Approaches to Medical Humanities Student 1 What opportunities

Approaches to Medical Humanities Student 1 What opportunities are offered by the SSC to: Acquire new knowledge or perspectives or skills of potential value to me during my career? Follow up personal interests? Stretch myself? Address current weaknesses? Build on my existing strengths?

Approaches to Medical Humanities Student 2 What can I do that’ll give me an easy time? What have I done before that I am good at, so won’t have to do much work? What options have least contact, least assessment demands?

Outcomes Student 1 Student 2 • that was hard work but I really did acquire new skills / perspectives / insights / tools for thought / confidence etc • that was a waste of time, but at least I got a pass, 13, etc for minimum effort … And possibly • I can put my class prize, publication, or conference presentation on my cv • that was an missed opportunity … • Moan, moan

SCEF Returns 2010 -11 generally or strongly disagree% Overall the course was interesting & stimulating 10 (11) 90 (89) The workload was about right 20 (27) 80 (73) I acquired new skills that may be of value during my career 15 (24) 85 (76) I acquired new perspectives that may be of value during my career 11 (18) 89 (82) Facilities for learning were adequate 8 (13) 92 (87) Tutors were approachable and helpful 9 (7) 91 (93) Teaching sessions were well organised 10 (12) 90 (88)

Important points to note 1. 2. 3. 4. The options do vary greatly: ie history of medicine research and writing is a different kind of activity to learning a language, exploring medicine and health from an anthropological, literary, spiritual perspectives, attending a lecture/seminar course (eg History of Art, History and Philosophy of Science), engaging with school students, designing a E-learning tool etc. NB It is up to you to explore exactly what options involve in terms of contact and assessment by studying course booklets / contacting course coordinators. Above all: The more you put into this SSC the more you will get out of it. What you can ‘get out of it’ potentially amounts to is much more that your CAS score. Think carefully about all your choices but be prepared to make the best of the opportunities offered by whatever you get, even if it’s not your first choice. Further reading: Professor Cairns Smith and others: 'Getting the most out of student selected components: 12 Tips for participating students', in Medical Teacher 2009, Vol. 31, No. 10, Pages 895902, available at http: //informahealthcare. com/doi/abs/10. 3109/01421590903175361

So what is medical humanities all about? • Acquiring ‘alternative’ perspectives on medicine / health / illness from disciplines outside the mainstream medical curriculum Eg the perspectives of history, sociology, literature, philosophy, anthropology, education, theology etc • Exploring experiences of medicine / health / illness of patients and health professionals

Medical Humanities options 2011 -12 30 Credits • Health Studies in Education • History of Medicine • Medical Anthropology: Method and Theory • On-line Course Design • Spirituality, Health and Healing • Human Anatomy: Dissection With Historical, Cultural and Social Dimensions • Creative Writing for Medical Students • Alternative Medical Humanities Project • Disabilities Studies 15 Credits • An Introduction To Medical Education • Essay Project On the History Or Culture of Health Or Medicine • History and Philosophy of Science for Medical Students • History of Art • Languages for Medical Students : French, Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced • Languages for Medical Students : Gaelic, Beginners and Advanced • Languages for Medical Students : German, Beginners and Advanced • Languages for Medical Students : Spanish, Complete Beginners', Post-beginners', and Advanced • Literature and Medicine Project • Medical Ethics Project • Studying Social Life • The Arts and Humanities in Health and Social Care Contexts- An Inter-professional Module

What does interest me and how does the SSC provide opportunity to pursue these interest? Examples • Languages: I’m interested in going to a Spanish / French / German / Gaelic-speaking area for my medical elective in phase IV (or hope to be working in such a place in the future) but can’t speak the language very well (or I can’t speak the language at all in the case of Spanish) … – Maybe I should choose a modern language … (consider also the essay project) BUT NB IT IS POINTLESS TO CHOOSE A LANGUAGE JUST BECAUSE YOU WERE GOOD AT IT IN SCHOOL OR CAN ALREADY SPEAK IT AND NB IT IS POSSIBLE TO LEARN LANGUAGES BY EVENING CLASS / SELF STUDY / VACATION COURSES (SEE http: //www. abdn. ac. uk/languagecentre/)

• I’m interested in religion but wonder what the relevance of religion to medicine and health might be? – Maybe I should choose Spirituality, Health, and Healing … • A specific problem / issue worries me (Why is it so difficult to persuade people to give up smoking? / Is poverty necessarily associated with ill-health? etc) or I’m interested in a specific specialty / medical condition / disability / geographical area etc) – Maybe I could conduct a project / write an essay on the topic? (Explore possibilities with Anthropology / History of Medicine / Studying Social Life / Disabilities Studies, Medical Ethics etc coordinators …)

• I’d really like to enhance my CV with a publication / conference presentation / exhibition etc based on my SSC output – Explore possibilities with option coordinators – and see http: //www. abdn. ac. uk/medical-humanities/programmes/studentselected/ for examples of recent public outputs (not a comprehensive list) – Bear in mind the possibility of presenting at the 2013 Association for Medical Humanities conference in Aberdeen (8 -10 July 2013): http: //www. abdn. ac. uk/medical-humanities/events/amh-conference/ (organiser: Catherine Jones: c. a. jones@abdn. ac. uk) • I feel communicating health / medical ideas is very important and would like to enhance my skills – Consider Health Studies in Education, On-line Course design, Medical Education, etc • I’m good at mugging up for exams but not so good at library / research / writing / presentation skills. I’d like to improve – Consider an option involving project work / essay writing / presentation – History of Medicine / Studying Social Life / Disabilities Studies / Anthropology / Medical Ethics + project / Medicine and Literature + project etc

• I’ve never been ill, physically or mentally, or disabled, but I really feel that I’d benefit from greater insight into / exploring what it’s like to be like that – Consider medicine and literature (with or without the optional project) or Creative Writing for Medical Students or The Arts and Humanities in Health and Social Care Contexts, or Disabilities Studies etc • I don’t feel I’ve much insight into what it’s really like to be a doctor – Consider especially medicine and literature (with or without the optional project) or The Arts and Humanities in Health and Social Care Contexts • I’ve observed ethical issues but so far I don’t think the medical curriculum has given me the intellectual tools needed to consider them in depth – Consider medical ethics (+ medical ethics project)

• I, or member of my family or a friend has a medical condition and I’d like to understand more about it … – Consider history of medicine, disabilities studies, the social science options etc (contact course coordinators) • I feel that my powers of observation need enhancing – Consider history of art. See (http: //www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC 3031316 /) for references (also relevant for various other courses: this link gives a lead into research on the educational/training potential of medical humanities) • I want to change the world, maybe I’d be more effective if I understood more about the drivers of change / changes in the past … – Consider History of Medicine, History and Philosophy of Science, the Social Science options etc

• Creativity is what really interests me … – Consider History of Art, Literature and Medicine, Arts and Humanities in Health and Social Care Contexts, Creative Writing • It’s the perspectives of other members of society on medicine / health which really interests me … – Consider History of Art, Literature and Medicine, Arts and Humanities in Health and Social Care Contexts, the Social Science options etc • I’m not very good at Anatomy and would like an opportunity to swot up • DON’T BOTHER CHOOSING THE ANATOMY OPTION FOR THIS REASON, THAT’S NOT WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT. THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT AT THE SUTTIE CENTRE – CONTACT IAN STEWART FOR DETAILS

• There are lots of other good reasons for choosing specific options …. • For further details and links see http: //www. abdn. ac. uk/m edical/humanities/

Special points and rules • It is only possible to study one language • Medical Ethics project can only be taken Introduction to Medical Ethics • Literature and Medicine Project can only be taken with Literature and Medicine • Arts and Humanities in Health and Social Care Contexts is a taught at Foresterhill – 10 students) • On-Line Course design 3 -4 students – first or second choice only – an outline of a project must be submitted • Anatomy – first choice only – 12 students

Special points and rules • Languages apart from complete beginners’ Spanish require a school certificate • There is a cost involved in the language options for buying textbooks: apart from Gaelic - some details on MH SSC webpage – try buying from last year’s students but check with coordinators: YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED • Alternative projects – please contact me with ideas prior to submitting form and submit an outline with form (GHAT possibility) • After options have been allocated, straight swaps only will be permitted for a limited period of time • By the time the choice form is released, timetable information will be available for 15 credit options: do not choose combinations that clash • Principles of allocation of options – To satisfy student choice – To create viable classes

Deadlines • Choice form available: 16 May • Forms to be returned to Mrs Simpson 22 May • Allocation of options: early June

And finally • If you are considering an Intercalated degree in medical humanities you may want to think especially carefully about your choices – for details see http: //www. abdn. ac. uk/medicalhumanities/programmes/intercalated/ • Contact: Catherine Jones c. a. jones@abdn. ac. uk

… and finally 2: contact details Until midnight 30 June: d. f. smith@abdn. ac. uk, 273676 2011 -12: Dr Alex Sutherland Tel: +44 (0)1224 273051 E-mail: a. m. sutherland@abdn. ac. uk Address G 02, Crombie Annexe, Meston Walk