Does every human being experience illness the same way? Can literature serve as a path to healing and resilience? Can art and poetry help us confront life’s deepest questions?

To explore these questions and more, join us for a thought-provoking series of talks with Dr. Azra Raza at LUMS.

Some sessions will also be streamed live on Facebook.

About Dr. Azra Raza

Professor Raza is the Chan Soon-Shiong Professor of Medicine at Columbia University, a pioneering oncologist, and the Executive Director of The First Cell Coalition for Cancer Survivors. With over 30 years of groundbreaking research in Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS), her work focuses on the early detection and prevention of cancer. She is the author of The First Cell and co-author of Ghalib: Epistemologies of Elegance. Dr. Raza’s groundbreaking work goes beyond medicine, blending art, poetry, and science to explore life’s most complex challenges.

Poetry in the Age of Anthropocene: Healing in a Fragmented World

Date: November 21, 2024
Time: 6 pm
Venue: B-3 Auditorium, SDSB, LUMS

In this talk, Dr. Raza will examine the role of poetry in the Anthropocene—a time marked by destruction, violence, and existential threats. Inspired by the concept of poetry as a path to healing, Professor Raza will explore classical Urdu poetry to demonstrate how it helps us confront loss, violence, and the looming destruction of our planet, offering a way to reconnect with reality in our fractured existence.

This session will be moderated by Syed Babar Ali, Founding Pro Chancellor, LUMS.

Ik Phūl Kā Mazmūñ Ho To Sau Rang Se Bāndhūñ: A Conversation between Dr. Fatima Fayyaz and Dr. Azra Raza

Date: November 22, 2024
Time: 10 am
Venue: VC Lounge, Academic Block, LUMS

In-person only

Urdu poetry, with its rich tradition and profound cultural significance, has long shaped our imagination, emotions, and values. The timeless verses of poets like Khusrau, Mir, Ghalib, Faiz, and Iqbal not only reflect the depths of our collective soul but also weave the very fabric of our identity. In an age dominated by technology and information overload, poetry remains a vital means for reconnecting with our humanity, celebrating our emotions, and affirming our shared cultural heritage. This talk will explore how this poetic legacy continues to resonate today, offering insight into how we can engage with and reinterpret these powerful traditions in the modern world. The discussion will highlight why, now more than ever, Urdu poetry is essential in grounding us and nurturing our sense of identity.

The First Cell: A New Dialogue on Medicine, Art, and Science

Date: November 22, 2024
Time: 6 pm
Venue: A-12 Auditorium, Academic Block, LUMS

This talk is an invitation to rethink how we approach illness and healing. Can art and poetry alleviate bodily pains? Where does cancer begin? How can these unrelated questions be brought into a relationship?

In her groundbreaking book The First Cell, Dr. Azra Raza explores the complexity of cancer treatment, shedding light on the dichotomies that shape contemporary medical practice and scientific research. This talk will delve into these complexities, asking questions related to how medicine, art, and the philosophy of healing may navigate these tensions.