertise health care practitioners bring to their work , how much energy is required of them by their patients , their teams and the health care industry , and how much restrictive red tape they must navigate and adapt to . At a basic level , my shadowing experiences increased the amount of patience I will bring to my next doctor ’ s visit and at the highest level , they deepened my own sense of how we are all linked together and how our challenges are interconnected . They also made some of my daily challenges feel small and insignificant by comparison .
My first experience was joining Dr . Murphy at his private practice in New Albany , Indiana . It was clear that his practice was built on mutual benefit , serving both the passion and values he brings to practicing medicine and his patients ’ particular needs ( time , reduced costs , acceptance ). As a pain specialist and addiction counselor , Dr . Murphy has found a way to steep pain and addiction treatment in humanity . This very critical ( and criticized ) field is not only stigmatized but also emotionally charged . I sat with several of his patients and learned how Dr . Murphy had transformed their pain and therefore their lives . Many mentioned their pain being compounded by judgement , internally by their own perception of pain medicine and externally by other ’ s views , which led to them delaying treatment . I could feel the level of desperation that ultimately brought many of them to Dr . Murphy . His treatment recommendations to his patients were clearly delivered alongside a heavy dose of compassion in a safe space designed for healing .
I later met up with Dr . Murphy at a “ Kit Making Party ” with the Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition , where I received training in overdose treatment and participated in making Naloxone kits for distribution . I was met with a like-minded community in an atmosphere that did indeed feel like a party , one where humanity and wellness were centered and celebrated . I appreciated witnessing Dr . Murphy within his private practice and while engaging out in the community . He actively participates in grassroots efforts combat-
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