Medicine, film, and literature – the purpose and benefits of including medical humanities in medical education

Unlike most of the medical school syllabus, medical humanities does not focus on disease. The focus instead is on individuals and their unique stories, on our shared emotions and attitudes and, ultimately, on gaining insight into what makes us human. It promotes understanding of patients, encourages reflection, challenges attitudes, raises ethical issues, attempts to improve the use of language, and introduces the concept of narrative medicine. All of this and more is achieved in a fun and interesting format. Allowing yourself a short break from the biomedical model and undertaking a module in medical humanities is a fantastic experience and opportunity, and is one that I enthusiastically recommend to all students. This module was an experience that will stay with me long after my student days at RCSI.