Humanities in Medicine, founded at the inception of the College, is a charter department in the College of Medicine.

The tasks of this department include:

• to educate first and second year students in the basic ethical and social questions confronting the contemporary physician
• to acquaint the student with works in the history of medicine, social medicine and literature as related to medicine
• to integrate ethical and social concerns with the accompanying basic sciences curricula
• to provide sustenance for students with regard to the developing relationship between scientific, technological and humanistic learning in the making of a physician
• to stress the complex interpersonal, social, legal and political factors in the physician-patient relationship; and to increase tolerance of differing values in order to reduce prejudice in health care delivery

Courses are required in Humanities in Medicine during the first and second years and in medical jurisprudence in the fourth year. Electives are also offered during the first, second and fourth years including opportunities for directed research with an opportunity for publication and self-directed research with an opportunity to travel to London.  Educational symposia, workshops and seminars with visiting speakers are available to students and faculty in the College of Medicine and are often open to the public.

Humanities in Medicine periodically invites outstanding medical humanists with national/international reputations to the College of Medicine to speak with the public as part of the Consultation Series and are often incorporated into the medical student curriculum.  

Students are encouraged to visit with faculty members as members of the Department view their mission as one of helping and colleagues in various disciplines are invited to initiate collaborations as the Department highly values an interdisciplinary approach to education.

Essentially, the mission of the Department of Humanities in Medicine is to help students become better doctors.  We believe that professionalism is not a goal, but an expectation, and that it can best be achieved and perhaps only be achieved through teaching the traditional disciplines (history, ethics and values, art, literature, law, spirituality and moral reasoning) as we integrate the art and science of medicine throughout the four-year curriculum.

Ultimately, we believe that our mission may be summed up in one essential message: the patient comes first.

We believe that the vision of the "Good Doctor" can only be achieved by exposing students to the humanities through case-based learning and adequate student reflection.  We also posit that to be a "good doctor" requires a student to have reflected upon their personal and community values, the history and ethics of the profession and that a student understands the importance of maintaining balance in their life.

102 Reynolds Medical Building
College Station, TX 77843-1114
Phone: 979-845-0755
Fax: 979-845-8634
E-mail: Evelyn R. Francis, Administrative Coordinator