The Pharos
The Pharos is the quarterly publication from Alpha Omega Alpha, the honor medical society that recognizes, advocates for, and inspires physicians in the care of patients and promotion of health. The journal emphasizes the artistic, the literary, and the place of music, language, and culture in medicine, and although themes may shift, humanism is the enduring content of The Pharos.
Dr. Tess Jones serves on the editorial board and is the co-editor of the "Medicine and Media" feature.
“All those small things that one does”:
Keepers of the House
The short film, Keepers of the House, reminds viewers of a simple and profound truth-our need for human contact and human kindness in the experience of illness and decline. Produced under the auspices of the Franklin Humanities Institute Health Humanities Lab at Duke University by Neil Prose and Rhonda Klevansky, the film introduces eight environmental service workers at Duke University and Duke Regional Hospital who talk about the work that they do. In the cold and alien world of imposing clinicians, medical jargon, and invasive tests, the humbleness and helpfulness of housekeepers can inspire trust and invite confidences from frightened, vulnerable and even bored patients.
Review by Tess Jones, PhD; Winter, 2020
Life Interrupted by Paula Mozen
It is the story of the film’s producer-director, Paula Mozen, who begins with her breast cancer diagnosis in 2008, the moment when she is welcomed into what she calls, “the dreaded sisterhood” and “the club you never wanted to be a member of.”
Review by Tess Jones, PhD; Autumn, 2020
Addiction and the American Family: Beautiful Boy & Ben is Back
Both films center on what appears to be, on the surface, perfect families. But, beneath the surface are the unmistakable signs of the damage caused by drugs.
Review by Tess Jones, PhD; Summer, 2019
Grief observed:
Manchester By the Sea & Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri
Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) in Manchester By the Sea,and Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) in Three Billboards, are recognizable touch points along the range of human emotions—sorrow, guilt, bitterness, anger, exhaustion, confusion, and resignation. However, each character eventually stakes a claim to a singular emotional construct and coping mechanism.
Review by Tess Jones, PhD; Spring, 2018