Being a medical professional is about more than just clinical knowledge and expertise. Medical humanities are human pursuits that could enhance your medical performance and development.

Overview

Any medical professional or care giver is on the frontline of interaction with another human being who is likely to be either upset or suffering. This requires certain skills, including a capacity for listening, observing, analysing, showing empathy and ultimately self-reflection. By paying attention to branches of human interest that have traditionally remained outside of direct medical studies - such as humanities and the arts - we learn to develop, nurture and consolidate some of those skills.

An interdisciplinary area of study, Medical Humanities can be applied to medical education and everyday medical practice. Expanding knowledge of cultural interests and social issues may positively impact our understanding of illness and how medicine should be practised in a wider sense.

Examples include:

• Humanities – literature, philosophy, history, ethics, theology/religion
• Social Sciences – anthropology, cultural studies, psychology, sociology, demographics, health geography
• Arts – visual arts, theatre, films, literature

Within the Trust there is an active book club, a film club and a very enthusiastically supported art and photography competition. We are also investing our efforts into a vibrant arts programme which will display the power art has in providing therapeutic benefits.