KOS1500 ¨C Bridging Humanities and Medicine for Sustainable Societal Impact - An Introduction to Translational Medical Humanities

Course content

This course focuses on the critical interdependencies and synergies between the humanities and medicine in enhancing sustainable social change. Traditionally seen as separate realms¡ªarts and sciences¡ª the course demonstrates the power of their convergence in addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges.?

Emerging from and adding to an online lecture series co-organized by partners from the Circle U Universities, this course demonstrates how the synthesis of, and translation between, perspectives from medicine and the humanities is critical in tackling global challenges such as climate change, democratic deficits, global health disparities, and the evolving challenges of artificial intelligence.?

The field of medical humanities was initially developed to provide medical students with a grounding in literature, philosophy, art, music, history, and drama, enhancing their understanding of illness experiences and cultivating their empathy.?

However, the scope of medical humanities extends far beyond these initial benefits. It also introduces innovative ways to understand the entanglements between technological advancements, environmental disruptions, governance systems, lifestyle choices, and health¡ªcomplex networks that cannot be fully explored by a single discipline but require translation across different disciplines in the humanities, social sciences and the natural sciences.??

Through this course, you will acquire the skills and knowledge to analyze and address these interdependencies, translate between different disciplines, and contribute meaningfully to the academic dialogue. As part of the course, you will also have the opportunity to add your own voice to the lecture series, enriching the ongoing debate around these critical issues and this emerging academic field.?

Learning outcome

Knowledge:?

Upon completing this module, you will be able to:?

• Explain the interconnections between science and the humanities in addressing complex health-related challenges;?

• Account for the links between health and other global challenges, such as democratic deficits and sustainable development;?

• Identify various applications of medical humanities?

• Summarize key theoretical debates within the field of medical humanities;?

• Trace the historical emergence and intellectual origins of medical humanities.?

Skills:?

Upon completing this module, you will be able to:?

• Identify and analyse the bio-social dimensions of global challenges;?

• Analyse the links between health and other global challenges from a historical or contemporary perspective;?

• Analyse the social impact of medical humanities in specific cases;?

• Translate? knowledge between different disciplines.??

• Contribute to the academic debate about the future of the medical humanities.?

General competence:?

Upon completing this module, you will be able to:?

• Cooperate pro