Medical Humanities Journeys Core Curriculum

The Medical Humanities core curriculum at Georgetown University School of Medicine is an innovative program designed to integrate humanities and social sciences into required health professions education. This intensive course offers second-year medical students a unique opportunity to explore the intersections of medicine, humanities, and social sciences through a series of diverse workshops and an introductory lecture. The curriculum begins with an introductory lecture on medical humanities, providing a foundation for the subsequent workshops. In the spring, students then select from five workshops covering a wide range of topics, which have included:

– Writing and literature in medicine
– Global pandemics and history
– Expressive and creative arts in health and  healthcare
– Ethics, AI, and disability in medicine / health
– History of medicine, cultural humility, and health equity

Led by expert faculty from various disciplines, all of whom are core or affiliate faculty at the Georgetown Medical Humanities Initiative, these sessions aim to demonstrate the practical application of medical humanities to clinical training. The curriculum emphasizes why these interdisciplinary perspectives are crucial alongside traditional medical subjects, fostering a more holistic understanding of healthcare.