The parallel chart is a novel medico-literary practice, invented by Dr Rita Charon as part of her creation of narrative medicine. It is a form that both innovates in the domain of medical humanities practice and works to subvert the traditional balances of power in the clinical setting. Despite its widespread inclusion in the repertoire of narrative medical techniques, there has been little consideration of the form’s development in the context of its historical antecedents and the many forms into which it has subsequently evolved. The design and structure of the parallel chart practice inform its goal of training clinicians in narrative competence and bolstering their clinical skills. The practice descends from and innovates upon several notable trends in the history of medical training. The various forms that have evolved from it are utilized as pedagogical tools in a multitude of present-day medical educational and clinical arenas.