Why medical humanities?
Essentially, medical humanities help us understand that medical practice is a human- and a humane endeavor. The humanities help us recognize past mistakes- and their mirrors in the present-, to see biases and celebrate triumphs, and they provide a window into human nature. Through this understanding, the humanities help to develop better relationships with patients. In short, effective practice requires grounding in the medical humanities.
Although the practice of medicine requires scientific knowledge understanding the practice of medicine also is linked to the humanities. This is the portion of medicine often referred to as the "art" of medicine, and it includes history of medicine, as well as literature and fine arts.
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- The College of Medicine 50th anniversary
- Hippocratic awards
- Humanism in Medicine at UF
- Past events in the Maren Room
Medical Humanities and the University of Florida
Dr. George T. Harrell was the founding dean of University of Florida’s College of Medicine and the Hershey Medical School. He believed strongly that "Medicine is a profession which, in itself, implies a desire and responsibility to serve people. The practice of medicine is an art, not a science, though it uses scientific tools which may be of high precision." He believed that medical humanities were essential for maintaining the art in medical practice, and fought to have them included in the curriculum. In a 1968 article published in Journal of the American Medical Association, George T. Harrell argued for the importance of medical humanities,
"In the biomedical field, the factual information on which the practice of medicine will rest is roughly doubling every ten years as the result of research. It is no longer possible with this rapid rate of accumulation of knowledge to teach from a purely factual point of view. In addition, we are living in a time of rapid social evolution so that the study of the humanities becomes equally as important as the biological sciences. Teaching should be directed toward the development of a pattern of thinking and an approach to problem solving."
"Education of the Family Physician" JAMA February 12 (203):495-498 (1968)
Medical humanities at the University of Florida expanded most quickly through the Arts in Medicine program and the Center for Spirituality and Health. History of medicine programs included a monthly lecture series. In recent years, other areas of the medical humanities have developed at Florida thanks to the Thomas H. Maren Foundation and thanks to alumni contributions. These areas include literature and narrative medicine through the Thomas H. Maren Medical Student Reading Room. Too, the history of medicine program expanded into the medical school curriculum and throughout the Health Science Center.
