Dr. Lorraine Higgins
is currently an assistant professor of composition at the University of Pittsburgh
and an associate researcher with the National Center for the Study of Writing
and Litreracy at CMU. She directs the CLC's ARGUE project, a CLC initiative that
supports community residents as they attempt to build consensus nd take action
on pressing issues that affect Pittsburgn neighborhoods. In a series of collaborative
workshops, people with a wide range of expertise and experience work together
to analyze problems as a team, turn group decisions into viable plans, and build
consensus through writing.
ARGUE's most recent project brought together female patients in the MON Valley area with volunteer physicians and nurses who work at local clinics. These groups developed written "cases" that analyze some of the communication and cultural misunderstandings that can arise in innercity hopital and clinic settings and provide new strategies for better communication and policies. The resulting handbook (co-authored by the patients and physicians) "Getting to know you" will be used in medical school courses and in local clinics.
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