When I first became interested in storytelling, I never thought I would end up onstage at the Flynn in Burlington facing hundreds of people. I was just looking for a creative outlet after the COVID-19 pandemic and thought learning to shape a narrative and connect with an audience would help with my public speaking duties as president of the Vermont Medical Society.

I started small with a storytelling event at the Larner College of Medicine. Susanne Schmidt, the regional producer for the Moth StorySLAM in Vermont, coached us through the basics. (The Moth is a non-profit organization that hosts events where people tell true, personal stories on stage, often around a specific theme.) We crafted our stories independently and then told them at the LCOM StorySlamRx a month later.

Soon, I was hooked. I started attending monthly StorySLAM events in Burlington, organized by The Moth. It felt great to be with a community of people, listening to funny, heartbreaking, compelling stories from my neighbors, friends and co-workers.

Eventually, I decided to share my own story. I put my name in at one of the StorySLAM events and told a childhood tale to a packed auditorium at the Main Street Landing Film House. The audience was welcoming and generous. Winning that event meant that I would compete at the Moth GrandSLAM at the Flynn.

That’s how I found myself on stage, sharing a story from my days in pediatric critical care fellowship. It was a special story to share, and I was honored to take home the winning prize that night.

There is power in storytelling. Whether counseling a family, speaking to the media or addressing policymakers, pairing facts and statistics with real-life stories makes a lasting impact. The stories we tell shape our world.

Rebecca Bell, MD, is a Pediatric Critical Care Physician at University of Vermont Children’s Hospital, Associate Professor at UVM Larner College of Medicine, and Immediate Past President of the Vermont Medical Society.