Joseph Wood

Research title

CICELY SAUNDERS AND THE NARRATIVE LEGACIES OF ‘TOTAL PAIN’

Research summary

My project examines the conceptual background to the idea of 'total pain' used by the hospice pioneer Cicely Saunders.

Using Saunders own published papers and private notes and correspondence alongside the literary, philosophical and theological texts which informed her work, I am investigating the theoretical heritage of a term that is often described as a touchstone concept in palliative and end-of-life care but is rarely the focus of research.

Using perspectives from medical humanities, narrative medicine and philosophies of care, I hope to assess how far 'total pain' can be understood as a narrative concept and its relation to issues of holism, non-verbal communication, and silence.

My research is supported by an Arts and Humanities Research Council Studentship through the Scottish Graduate School of Arts and Humanities.


Publications


Supervisors

Grants

Grants & Awards

  • University of Glasgow College of Arts, Collaborative Research Award for ‘Public Health, Private Illness’ ECR Medical Humanities Conference, April 2020 - £1000

  • British Society for Literature and Science Small Grants Scheme for ‘Public Health, Private Illness’ ECR Medical Humanities Conference, April 2020 - £400

  • College of Arts PGR Community Building Fund: PGR Medical Humanities Networking Event July 2018 - £150


Teaching

I am Tutor on Society & Social Policy (DUMF1066) and 1A: Poetry and Poetics (1011)


Additional information

Affiliations



Joseph Wood Profile