Most students expect medical school to be four years of science, but a U program is attempting to make medicine about more than just physical anatomy.
Set up in 1988 by Jay Jacobson, the medical ethics and humanities program was designed to prepare physicians to provide human patient care and address ethical problems in health care.
Based in the School of Medicine, the program involves the College of Humanities, College of Law and the English and philosophy departments.
The program was set up in the wake of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, when many doctors were unprepared for the ethical issues involved in treating HIV/AIDS patients.
"As doctors, we tend to focus on the new techniques, procedures and break-through technology," said first-year medical student Pete Pelletier, "But you can't lose perspective of the human side and how patients feel."
First-year medical students are required to take a social medicine class, which includes an introduction to caring for patients emotionally, dealing with death and dying, suicide and other ethical issues that may come up while taking care of patients.
Teresa Tuan, a first-year medical student, said she likes the class because it gives her a break from all the science and anatomy. "Without the humanities, you don't have balance; they give you an opportunity to use your creative side," Tuan said.
"We are trying to emphasize doctor-patient relationships," said Jacobson, who is now chief of the division of medical ethics and humanities. "Using poetry, art and film, (doctors) can learn about how patients are feeling."
After the second year of medical school, the students transition into the clinic and hospital settings.
"It is no longer just about the science," said John Linford, fourth-year medical student. "You have to look at how disease and your treatments affect patients socially and emotionally. By studying humanities, we can better understand our patients' needs."
As fourth-years, the medical students are required to take a medical ethics class and also have the option of taking ethics and humanities electives.
Aside from the required courses for medical students, the program also offers classes and discussions for practicing doctors, lawyers and nurses. The courses are aimed at creating understanding and positive relationships between the different professions.
"Doctors and lawyers are notorious for their bad relationships, so the fact that we have them working together is unique," Jacobson said.
