Module overview
Medical Humanities is an interdisciplinary field that explores the intersection of medicine, healthcare practices, and the human experience through the lens of the arts, humanities, and social sciences. It promotes a more holistic approach to patient care by integrating both the scientific and humanistic dimensions of medicine.
As part of the module, students explore a particular area of medicine through arts and humanities subjects and produce a piece of creative work, either independently or in small groups. For example, students might examine representations of doctors and patients in literature, films, and TV series; engage in discussions about how the media portrays the current mental health crisis; or study the human body through life drawing sessions. Creative works might include podcasts, short stories, photographic self-portraits, drawings, zines, group presentations, as well as performances such as drama or dance, and much more.
Students can choose from a wide range of disciplines, including visual art, music, film studies, theatre, creative writing, philosophy, history of medicine, and global health. They also reflect on the entire experience, considering what they have learned and how it might inform their future professional practice.