Medical Humanities

The Division of Medical Humanities of Drexel University College of Medicine provides an interdisciplinary resource for the study of ethics and humanities in medicine. The division offers a variety of courses, seminars and activities designed to prepare students, health care professionals and scientists for issues they will confront. The Division of Medical Humanities was one of the first programs in the country to stress the need for educating both competent and caring professionals. Our activities remain in the forefront of medical education in the examination of health care issues by presenting seminars in medical ethics, health law, history, death and dying, spirituality, literature, religion, and the arts. The Humanities Elective Courses are held at the Drexel University College of Medicine, Queen Lane Medical Campus. Courses are open to all students, faculty and staff. No pre-registration is usually necessary. The Humanities Scholars Program enables students to develop special expertise in the medical humanities. Candidates design a four-year, individualized course of study in consultation with division faculty. Requirements include successful completion of three elective courses; attendance and journal entries for six Humanities Grand Rounds or Humanities Special Events; attending or viewing the lecture entitled “Writing for Publication” and completing a journal entry listing the journal(s) or other venue(s) to which the student’s paper or project may be submitted; and completing an independent study project, which is often a paper approximately 10 pages in length. For information contact Flo Gelo, D.Min., Director, Humanities Scholars Program at (215) 991-8469 or fgelo@drexelmed.edu

Bioethics course work is required for all medical students, providing both a theoretical foundation in ethical analysis and experience in applying ethical reasoning to clinical cases