The Arts in Medicine curriculum is part of the UCHSC campus-wide Program in Medical Humanities. These new initiatives, under the auspices of the Center for Bioethics and Humanities, bring the liberal arts (broadly interpreted) to the Health Sciences Campus.

Medical Humanities is an interdisciplinary exploration of how the humanities disciplines can engage and illuminate the nature, goals and practice of medicine. The medical humanities include art, history, philosophy, literature and theology as they intersect with the science and art of medicine. Our goal is to integrate these areas into the experiences of students, faculty and staff, as well as the broader community. The humanities can help us to understand better the meaning of life and death and promote the growth and development of more reflective and empathetic health care providers.

Driven by the philosophy that humanism is an important component of becoming excellent in all aspects of health education, we’ve sought innovative teaching methods and divergent content. These activities include required course segments, elective courses, and an emphasis on reflective writing, as well as a weekly lecture series open to the public.
 

* Dolev JC, Frielaender JK, Braverman IM. Use of fine art to enhance visual diagnostic skills. JAMA 2001 Sep 5; 286(9):1020-1.