Hear Us, See Us, Treat Us
Artwork by Isabella Heffernan about patients who feel overlooked
The Medical Humanities Minor
Medical Humanities encompasses disciplines within the arts, humanities, medicine and social sciences. Its goal is to give students and scholars an opportunity to explore a meaning-centered perspective on medical issues. Our approach emphasizes the subjective experience of health and illness as captured through the expressive arts (for example, painting, music and literature), across historical periods and in different cultures, and with different ethical and political challenges. Medical Humanities underscores the significance of diagnosis beyond the clinical realm, focusing on the personal meaning and lived experiences associated with it. It recognizes medicine as both an art and a science, exploring how cultural and institutional contexts influence the identification, experience, and treatment of illness. Its scope extends from existential and artistic dimensions to political considerations and policy implications, highlighting the multifaceted nature of health and healthcare. The minor in Medical Humanities offers students context, tools, examples, and active involvement in research to make sense of concerns at the intersection of medicine, culture, and the arts and provide them with a way to reflect upon medical challenges.
Testimonials
The Medical Humanities program at Stanford has deeply shaped how I think about health, illness, and the practice of medicine. It’s given me a lens that goes far beyond the biological or clinical, and it’s helped me understand the deeply human side of medicine.
I loved being part of the MedHum Minor. It complemented my BioE major nicely and reminded me that behind every case is a human story. I now view medicine as more than just a science, but a profession rooted in deep empathy and understanding.
In medical humanities, I’ve loved exploring how art can deepen empathy, uncover hidden stories, and serve as a tool for healing. We’ve loved collaborating on this little project as a way to reflect on our unique and shared individual experiences, as well as on how social ideals impact mental health.