What does it mean to be and have a body? How do we speak about and define bodily experience? What happens when the body fails? How do we diagnose and treat the body?
These complex questions play a fundamental role in the practice of healthcare and will form the basis of rigourous interdisciplinary discussion.
This module is part of an innovative partnership with humanities staff and students from Birkbeck, University of London which began in 2019/20 and has been highly rated by the students participating in the first cohort who called it: ‘thought-provoking’, ‘stimulating’, ‘fascinating’, ‘challenging’, ‘an eye-opener’ and ‘amazing’.
- 30 additional credits, Level 6
- Draws students from across all St George’s undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
- Undergraduate students should normally be in Year 3 or above.*
*Year 2 students may apply with the approval of their Programme Director but the module is not suitable for Year 1 students.
Teaching
On this module you will be taught by convenors and lecturers from a wide range of disciplines across the arts and humanities, science, medicine and healthcare.
Assessment
1000 words of reflective writing (0%), a 1500-word resubmission of reflective writing (40%), and a 3000-word essay (60%)
Teaching
Begins Monday 13 January 2025 and runs for 11 weeks.
View a previous year's module outline.
To register interest, please contact dpadfiel@sgul.ac.uk.
Priya, a final-year MBBS student took the module last year, has uploaded a video evaluation.
Ananya, a MBBS student, has written a blog about their experiences on the course.
Hear more about the course from students who took it last year:
"I was interested the moment I saw the poster for the module, but was hesitant to sign up because of all my other work. I'm so glad I did! I have found the opportunity absolutely invaluable and loved every single session. I can't explain how much I have enjoyed learning in a different way and with different students. The teaching was wonderful and the challenge of thinking critically and in more depth has been great. I wish the course never had to end, but I am so excited to take everything I've learnt and continue to explore the medical humanities!"
— Physiotherapy Student
"My thinking has definitely changed. These changes will aid my clinical practice. It is seeing what is important to other people, particularly non-medical and their perspectives when thinking about health and the way they view illness."
"I think the course offers so many valuable skills which we otherwise might not have access to. I have loved learning through different disciplines and would not hesitate to recommend the course to anyone considering it."
"The healthcare professions do not exist in isolation. We may reflect, or have our biopsychosocial models, but we could pay more attention to other disciplines and their knowledge. This module has taught me so much, but especially just how much we have to learn from the humanities."
"This module has really broadened my horizons."
"This module has allowed me to see an aspect of medicine that brings together all of my interests and I hope to continue reading within the topic."
"It was interesting to be challenged outside of the medical environment and helped me grow to critically analyse different pieces of writing and engage in complex discussion."
"I enjoyed the Wellcome museum visits as this was something that allowed me look at various art forms in context and look at the meaning behind why and how they were created."
"Beside the massive change that happened in my understanding of the nature and perception of the body, working with people from different disciplines gave me the possibility to experience a different environment and express my questions and thoughts in a supportive and positive environment."
"For me, it felt like the opening to the next phase of 'progress' in future education to come."