Sam Meekings, associate professor at Northwestern University in Qatar, led an interdisciplinary workshop on storytelling and trauma at the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs at Northwestern University. The workshop, held as part of Meekings’ Global Collaboration Grant, explored the role of narrative in understanding trauma and its impact on individuals and communities.
Co-organized with Catherine Belling, associate professor at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine, the workshop brought together scholars, filmmakers, and practitioners to examine how storytelling can shape trauma processing and recovery. Discussions centered on trauma-informed care, eco-anxiety, and self-narratives, with contributions from experts including Uma Thachapuzha from Feinberg School of Medicine, Megan Morrell from the Center for Neighborhood Engaged Research and Science Institute for Policy Research, as well as Ines Sommer, Aisha Hamid, and Elshadai Aberra from the Pritzker Pucker Studio Lab.
The workshop opened with Thachapuzha’s discussion on the challenges of implementing trauma-informed care in medical settings, emphasizing how fear of re-traumatization can lead to avoidance and silence. Morrell followed with an analysis of how marginalized communities in Chicago use storytelling to process environmental trauma and eco-anxiety.
In the following session, Hamid shared her poignant film on grief and the power of fiction to bring untold stories to light, while Ines Sommer, director of the Pritzker Pucker Studio Lab, presented excerpts from a documentary on the enduring effects of torture on former political prisoners.
Meanwhile, Belling provided insight into the role of horror in diagnosing and discussing PTSD, highlighting its impact on perceptions of reality. Meekings then examined the effects of trauma on self-narratives and how exposure therapy employs storytelling techniques to help individuals reshape their personal histories. The workshop ended with in an engaging discussion on the cultural and contextual differences in trauma conceptualization, with participants reflecting on how the day’s insights could inspire future collaborative projects.
“This workshop highlights the power of storytelling to bridge gaps in trauma studies and narrative medicine,” said Meekings. “By bringing together voices from different disciplines, we can better understand how narrative tools help individuals process and make sense of trauma.”
The event is part of Northwestern Qatar’s broader commitment to fostering global academic collaboration and interdisciplinary research. Commenting on the significance of the partnership, Marwan M. Kraidy, dean and CEO of Northwestern Qatar, stated: "This collaboration between Northwestern Qatar and the Buffett Institute is a testament to the strength of our academic exchange and global engagement. By bringing together expertise across disciplines and geographies, we continue to create opportunities for meaningful research and impactful dialogue on pressing global issues."
Meekings’ research and teaching focus on creative writing, narrative theory, and trauma studies. His involvement in the Global Collaboration Grant program reflects Northwestern Qatar’s ongoing efforts to contribute to global scholarship and foster cross-campus engagement.
