IMPLEMENTING A HUMANITIES IN MEDICINE REQUIREMENT: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Ruth Greenberg* and Edward C. Halperin, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, U.S.A.

PURPOSE: Many medical schools have developed electives and selectives that focus on the humanities in medicine. These courses create opportunities to explore and learn about the human qualities that physicians must display when they care for patients. In an effort to ensure that all students have opportunities to explore their own humanistic attitudes and behaviors, we developed a Humanities in Medicine requirement for all medical students. This abstract describes the challenges we faced and the strategies we employed to respond to those challenges.

METHODS: We faced three major challenges: 1) securing “buy-in” from stakeholders: students, faculty, course/clerkship directors, and department chairs; 2) identifying space in an already over-crowded curriculum for the new courses; and 3) identifying a way to deliver the courses to students at a regional campus. We addressed these challenges by: 1) sharing information broadly; 2) providing multiple opportunities for open discussions; 3) considering the needs of the learners; 4) exploring ways to use technology to support learning; and 5) emphasizing a collaborative, multi-stakeholder decision process.

RESULTS: The strategies we used resulted in a successful acceptance and approval process. The total number of hours in the curriculum remained unchanged. Stakeholders felt like partners in this process.

CONCLUSION: Communication, collaboration, and conciliation facilitate the introduction of curricular enhancements.