Medical Humanities

The Division of Medical Humanities of Drexel University College of Medicine (DUCoM) provides an interdisciplinary resource for the study of the humanities and ethics in medicine; it includes the Program in Medical Humanities and the Bioethics curriculum.

What are the Medical Humanities?
Physicians must not only master science, but also acquire greater human understanding and wisdom. The Medical Humanities are those disciplines that inquire into the human experience of illness, healing and doctoring with attention to meaning, values and the history of ideas. They better equip physicians to relieve suffering, understand the experience of illness and disability, find deeper value in the practice of medicine, resolve ethical dilemmas, confront mystery, learn from history, address social determinants of disease, and monitor the biases and limitations of science. These fields of study include (but are not limited to):

• literature; visual arts; theater; film
• philosophy; ethics; religious and spiritual thought; contemplative studies
• history, anthropology; cultural studies; sociology

Drexel’s Division of Medical Humanities was one of the first programs in the country to stress the need for educating both competent and caring professionals. We remain at the forefront of medical education by examining current topics relevant to study and practice of medicine today. Lectures and seminars are generally held at the DUCoM Queen Lane Campus, and are open to all students, faculty and staff. Pre-registration is usually not required.

The Humanities Scholars Certificate is awarded to students who develop special expertise in the medical humanities. Candidates design a four-year, individualized course of study in consultation with Program faculty.  Requirements include successful completion of three elective courses; attendance and journal entries for six Humanities Grand Rounds or Humanities Special Events; and completing an independent study project, which is often a paper approximately 10 pages in length. For more information click on the link “Humanities Scholars Certificate and Selected Paper Topics” or 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.