About the Author and Artist
Joel Carter is an accomplished palliative care and pain specialist, author, speaker, storyteller and artist. Carter transitioned to Palliative Care in 2002 after being awarded a Bush Medical Fellowship by the Archibald Bush Foundation to pursue interests in End of Life Medicine and Physician Leadership. He completed his fellowship at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard University and training at the Physician Leadership College at the University of St. Thomas. He practices in Minneapolis where he speaks and lectures on various topics related to quality of life support, the life lessons of his patients share with him on meaning and life purpose, and the integration of creative art process with healing arts practice. He was a featured TEDx Winnipeg Speaker at the Winnipeg TEDx ‘Forward Think’ June 2017 conference, and has been named by Minnesota Monthly as Best Doctor in 2017, 2016, 2015 & Best Doctor for Women in 2014 for Palliative Medicine – Hospice.
Carter’s clinical interests include the use of storytelling and narrative as they pertain to the psychosocial aspects of dying patients and their families. He has been published in the Los Angeles Times, Reader’s Digest and the Annals of Emergency Medicine. He is the author of “Lava Lamp Lessons – Writings, Stories, and other Free Associations,” and “Rockpeople – The Chester Creek Inuksuit Anthology” which became a sold out regional hit in Minnesota. The sequel work “Rockpeople – Beyond Chester Creek” published in 2012 has garnered multi-award winning recognition and accolades. He has emerged as a mixed media / multi-dimensional artist with award winning public art installations and commissioned works in Edina and Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is a participating artist of the Jewish Artist Laboratory Initiative and exhibtions through the Sabes Jewish Community Center (Sabes JCC) St. Louis Park, MN and the Covenant Foundation. He also contributes as a creative problem solver for Assume Goodwill – a collaborative group of strategists who help non-profit organizations brainstorm solutions to tough organizational challenges.
Carter previously worked as an Emergency Room Doctor in both Duluth, Minnesota and Winnipeg, Canada. Born in Winnipeg, he received his medical degree from the University of Manitoba, Canada specializing in Family Practice and Emergency Medicine. He and his wife, along with their two beautiful children currently live in Minneapolis.
