About this Event
Join us for a private screening of River Therapy, a Fin and Fur Films Production in association with American Rivers.
Q&A with Director Katie Masters, Dr. Tyler Jorgensen, Dr. Ryan Allen, Dr. Heather Farthing, Dr. Mark Munns, Tommy Nguyen, PA-C, Amanda Johnson, PA-C.
Synopsis
River Therapy is an hour long documentary that follows a group of Austin-based Emergency Room professionals as they leave behind the fluorescent intensity of the hospital for a canoe journey down the remote Pecos River in West Texas. In the wake of the sudden death of a beloved colleague and medical director, the group gathers not only to paddle through canyon wilderness, but also to process grief, burnout, and the emotional toll of practicing emergency medicine within an increasingly strained American healthcare system.
As the participants move through rapids, camp beneath towering limestone cliffs, and reconnect with the natural world, conversations emerge that rarely happen inside the hospital. Physicians and physician assistants speak openly about emotional suppression, moral injury, staffing shortages, corporate pressures, and the challenge of maintaining compassion within a productivity-driven medical system. Alongside these difficult reflections are moments of humor, friendship, stillness, and joy that reveal the deep bonds formed between people who routinely witness human crisis together.
Interwoven with immersive river cinematography are stylized recreations, animation, hospital imagery, and layered sound design that evoke the sensory experience of emergency medicine while protecting patient confidentiality. The river becomes more than a setting; it evolves into a symbol of restoration, perspective, and connection.
At its core, River Therapy is a story about resilience. The film explores how wild places can create space for healing, how community sustains people working on the front lines of care, and how healthcare professionals must learn to care for themselves and one another in order to continue caring for others.
Agenda
🕑: 06:30 PM - 07:30 PM
River Therapy
🕑: 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM
Q&A
Event venue & nearby stays
AFS Cinema, 6259 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, United States
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