Written by Alex DeMark

In the wake of anti-educational rhetoric across conservative U.S. states, especially targeting DEI initiatives, criticisms of university programs in the humanities have become a tenet of talking points on “wokeness.” These departments highlight social issues, either in modernity or the past, as they appear in various artistic sources and how students can critically analyze a diverse range of material for meaning and relevance to ongoing societal contexts. Aside from the importance of learning how to use evidence to support one’s opinion, limiting or eliminating funding and access to these programs that attempt to counter legacies of discrimination raises many issues for equality and representation, which will then continue to be perpetuated across institutions in America, including the healthcare system.

For undergraduates on a pre-medical track, courses in writing and English, as well as ethics, philosophy, sociology, and similar subjects, may be needed or recommended for admission into medical schools. While the specifics of the requirements may vary from program to program, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine M.D. Program requires 24 semester hours in areas of humanities, social science, and behavioral science, including two writing-intensive courses. Many medical schools are moving to include humanities in their own curriculum – especially for professional ethics and field history – and/or offering specific programs in medical humanities, such as writing degrees in narrative medicine and art degrees in medical illustration. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) writes “By integrating arts and humanities throughout medical education, trainees and physicians can learn to be better observers and interpreters; and build empathy, communication and teamwork skills, and more.”

The university setting is many students’ first encounter with diverse perspectives and historical context that may not have been discussed in their high school or hometown. For those interested in pursuing a career in medicine, volunteering in marginalized communities is an attractive opportunity to give back. The medical field offers prospective students a unique opportunity to combine applied scientific knowledge and technical skill with direct community action. In many U.S. hospitals and clinics, there is an urgent need for Spanish-speaking physicians to serve the more than 40 million Spanish speakers in the country and close gaps in care equity; thus, many language departments at the undergraduate and medical school levels have adapted to offer specific courses for students to learn medical Spanish. Besides the elimination of the language barrier, students may also venture into humanities fields, like Latinx Studies, to learn about the historical distrust between Latinx patients and non-Latinx medical providers and challenges associated with patients’ immigration status, cultural customs, and socioeconomic requirements, which leads to worse patient outcomes. As future medical professionals, the ability to serve any person without bias and prejudice is paramount to providing the best possible care in accordance with the Hippocratic oath.

John Keating (portrayed by Robin Williams) in Dead Poets Society, a 1989 film celebrating the value of studying literature and art, articulates it best:

“We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”

Despite the necessity of humanities courses for admissions to most medical programs, the innate merit of humanities departments extends beyond prerequisites, aiding students in becoming better healthcare professionals by expanding their perspectives on narratives from many different communities, and ultimately, simply more empathetic people.

Edited by Amna Hassan