At UVA, we are exploring the nature of wisdom and human adaptation to adversity in the context of patient experiences living with chronic pain and physician responses in the aftermath of serious medical error. We know that amid potentially debilitating circumstances, some people display a creative response to adversity and emerge as better people; patients gain a more positive outlook while physicians become more compassionate.

We have compiled patient and physician exemplars that provide a rich body of narrative to aid in the discovery of the qualities, traits or circumstances that give rise to the development of wisdom through adversity.