For more than 30 years, Dr. Lorinda Spooner has been a family doctor. From beginning her career as a nurse in remote communities like Baffin Island and working in small towns across British Columbia, to now supporting diverse communities across Vancouver. Whether in rural clinics or busy city hospitals, one reality was constant: addiction touched nearly every community she served and has been a pressing, visible issue.
That truth drew her toward addiction medicine, where she has cared for some of the province’s most marginalised people working in places like Vancouver Drug Court, the Downtown Eastside Mobile Medical Unit, Vancouver Jail, Vancouver General Hospital’s Complex Pain and Addiction Service, Corrections health care and private practice.
A Different Kind of Storytelling
After decades of listening to people share their pain, loss, and hopes, the emotional toll became overwhelming. During the pandemic, Dr. Spooner began writing poetry at her desk after patient visits as a way to process her experiences, make sense of the devastation she witnessed, and to find meaning in her work.
The result is Examining Room, a collection of poems drawn from her experiences in addiction medicine. In her own words, poetry is “accessible and emotionally resonant, less clinical than data-heavy reports,” allowing readers to understand addiction not as an abstract crisis, but as a deeply human story.
“I am not my sorrow,” she writes — a reminder that behind every statistic is a person with strength, resilience, and agency.
Narrative Medicine in Action
Dr. Spooner’s approach reflects a belief that health care is as much about listening as it is about treatment. By taking time to understand each patient’s story, she offers something more than a prescription: dignity, compassion, and the belief that change is possible.
“Many of my patients feel stuck in a current they can’t escape,” she says. “My role is to help them see their agency.”
Giving Back to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre
Every dollar from Examining Room is being donated to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre. Through this collaboration, Dr. Spooner’s words are helping ensure women in the DTES have access to safety, hot meals, and wraparound support.
Her book has already been selected for the North Shore Authors Collection 2025–26, and she is exploring pop-up events and readings in partnership with DEWC. She has also spoken about her work on radio with Jill Bennett – which you can listen to here – and continues to share updates on examiningroom.ca and Instagram @examiningroom.ca.
Dr. Spooner’s poems are both a window into a world many never see, and a mirror reflecting our shared humanity. They remind us that listening – truly listening – can be the first step toward healing.
You can learn more about Examining Room and order a copy here: examiningroom.ca All proceeds will directly support DEWC’s work with women in the Downtown Eastside.
