Short-Story/Film Discussion Series

Fall 2026 Medical Stories Virtual Program

Join Librarian Barbara Wenglin via Zoom using the anthology "The Best Medicine," ed. Theodore Dalrymple. We will discuss films at some sessions to view before we meet.

Join White Plains Librarian Barbara Wenglin to explore compelling readings from the rich anthology, The Best Medicine: Stories of Healing (ed. Dalrymple, Everyman’s Pocket Classics, 2021). These works by diverse authors, many of whom were themselves physicians, feature tales of illness and healing, both physical and psychological. We will also discuss related film selections at some sessions to view before we meet.

The reading for this date is “A Doctor’s Visit” by Anton Chekhov - himself a physician- (1898 – p.15) From a master of the short-story genre, we meet a young assistant doctor from Moscow sent to a small factory town where he concludes that his lonely heiress patient’s deep suffering goes beyond her physical health.

Copies of the series anthology are available to reserve through the White Plains Catalog with one held at the Reference Desk for reading in the Library. We will meet Thursdays from 2:00 - 4:00 PM on 10/1/26, 10/8/26, 10/29/26, 11/12/26, 12/3/26, 12/17/26, 1/7/27, and 1/21/27. Meeting ID for all sessions is: 880 7463 9775 or phone in at 1 929 205 6099, no password needed.

Click This Zoom Link  to register once for the full series and join us when you can. The program is supported by The Friends of the White Plains Library.  All are welcome, including newcomers!

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