On Thursday evening, Nov. 17, the community is invited to attend the third event of The J’s Acclaimed Author Series presented by Jewish Experiences, a collaboration of Jewish Federation and The J.
Dr. Adam Stern will discuss his book, “Committed: Dispatches from a Psychiatrist in Training.” This program is in partnership with Jewish Family Services. Sondra Wallace, JFS’ Director of Mental Health Programs, will serve as moderator.
Stern, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the director of psychiatry at BIDMC’s Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, tells what it’s like to be a doctor tasked with healing the mind. The book brings readers along during Stern’s residency as he and his fellow doctors work rounds in psychiatric wards, grapple with impostor syndrome, navigate their personal lives, and experience love and loss.
Stern has written extensively about his experiences as a physician in several publications including The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The New England Journal of Medicine, The Journal of the American Medical Association and The American Journal of Psychiatry. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Stern appeared on CNN as a psychiatric expert.
“We could not be more excited to have launched our second season of The Acclaimed Author series,” shared Ethan Helfand, The J’s Director of Jewish Experiences. “This year, we’re thrilled to be welcoming a new slate of authors to share different stories, perspectives, and ideas about what it looks like to live, think, and experience Jewishness in new and innovative ways.”
While each of the Acclaimed Author Series programs are free, registration is required at thejkc.org/aas.
Stern’s presentation follows two programs: First, an event featuring Northwestern University Professor of History Dr. Deborah Cohen discussing her new book, “Last Call at the Hotel Imperial.” The program was co-sponsored by the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education and moderated by its Director of Education, Dr. Shelly Cline. The second program featured author Gabrielle Glaser discussing her book, "American Baby: A Mother, a Child, and the Shadow History of Adoption". This program was presented in partnership with The Priya Fund, a program of Jewish Family Services that supports local Jewish couples struggling with infertility and the National Council of Jewish Women-Greater Kansas City Section. Ellen Portnoy served as the moderator.
In March 2023, readers will have a chance to interact with and hear from four more authors who will join the community in person. Authors will include Jean Meltzer discussing her romantic-comedy novel “Mr. Perfect on Paper” and former professional basketball player Dan Grunfeld discussing the connection between his Holocaust-survivor grandfather and his career on the court in “By the Grace of the Game.” Additionally, the series will welcome Kansas City’s own Jason Kander to discuss his recent book “Invisible Storm: A Soldier’s Memoir of Politics and PTSD” and journalist Emily Tamkin to discuss “Bad Jews: A History of American Jewish Politics and Identities.”
The Acclaimed Author Series is made possible through a partnership with the Jewish Book Council that works to bring communities like Kansas City stories, authors, and books that expand the way we think about Jewish identity and culture. These programs are also made possible through the support of the Sam Schultz Jewish Book Fair Fund.
Jewish Experiences (JEX), a collaboration between Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City and The J, aims to find ways to bring both the Jewish people and Jewish organizations of Kansas City together to find new and innovative ways to live, learn, and think Jewishly. JEX seeks to empower people to be engaged in their Jewishness and strive to engage those who have not previously been engaged in our community, helping them live a Jewish life that is authentic and meaningful to them.
More information about Jewish Experiences can be found at thejkc.org/jewishexperiences/ or by contacting program director Ethan Helfand at .