(upbeat music) - Healthcare Stories at the University of Utah brings people together through personal narratives that deepen connection and support emotional wellbeing in healthcare.

Joining us to tell us more is Dr.

Gretchen Case and also Megan Call.

Thank you so much for being here today.

Tell me a little bit more about this event.

- Sure, thanks to a collaboration between the Resiliency Center, the Center for Health Ethics, Arts and Humanities, and Utah Presents, we're able to put on this show every year.

We've done it, this is our eighth show.

We ask for stories from across our community, not just in the healthcare system, providers and patients, but also anybody who has a body, who has an important story to tell about health or healthcare.

Maybe one that you didn't know you need to hear.

- That's a very brave thing for people to do, not only to speak publicly about what they're going through, but like to an audience.

Tell me about the power of storytelling and combating loneliness and also encouraging wellbeing.

- So what we know from the literature is that when we gather to tell stories with one another, it has all sorts of beneficial impacts.

In particular, we know from literature on post-traumatic growth, that communal storytelling is one way that we heal.

And additionally, even our brainwaves and the chemicals in our brain when we hear stories, there's this concept called neuronal coupling where our brains will react the same way and the audience as the storyteller does, and chemicals like oxytocin and dopamine are released that enhance focus and bonding, which is beneficial for all of us.

- That was one thing I asked before the camera started rolling.

I was like, is this gonna be a sad and depressing time for people?

And you guys were like, "No."

- No, no.

There's such a range of things.

I mean, you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll have new ideas, you will be changed by what you hear and what you see.

And the storytellers tell us they are changed too, by allowing other people to witness their stories, which are full of all the human emotions.

And then we have audience members who come back every year because they wanna hear what the new story is.

It's different every year.

- I love to hear that type of impact.

If you would like to check this event out, we have all the information for you up on the screen right now.

It is the Resiliency Center, CHEETAH, and also Utah Presents sponsoring healthcare stories together.

It's March 5th at 7:00 PM located at Kingsbury Hall.

If you'd like to learn more information about how to participate or even to share it with other people, you can go to uofuhealth.org/healthcare-stori.

I'm Liz Adeola and this is "Contact."

(upbeat music) - Local events, arts, culture.

It's what brings us together.

Hi, I'm Mary Dickson.

Here on Contact, we introduce you to local events and organizations that serve your neighborhood.

If you work for a nonprofit and would like to appear on our show, please visit pbsutah.org/contact.