Division of Medical Humanities Education | NYU Langone Health

Division of Medical Humanities Division of Medical Humanities Education

Division of Medical Humanities Education

The goal of NYU Langone’s Division of Medical Humanities is to broaden the education of physicians-in-training beyond the required medical curriculum and to provide them with a better understanding of the human condition, which ultimately improves patient care.

To this end, we provide a variety of educational opportunities, including electives, seminars, individual tutorials, special events, an online newsletter, and humanities databases. Division director David M. Oshinsky, PhD, also co-directs the Master Scholars Program in Humanistic Medicine. In addition, the Division of Medical Humanities is home to NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s resident and fellow chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society.

Medical Humanities Elective

Our Medical Humanities Elective provides medical students with a comprehensive overview of reflective writing, medical history, visual arts, and medicine in literature. Dr. Oshinsky serves as preceptor. Other skilled faculty act as teachers and mentors.

History of Medicine Elective

Our History of Medicine Elective explores advanced topics in the history of medicine, public health, and the impact of disease not covered in the regular medical school curriculum. Dr. Oshinsky serves as preceptor.

Master Scholars Program in Humanistic Medicine

Dr. Oshinsky co-directs the Master Scholars Program in Humanistic Medicine, which allows students at NYU Grossman School of Medicine to explore their interests in literature, the arts, history, and other areas. This program consists of interdisciplinary seminars, a research fellowship, and opportunities to publish in Agora, a student art and literature magazine.

Newsletter of the Division of Medical Humanities

The weekly Newsletter of the Division of Medical Humanities highlights relevant articles, calls for submission, and a listing of medical humanities–related events held at NYU Langone, NYU, or in the community. To join this list, please contact Stacy Bodziak, MA, editor, at stacy.bodziak@nyulangone.org.

Literature, Arts, and Medicine Database

NYU Langone’s Literature, Arts, and Medicine Database (LitMed) is a collection of literature, fine art, visual art, and performing art annotations created as a dynamic, comprehensive resource for scholars, educators, students, patients, and others interested in medical humanities.

LitMed Magazine

LitMed Magazine was created to complement the Literature, Arts, and Medicine Database. The site is a curated space for critique and opinion in medical humanities and for information about events and conferences in the field.

Medicine Grand Rounds

The Division of Medical Humanities hosts two Department of Medicine Grand Rounds each academic year. Past speakers include Pulitzer Prize–winning author Paul Harding; general internist and literary scholar Rita Charon, MD, PhD; and physician, professor, and author Howard Markel, MD, PhD.

Special Educational Events

The Division of Medical Humanities hosts a number of educational events that aim to engage the NYU Langone community and the general public. Recent events include a talk by physician and best-selling author Matt McCarthy, MD, which was part of the division’s annual Lerner Lecture series, as well as a number of live tapings of the podcast Person Place Thing with Randy Cohen, co-sponsored with the Master Scholars Program in Humanistic Medicine. Podcast series highlights include a talk with Dr. Oshinsky and a talk with Lucy Kalanithi, MD, widow of Paul Kalanithi, MD, who wrote the memoir When Breath Becomes Air.

Resident and Fellow Chapter of Gold Humanism Honor Society

In 2012, the Gold Humanism Honor Society chose NYU Grossman School of Medicine as 1 of 10 schools nationwide to pilot a program that extends to residents and fellows. The core values of the Gold Foundation are integrity, excellence, altruism, compassion, respect, empathy, and service.

Our chapter aligns with the graduate medical education training programs to honor residents, fellows, and faculty who exemplify humanism and professionalism in medicine. Chapter members are chosen via a competitive nomination process that involves our graduate medical education program peers.

Working with a group of faculty, the chapter develops methods to promote and acknowledge humanism and professionalism in our residents and fellows.