Medical Humanities Program Courses

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MEDHM 101 / Biomedical Ethics (3) - (view)
An examination of major medical care issues facing the discipline. Includes discussion of ethical and religious concerns involving abortion, death and dying, and human experimentation.
MEDHM 102 / Medical Narrative (3) - (view)
This course will investigate the scope of narrative approaches to medical knowledge (narratives of illness, narrative as ethical discourse, narrative as an essential part of clinical work). It will introduce the student to varieties of medical narrative (anecdote, medical history, case presentation). The course will also explore narrative and interpretive techniques that may enhance communication between patient and physician and within the medical community as a whole.
MEDHM 103 / Advanced Studies in Biomedical Ethics (3) - (view)
Addresses specific topics in bioethics, focusing in-depth on issues raised in MEDHM 101. Topics include: Life and Death Issues; Medical Technology. Prerequisite: MEDHM 101.
MEDHM 104 / Advanced Studies in Medical Narrative (3) - (view)
Topics include: The Literature of Addiction. Course may be repeated.
MEDHM 200 / Cultural History of Medicine (3) - (view)
Starting with evidences of caring in lower animals, the story of medicine is traced from pre-history to the present. The theories of causation and the therapies designed to counteract disease and suffering are related to the epochs in which they make their appearances. Same as: MLIT 503.
MEDHM 201 / Medical Biography (3) - (view)
Topics include: Giovanni Battista Morgagni.
MEDHM 202 / Plagues in History (3) - (view)
An examination of the relationship between the human population and the micro- and macro-parasites that interact with it. The nature of the ecological balance between people and their diseases is discussed, as well as the effects of both endemic and epidemic disease on history. Same as: MLIT 523.
MEDHM 204 / History of Scientific Medicine (3) - (view)
The science-based medicine of our time may not be the only medicine, but it is the one on which most of us rely. It affects our lives in countless ways, and an appreciation of its historical development is warranted. This course deals with the great scientific discoveries that made modern medicine possible. It tracecs the growth of anatomy, surgery, physiology and pathology in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, and examines more fully the extraordinary expansion and proliferation of medical sciences in the 19th and 20th centuries.
MEDHM 205 / Topics in the History of Medicine: (3) - (view)
Topics vary and are announced at the time of registration.
MEDHM 222 / Topics in the History of Science and Medicine (3) - (view)
Topics include Secret of Life: History of Genetics in the 20th Century. Addotional topics will be announced at registration. Course may be repeated.
MEDHM 301 / Literature and Medicine (3) - (view)
Examines the role of medicine, caregivers, and illness in fiction and nonfiction. Topics include: contemporary ethical issues in American literature; The Literary Response to HIV/AIDS; Literary Art and The Medical Mind. Course may be repeated. Same as: MLIT 328.
MEDHM 304 / Writing Practicum (3) - (view)
Explores the intersection between medicine and the act/art of writing. Topics include: Writing to Heal.
MEDHM 305 / Marriage and the Family (3) - (view)
Considers the impact of marriage decisions and structures on medical concerns. Topics include: marriage and family counseling; family structures and medical ethics; family dynamics.
MEDHM 306 / The Role of the Family in the Early Development of Object Permanence and Nonexistence (3) - (view)
The hypothesis of this course is that the rich, early literature depicted in children's games, fairy tales, rhymes and stories is the preparatory stage in the development of an adult understanding of our own nonexistence. For example, the game peekaboo (one of the first games played by a child with its parents) becomes one of the earliest building blocks upon which more sophisticated and in-depth notions of life and death may be built. The course will increase the student's awareness of the importance of this category throughout the life cycle of the human person, culminating in one's own nonexistence. The literature of separation loss, object permanency disappearance is extensive and cross-disciplinary. Includes an examination of the works of Bettelheim, Bowlby, and Kubler-Ross.
MEDHM 310 / Psychohistory-Psycobiography (3) - (view)
he emotional development and psychological issues of significant historical figures will be examined. How did the family life and early childhood and adolescence shape the future political and personal behavior of certain major political figures. We will examine the inner life, through their behavior, or Ghandi, Luther, Hitler, Woodrow Wilson, Sadam Hussein, and our last four presidents. Their adult presentation will be examined as a function of both their childhood and family dynamic.
MEDHM 328 / Alcoholism & Gender: A Literary Analysis (3) - (view)
Topics vary and are announced at registration.
MEDHM 401 / Clinical Ethics (3) - (view)
A study of the application of biomedical principles in the clinical arena, situations that require assessment of competing principles, and the process of resolution when differences in ethical judgments make consensus difficult. Among the topics to be considered are: the bioethics committee; end-of-life decisions, including Do Not Resuscitate Orders and Advance Directives; confidentiality, communication issues; just distribution of scarce resources and clinical decision-making within cost constraints.
MEDHM 410 / The Pharmaceutical Industry (3) - (view)
This seminar will examine the growth of the Pharmaceutical Industry from its early beginnings to its present role as a multi-national, multi-billion-dollar industry. The course will introduce students to the drug discovery and development process from inception to market. Selected readings and discussions will analyze the following: inequalities that emerge from and are reinforced by market-driven medicine, the responsibilities of drug developers to health care and general wellness on a global scale and the controversial role pharmaceutical marketing and promotion play in enabling the flow of information that is quite difficult to convey to patients and doctors.
MEDHM 500 / Studies in Psychoanalysis (3) - (view)
Addresses the intersection between psychoanalysis and medical humanities. Topics include: Psychoanalytic dynamics of group roles and effective group leadership; psychoanalysis and human sexuality; Freud's dream realized: from metascience to neurobiology and beyond. Course may be repeated. Same as: ARLET 326 RLSOC 794.
MEDHM 501 / Psychopathology and Contemporary Life (3) - (view)
This course focuses on mastering the "Sea of Storms"--on the moon or in ourselves. With our expanding perspective of ourselves as an interdependent community of astronauts has come an expansion of our perspective of abnormal behavior. We now see it as encompassing behavior not only of individuals but also of families and larger groups, including entire societies. We explore maladaptive behavior such as neuroses, schizophrenia, and drug dependence.
MEDHM 502 / Medical Humanities and the Caregiver (3) - (view)
Explores the humanistic challenges facing modern caregivers. Topics include: approaches to wellness; coping. Same as: MLIT 521.
MEDHM 503 / Maturation: From Birth to Age 3 (3) - (view)
An experiential group seminar designed to explore an understanding of the group processes and the repertoire of techniques for working well with groups while exploring the theories, developmental stages, conflicts, and feelings associated with the maturation stage.
MEDHM 510 / Spirituality and Medicine (3) - (view)
Explores the intersection between faith and the medical arts. Topics include: Spirituality and Psychoanalysis.
MEDHM 515 / Contemporary Medicine and Culture (3) - (view)
Investigates the impact of contemporary societal influences and medicine. Topics include: Science, Medicine, and Faith. Course may be repeated. Same as: ARLET 515.
MEDHM 516 / Hospital Governance (3) - (view)
Boards of Trustees have major responsibilities to provide effective leadership for nonprofit healthcare organizations. They must serve all stakeholders affiliated with the institution(s), both internal and external. When the organization does well, they are commended. Conversely, when problems arise, trustees are held accountable. Clearly, a variety of difficult and complex problems exists in todays healthcare environment. Consequently, the responsibility of nonprofit hospital trustees requires planning for and addressing the challenges including contentious ethical issues. Conflicts of interest, executive compensation, medical errors, quality of patient care, and allocation of resources are some of the dilemmas that will be considered and debated. Additionally, the students, as trustees will experience significant power and responsibility, commencing with board orientation and culminating as members of a mock board analyzing and debating issues. The expertise of guest speakers from the industry will complement the readings and class discussionsresponsibility
MEDHM 529 / Medicine and Culture (3) - (view)
This course provides an international perspective on the interaction between religion, health and culture. Students are introduced to the empirical research on religion and health and various theoretical approaches from cross-cultural psychology and the psychology of religion. Students learn to critically evaluate this literature and develop their own perspective on it. Course may be repeated. Same as: ARLET 529.
MEDHM 530 / Medicine and Language (3) - (view)
No description is available for this course. Course may be repeated.
MEDHM 540 / Studies in Counseling (2) - (view)
Topics vary and are announced at the time of registration.
MEDHM 541 / Topics in the Study of Addiction: (3) - (view)
This course covers varying issues related to the study of addiction, including such subjects as neurobiology and how drugs of abuse change the brain; exploring the history of addiction studies; and examining the impact of addiction on various populations. Topics include Addiction and Gender; Addiction and Human Behavior; and The Science of Addiction. Course may be repeated.
MEDHM 600 / Film and Medicine (3) - (view)
Explores the depiction of medicine and medical practitioners through the medium of film. Course may be repeated.
MEDHM 603 / Studies in Art and Medicine (3) - (view)
Topics include: Images of illness and health in visual art.
MEDHM 605 / History of Medical Illustration (3) - (view)
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the history and theory of scientific illustration, both Western and non-Western and the methods for organizing, developing and producing illustrations capable of conveying a message. The course focuses on three main points: the history of medical illustration; the methods of planning and organizing of scientific illustrations, including research, narration of a process, technique; and field trips. Students need not have artistic ability, but are encouraged to think visually and try out some basic skills to better understand the process of moving from concepts to images.
MEDHM 700 / Illness of Body, Mind, and Spirit (3) - (view)
Illness, be it physical, psychical, or spiritual, is defined not by physicians, psychiatrists, or spiritual leaders, but by culture. Its recognition is akin to the process of interpretation in the humanities. This course illustrates and examines these propositions in the reports of patients, physicians, spiritual guides, and literary critics.
MEDHM 701 / Listening to the Symbolic Language of the Body (3) - (view)
The body has its own symbolic language. This means a communication from the self to the self often found in illness, ticks, hysterical conversions, muscle tightness, backaches, headaches, etc. The body often focuses the internal message, suppressed to the self by the psyche or the intellect. Various writers have attempted to understand this process for the sake of unraveling the meaning of illness. This course integrates a number of medical, spiritual, and psychological points of view. The course investigates the body-mind-spirit connection by turning to writers like Alexander Lowen, Daniel Goleman, Jon Kabat-Zinn, and Aame Siirala.
MEDHM 705 / Philosophical Implications in Science and Medicine (3) - (view)
The intersection of medicine and science reflects culture, politics, and faith. Does it also intersect with two thousand years of Western philosophy? Or is the utopian Dream of a Theory of Everything epistemological jargon: The fragility of such an ambitious but ethereal theory encompasses a continuum of ideas traced from the era of Greek sages to the present postmodern times. To understand this enduring wisdom, the course presents diverse doctrine supporting the consilience of philosophy, science and the medical humanities. With this approach, we explore origins perceived by the minds and movements in the long history of ieas. The series of seminars emphasizes the correlation between classical studies and empiricism, encouraging scholars to probe thoughts and theories of established philosophies. However, beyond what is provided by an inquiring mind, participants are not required or expected to have a formal background in philosophy. The seminar features contributions of the Greek Godfathers of thought, Descartes' Dualism, science of the Enlightenment, the challenging philosophy of Darwinism, the intellectual chaos of Freudian upheavals, American Pragmatism, Postmodernism in medicine, Existentialism, Feminism, and Sociobiology. Finally, a fixed Canon of the humanities is proposed to broaden and humanize medical education.
MEDHM 706 / Topics in Theology and Philosophy of Medicine (3) - (view)
Topics vary and are announced at the time of registration.
MEDHM 800 / Medical Anthropology (3) - (view)
A study of human health from an anthropological (e.g., evolutionary, comparative, and biocultural) perspective. Topics under consideration include evolution of human disease patterns, health and ethnicity, comparison of Western and non-Western systems of medicine, alternative and complementary medicine, the political economy of health, and emerging diseases. This course considers the interplay of culture, biology, and environment in influencing human disease and behavioral response to it.
MEDHM 803 / Medicine and Politics (3) - (view)
Investigates the intersection of sociopolitical issues and medical humanities. Topics include: Gender in Medicine; Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow; The Future of Biomedical Science. Same as: MLIT 502.
MEDHM 805 / Studies in Human Development (3) - (view)
Topics include: Models and Methods of Psychotherapy; Human Development -- A Life Span Approach.
MEDHM 806 / Family Studies (3) - (view)
Addresses the dynamics of family relationships as impacted by medical issues. Topics include: Families, Professionals, and Exceptionality. Course may be repeated.
MEDHM 810 / Medicine and Ecology (3) - (view)
Addresses the effect that ecology and environmental concerns have on illness and wellness. Topics include: Introduction to ecological medicine. Course may be repeated. Same as: ARLET 525.
MEDHM 811 / Medical Sociology (3) - (view)
A study of the important themes, dominant theoretical perspectives, and main methodological approaches involved in the sociological analysis of health care problems and their treatment. Topics include social epidemiology, doctor-patient relationships, professional socialization, different health-care delivery mechanisms, and the social psychological consequences of medical technology.
MEDHM 812 / Medical Transgressions (3) - (view)
No description is available for this course.
MEDHM 814 / Gender and Medicine (3) - (view)
Topics include Gender and Science, and are announced at the time of registration. Course may be repeated.
MEDHM 815 / The Politics of Public Health (3) - (view)
The course is an examination of current public health issues from the perspectives of critical medical anthropology and political ecology. Public health involves taking a population-based approach to health problems with a strong focus on ethical principles and issues of social justice both locally and globally. Within this framework, students analyze a number of problems and policy issues, some provided by the instructor and others that students themselves bring in from recent newspaper or other media sources. Topics may include health hazards of modern food production, behavioral intervention and the rise of obesity and diabetes, national healthcare vs. private insurance, vulnerable populations (e.g., the poor and the elderly), global health issues, disaster management, and rationing health care and vaccines. Analysis of these problems includes evaluating the quality of health information in the mass media and considering how health policy, law, and ethics handle tensions between individual rights and social responsibility. In addition to finding and studying these issues, students complete a research paper in a related area of their choice.
MEDHM 817 / Naturalistic Inquiry (3) - (view)
Naturalistic inquiry, a form of ethnography, is a qualitative research methodology as opposed to the hypothetico-deductive methodology prevalent in the exact sciences of today. The primary research instrument is the interviewer. Basic techniques include in-depth interviewing and prolonged observation within the natural setting of a group. The interviews and observations are recorded in a "thick description," which stays close to the actual experience and avoids theory-laden language. This course will provide instruction in the techniques of naturalistic inquiry for designing the study collecting and analyzing data, validating the results, and writing up a case report. This is a hands-on course where each student will be required to conduct a naturalistic inquiry of his or her own. Ideally, the topic would relate to the student's ultimate thesis or dissertation topic. The course will also provide instruction in using computerized tools to assist in data analysis.
MEDHM 818 / Pertinent Issues in Medical Humanities and Science (3) - (view)
No description is available for this course. Course may be repeated.
MEDHM 819 / Topics in Forensic Medicine: (3) - (view)
three module course sequence on issues in Forensic Medicine. Forensic Medicine I "The Legal Foundation of American Health Care" will include discussions of major court decisions as well as the laws that shape the practice of medicine in the areas of: professionalization, structure of hospital-based and doctor-based delivery systems, concepts of health insurance and more. Forensic Medicine II "Evolution of American Health Ethics" will focus on the evolution of the legal directives guiding ethical behavior as societies become more complex. Topics in Forensic II will include the rationale and goals of criminal law, civil remedies, and political systems. Forensic III "Medical Transgressions" presents the application of the principles in the Foundation and Evolution segments in dealing with deviations from the standards of care. Each of the three modules of Forensic Medicine may be taken separately and independently of the others, and without required prerequisites. Modules offered are announced at the time of registration. Recommended: Familiarity with the history of western civilization - such as is discussed in survey courses in western history is advisable.
MEDHM 820 / Medical Humanities in the Clinical Setting (3) - (view)
Topics include: Putting the Humanities to Work for the Clinician. Course may be repeated.
MEDHM 900 / Clinical Practicum (3) - (view)
Times to be arranged in consultation with the director. Supervised schedule of clinical instruction involving the Bioethics Committee, clinic and emergency room observation, Ethics Conference, grand rounds, Humanities Conference, ICU/CCU rounds, Morbidity and Mortality Conference, Narrative Conference, nursing home visitation, and teaching rounds. Submission of a written journal required. The practicum can be geared towards student interests, and takes into account prior experience (if applicable). Prerequisite: MEDHM 101 and 102.
MEDHM 901 / Tutorial (3) - (view)
Members of the Medical Humanities Faculty. Available in autumn and spring terms annually. Open only to D.M.H. candidates interested in doing a tutorial ith Drew-based faculty. Any doctoral student interested in registering for a tutorial must file a petition; forms are available in the Dean's Office. Arraignments must be made with the tutorial director and Program Director prior to filing petition. A student may only register for MEDHM 901 or MEDHM 903 twice. Course may be repeated.
MEDHM 902 / Advanced Medical Humanities: Raritan Bay (15) - (view)
This course is the three-year humanities program required as part of the residency requirements at Raritan Bay Medical Center for residents in Internal Medicine. Taught on site at Raritan Bay Medical Center. Open only to residents in the Internal Medicine Residency Program.
MEDHM 903 / Clinical Tutorial (3) - (view)
Members of the Clinical Faculty. Available in autumn and spring terms annually. Open only to D.M.H. candidates interested in doing a tutorial on site at Raritan Bay Medical Center. Any doctoral student interested in registering for a tutorial must file a petition; forms are available in Dean's Office. Arrangements must be made with the tutorial director and Program Director prior to filing petition. A student may only register for MEDHM 901 OR MEDHM 903 twice. Course may be repeated. Signature of instructor required for registration.
MEDHM 905 / WRITING PRACTICUM (3) - (view)
No description is available for this course. Corequisite: ARLET 905.
MEDHM 990 / Master's Thesis Preparation (3) - (view)
Times to be arranged in consultation with the director. Supervised clinical study leading to preparation of the master's thesis. The directed study is geared towards student interests and builds upon the previous clinical practicum experience. This course is open only to master's degree candidates preparing to begin their thesis research. Prerequisite: MEDHM 900.
MEDHM 999 / Dissertation (9) - (view)
No description is available for this course.