Humanism in Healthcare
Humanism, the ideology that sparked the Renaissance, places a high value on human beings, human culture and the human experience.
Today, humanism in healthcare reminds us that illness and recovery, living and dying, are an integral part of the whole human experience.
Every person throughout the health system - caregiver and patient alike - is first and foremost a human being.
Humanistic health professionals care about their patients as much as they care for them. They understand that compassion can be a powerful catalyst for healing.
Humanism in healthcare recalls us to ourselves as human beings and members of society. It is a great privilege - and a great responsibility.
What does this mean for aspiring healthcare professionals?
It means that to succeed in this field you need more than keen skills, a sharp mind and a steady hand.
The best health professionals have heart, not just brains. They have "the human touch."
Today's health professions schools are looking for well-rounded, firmly grounded and genuinely humane individuals.
They want a diverse student body, as varied as the patients they will serve, who know how to listen to, respect and care about other people.
They are seeking applicants with a calling to the field of health, who will make a commitment to helping the underserved.
What health professions schools are striving to do is build a strong and vibrant workforce - filled with dedicated health professionals who are able to put the care in healthcare.
In this section: Medical Humanities | Service & Volunteerism | The Creative Arts in Health | Arts & Humanities Careers in Health
Medical Humanities
In 1967, Penn State University made history (and waves) by instituting a Department of Humanities in its brand new College of Medicine.
Since then, other health professions schools have formed similar departments. They are centers of learning where scholars in philosophy, history, literature, ethics, and the arts bring their unique perspectives to the theory, practice and social ramifications of healthcare.
Here are just a few examples:
Center for Humanism & Medicine - New Jersey Medical School
Dept. of Medical Humanities - East Carolina University School of Medicine
Medical Humanities Program - University of Illinois
JAMA review of book, The Soul of a Doctor: Harvard Medical Students Face Life and Death
UB Ctr for Clinical Ethics & Humanities in Healthcare
Program in Medical Humanities - Washington University in St. Louis
Related Links - UB links to Heathcare Humanities and Bioethics-related sites
NOTE: Many other schools also offer related programs in bioethics or medical ethics.
Service & Volunteerism
The health professions can pay high salaries, and there's nothing wrong with considering compensation levels when you're exploring the career of your dreams. However, the best health professionals are those who feel "it's not about the money."
At its core, healthcare is about helping people in need. If you don't place a high personal value on helping others, this may not be the field for you. The essence of healthcare is human service.
The Arnold P. Gold Foundation, which is dedicated to fostering humanism in medicine, defines service as "the sharing of one's talent, time and resources with those in need; giving beyond what is required."
If you're looking for a way to give beyond what is required, health-oriented volunteer opportunities abound, including among others:
The Creative Arts in Health
Sometimes a background or interest in the arts can be just the preparation you need to become the kind of clinician who has "the human touch."
The arts also are an invaluable creative outlet for many health professionals - enabling them to cope with and make sense of the sometimes heartwrenching experiences that come with pursuing a career in "the healing arts."
Here are some examples of health-related arts projects by and for health students and professionals:
"At the deepest level, the creative process and the healing process arise from a single source."
- Rachel Naomi Remen, MD
Arts & Humanities Careers in Health
In addition to preparing health professionals to be humane caregivers and providing an invaluable creative outlet, the humanities also can be an end in themselves.
What many people do not realize is that there are a number of excellent arts-based careers within the field of health - including:
For more information, see our Arts & Humanities in Health field overview.