The medical humanities – How far have we come?

Introduction: The medical humanities (MH) have the potential to support medical education (ME) by developing observational skills, promote reflective practice and transformative growth. However, contextual content and methods relevant to our local and regional learners and teachers are lacking. Me...

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Main Authors: Eng Koon Ong, Wen Shan Sim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: National University of Singapore 2025-04-01
Series:The Asia Pacific Scholar
Online Access:https://medicine.nus.edu.sg/taps/the-medical-humanities-how-far-have-we-come/
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author Eng Koon Ong
Wen Shan Sim
author_facet Eng Koon Ong
Wen Shan Sim
author_sort Eng Koon Ong
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: The medical humanities (MH) have the potential to support medical education (ME) by developing observational skills, promote reflective practice and transformative growth. However, contextual content and methods relevant to our local and regional learners and teachers are lacking. Methods: We describe three MH-based ME programmes within SingHealth to illustrate our considerations in the choice of conceptual frameworks and content selection in programme development and evaluation. Results: Highlighting pertinent challenges in developing the field due to poor awareness, lack of resources and research capability, we emphasise the importance of interdisciplinarity, engaging leadership, and generating research output. Broad strategies to achieve these goals are then presented. Conclusion: Highlighting challenges due to the lack of awareness, administrative and funding support, and research capability, we propose strategies to overcome such barriers and hope that readers will be inspired to contribute to this developing landscape where science and art intersect.
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publisher National University of Singapore
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series The Asia Pacific Scholar
spelling doaj-art-8c9c8d1dab364e048a35fc3bb86a60122025-08-20T02:06:27ZengNational University of SingaporeThe Asia Pacific Scholar2424-93352424-92702025-04-01102131610.29060/TAPS.2025-10-2/GP3456The medical humanities – How far have we come?Eng Koon Ong0Wen Shan Sim1Division of Supportive and Palliative Care, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore; Office of Medical Humanities, SingHealth Medicine Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore; Division of Cancer Education, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore; Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore; Assisi Hospice, SingaporeDuke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore; Maternal Fetal Medicine, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore; PGY1 Programme, SingHealth, SingaporeIntroduction: The medical humanities (MH) have the potential to support medical education (ME) by developing observational skills, promote reflective practice and transformative growth. However, contextual content and methods relevant to our local and regional learners and teachers are lacking. Methods: We describe three MH-based ME programmes within SingHealth to illustrate our considerations in the choice of conceptual frameworks and content selection in programme development and evaluation. Results: Highlighting pertinent challenges in developing the field due to poor awareness, lack of resources and research capability, we emphasise the importance of interdisciplinarity, engaging leadership, and generating research output. Broad strategies to achieve these goals are then presented. Conclusion: Highlighting challenges due to the lack of awareness, administrative and funding support, and research capability, we propose strategies to overcome such barriers and hope that readers will be inspired to contribute to this developing landscape where science and art intersect. https://medicine.nus.edu.sg/taps/the-medical-humanities-how-far-have-we-come/
spellingShingle Eng Koon Ong
Wen Shan Sim
The medical humanities – How far have we come?
The Asia Pacific Scholar
title The medical humanities – How far have we come?
title_full The medical humanities – How far have we come?
title_fullStr The medical humanities – How far have we come?
title_full_unstemmed The medical humanities – How far have we come?
title_short The medical humanities – How far have we come?
title_sort medical humanities how far have we come
url https://medicine.nus.edu.sg/taps/the-medical-humanities-how-far-have-we-come/
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