Camille Socarras, MA, Co-director (Writing/Humanities)
(319) 335-8051
camille-socarras@uiowa.edu

Brittany Bettendorf, MD, Co-director (Writing/Humanities)
(319) 356-2413
brittany-bettendorf@uiowa.edu

Purpose of the Humanities Distinction Track:

To encourage, support, and recognize medical students who pursue scholarship in ethics, writing, or the humanities. This track promotes students’ growth as professionals and furthers the promotion of humanism in medicine by allowing students to pursue an area of interest within a broad range of disciplines, including creative writing, literature, philosophy, religion, visual arts, music, and history, and also social sciences and public policy. This track focuses on the following medical education program core competencies and medical education program objectives (ICS01, ICS02, ICS03, PC01, PC03):

Interpersonal and Communication Skills (ICS). Develop interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange and collaboration with patients, families and other health care professionals.

• ICS01 Present information and ideas in an organized and clear manner to educate or inform others.
• ICS02 Engage in effective oral communication with the patient, their caregivers, and the health care team.
• ICS03 Demonstrate effective written communication with the health care team. =

Patient Care (PC). Deliver patient care that is patient-centered, compassionate, appropriate and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health.

• PC01 Integrate knowledge of mechanisms of health and disease, and the concerns, needs and expectations of a patient in order to take an appropriate history and perform a physical examination. 
• PC03 Develop appropriate and comprehensive patient care plans to promote health, prevent illness and/or injury and manage disease.

Humanities Distinction Track Learning Objectives:

• Evaluate the role of the humanities and arts in fostering critical thinking, empathy, and a transdisciplinary approach to patient care
• Discuss how a deep understanding of lived experiences, emotions, and perspectives provide more compassionate and patient-centered care 
• Improve communication with patients, families, and colleagues through effective application of reflective writing, storytelling, and active listening
• Examine how the humanities, cultural narratives, and social contexts shape health, illness, and the healthcare experience

Declaration of Participation

Students should submit an Indication of Intent by December 31 of the M2 year.  M1 and M2 students who are uncertain about applying to the HDT are encouraged to complete one or both of the two activities required for the HDT during their first three semesters to assist their decision making process and, in case they apply, to facilitate the eventual completion of HDT requirements.  There are also advanced electives during the M3/M4 years that can help satisfy this requirement. (For more information, see Requirements and Graduation Criteria.).  Note: each student may earn no more than two distinctons. See Enrollment Policies Section 8 (Distinction Tracks) of the Student Handbook.