Arts and Humanities Electives
Healing and the Arts also develops and evaluates arts and humanities electives for medical students in partnership with the Dartmouth Medical School. These activities, complemented by efforts already established, are designed to teach communication skills, help medical students learn to be effective doctors, and provide access to methods of dealing with job related stress. Electives are taught at DMS every fall and winter term. Here are some classes that have been taught in the past:
Life Drawing
Weekly 2 hour drawing classes with a live model. The purpose of this course is to provide a greater understanding of human anatomy, to teach drawing skills, and provide a forum for creative outlet.
Improvisation
Instruction in the basics of improvisational acting - a form of comedic theater that focuses on developing stories without any prior scripting. Team building, listening, observation and related skills are taught.
Literature and Medicine
Exploration of the issues of doctoring - what it means to be a doctor - through readings and discussions of world literature and creative writing assignments.
Creative Writing
An introduction into creative writing as a means of self expression, communication and discovery. Included are reading assignments in poetry, plays and literature, weekly writing assignments and introductions to a variety of techniques to break creative blocks.
Pulp Fiction
Attitudes about health, nutrition and medicine are constantly being shaped by the media and other aspects of contemporary culture. This course looks at what is being said, who is saying it, why they are saying it, and what are the implications of both the message and the media on doctoring.
Conflict Resolution
Instruction in techniques for resolving communication conflicts (i.e. doctor vs. doctor, doctor vs. nurse, doctor vs. patient) through role playing using real life examples.
Very Special Arts
Instruction in communication between doctor and patient, on a one-to-one basis, using the arts as the vehicle for experiencing and developing appropriate techniques.