Hippocrates Cafe Performs on National Stage

Earlier this week, Hippocrates Cafe performed a new version of The Essence of Family Medicine at the American Academy of Family Physicians Residency Programs Solutions Symposium in Kansas City, Missouri, for a crowd of 600 residency program educators, administrators, and support staff.  The show explored the joys and challenges of family medicine.

Hippocrates Cafe in Kansas City

What is Hippocrates Cafe?

Hippocrates Cafe uses professional actors and musicians to explore healthcare topics through story and song. Shows are non-prescriptive in nature with a radio drama-feel, typically running 30 to 60 minutes in length.

Each show kicks off with the “Hippocrates Cafe Theme Song,” performed by Dan Newton and Robert Bell of Cafe Accordion Orchestra. Hippocrates Cafe creator and director Jon Hallberg, MD, then introduces show topics and provides narration throughout, giving context for performances.

L-R, Rob Bell and Dan Newton

Professional actors and musicians perform carefully selected readings and music, designed to illuminate the chosen topic. Readings incorporate equal measures of humor and serious reflection; sources range from novels to poems to scientific journals. Music selection includes a variety of genres (e.g., classical, jazz, gospel, contemporary).  

Guthrie actor and University of Minnesota medical student
Mark Nelson reviews his readings before a show.

 Since its launch in fall 2009, Hippocrates Cafe has performed nearly 60 shows, covering more than 30 health care topics. Performances have been held in a variety of venues on the local and national stage, such as national medical conferences, the University of Minnesota, Mayo Clinic, Target Field, the Weisman Art Museum, and beyond.

Topics have included baseball and medicine, the brain, cancer, the common cold and influenza, family medicine, eating disorders, and mental health.

About the Creator

Jon Hallberg, MD, wears many hats, including serving as associate professor in family medicine at the University of Minnesota and faculty advisor for the Fisch Art of Medicine Student Awards; medical director at the award-winning University of Minnesota Physicians Mill City Clinic; and regular medical commentator on Minnesota Public Radio. Hallberg also serves on the board of Ten Thousand Things Theater Company and as company physician for the Guthrie Theater and team physician for Minnesota Twins baseball.

Jon Hallberg, MD, introduces a show.

Learn More

Hippocrates Cafe has an active presence on Facebook and recently launched a Twitter account.