Humanities in Medicine

"Pre-medical studies should provide the intellectual foundation on which to build both a successful career in medicine and an enlightened and satisfying life as a member of society. The breadth and substance of that foundation will affect the ability of the physician to serve effectively in the many roles which may be expected of him or her, such as healer, counselor, advocate, scientist, technician, analyst, philosopher, citizen, and leader."
From "A perspective on Pre-Medical Education"
by Charles Wilson. January 1992

A story in the New York Times profiled a study of doctors who received their bachelors degrees from three liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania. The doctors said they wished they had taken more humanities courses while they were undergraduates and that they had taken too many science courses they didn't need in their daily work. They also said that their early course work did not provide them with enough skills in dealing with people.

Many medical Schools encourage pre-medicine students to major in whatever area interests them, including the humanities. The University of Nebraska Medical Center Bulletin, for example, says that for prospective students of medicine, "familiarity with the humanities and social sciences, which puts physicians in touch with society and helps them gain understanding and compassion so basic to the art of healing, is indispensable because of the growing complexity of society." Some medical schools even incorporate humanities into their own programs. The Association of American Medical Colleges reports, for example, that one-third of U.S. medical schools include a literature program in their curriculum.

For this reason, Linda and Charles S. Wilson established the Wilson Fund for Humanities in Medicine to support the Humanities in Medicine Program at UNL in 1997.

Special Speakers and Events
The Humanities in Medicine Program annually sponsors a visiting speaker who is prominent in the field of humanities in medicine. These lectures and other related events are intended for pre-medicine students and also appeal to a students in other pre-health areas. Previous lectures have included, "The Nazis and Medical Ethics" and "What Medical School is Really Like".

Observing Professionals
All students enrolled in the program must participate in a shadowing or volunteer activity with a practicing medical professional. Personal experience with a practicing doctor is invaluable for students to see how responding daily to ethical and social considerations-the art of medicine-interplays with the practitioner's scientific expertise. This activity is arranged by the student with the assistance of the pre-health adviser.

Requirements of the Program
To be considered an official participant in the Humanities in Medicine Program, students must register for the Program in the Arts and Sciences Advising Center in 107 Oldfather. To complete the program successfully, participants must:

• Major in one of the defined humanities majors.
• Participate in at least one Humanities in Medicine lecture or event per year. See "Special Speakers and Events".
• Complete at least one professional shadowing observation or volunteer experience per year. See "Observing Professionals".
• Complete three courses from the lists below, at least one of which must be from the list of core courses. Remaining courses may be from either list or any other course upon approval from the pre-health adviser.

Upon Graduation, students will be awarded a Humanities in Medicine Certificate to recognize their achievements in this area.

Special Courses
The Humanities in Medicine Program provides stimulating course work at various levels. The courses below address topics related to medicine and humanities, society, and civic issues. Students are required to take three courses from the lists below, one of which must be a core course. Students may also take courses offered in any of the humanities and social science departments upon approval of the pre-health adviser.

Core Courses
ENGL 210I. Illness and Health in Literature
COMM 354. Health Communication
PHIL 213. Medical Ethics
SOCI 453. Sociology of Health and Health Professions

Related Courses
ANTH 422. Medical Anthropology
ANTH 472. Belief Systems in Anthropological Perspective
ANTH 474 Applied & Developmental Anthropology
CLAS 116. Scientific Greek and Latin
CLAS 233. Science in the Classical World
GERO 446. Psychology of Adult Development and Aging
HIST 221. Science in History
PHIL317. Philosophy of Science
PHIL 320. Ethical Theory
POLS 232. Public Issues in America
PSYC 428. Health Psychology
PSYC 464 Psychoneuropharmacology
PSYC 465 Behavioral Neuroscience
RELG 225 Science in Religion
SOCI 470. Sociology of Occupations and Professions