Medical Humanities Workforce Training Program for Physicians
In recent decades, physicians have turned to medical humanities to reconnect with why they pursued medicine in the first place, recovering and discovering creative aspects of themselves through literature, art, history, philosophy, theater, ethics, and more.
The McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics is launching a Medical Humanities Workforce Training Program for Physicians, a 24-month program that can be used for:
- self-development, reconnection, and renewal,
- creating medical humanities programming and curricula for your own institution, and
- networking.
The program is cohort-style and primarily virtual, with 2 semester-long courses each year (1 in Fall and 1 in Spring). Physicians will attend live virtual classes once to twice monthly and participate in asynchronous online and self-directed learning. Learners will experience Houston’s culinary and artistic diversity during in-person intensives held over two weekends in the world’s largest medical center!
Upon completion, participants will receive a workforce training program certificate.
Program Details
The Medical Humanities Workforce Training Program for Physicians requires the completion of 4 semester-long courses (2 per year), 2 weekend intensives (1 each year), and a capstone. After completing the first in-person intensive, you will begin exploring topics for your capstone project, receiving guidance from McGovern Center faculty with expertise in your topic area.
Each course has an estimated monthly time commitment of 4 hours of synchronous and 10 hours of asynchronous learning, including preparation time for readings and assignments.
There are two required courses offered each program year:
Year 1
- Fall: Introduction to Medical Humanities
- Spring: Philosophy, Medical Ethics, and Clinical Ethics
Year 2
- Fall: Narrative Medicine
- Spring: History, Advocacy, and Medicine
Courses will consist of 6 modules, each including:
- a pre-recorded mini-lecture on the topic of the module,
- reading and/or video assignments,
- an asynchronous engagement activity, and
- a synchronous Zoom session.
In-person intensives will be dedicated to activities that cannot be done online. There will be, for example, field trips to cultural sites in Houston. Other learning activities include medical improv (role-playing and acting), writing workshops (reflective writing exercises), and other active learning experiences.
Cost
The total program cost is $4,000, which covers tuition for all required courses. Additional costs apply for the two weekend trips to Houston for the intensive seminars and costs for books and supplies. Travel, accommodations, books, and supplies are not included in tuition fees.
Admission
The following are required to be considered for admission to the Medical Humanities Workforce Training Program:
-
- MD or DO degree
- Program application
- Curriculum vitae
- One-page statement addressing:
- What are your goals for the program?
- How will this program help your professional development or self-development?
- What interests you about medical humanities?
All applications will be submitted via the link above.
Applications will be open from January 15, 2025, and close once the cohort is full. New cohorts begin each fall.
Important Dates
- Fall 2025 Applications Open: January 15, 2025
- Applications Close: June 15, 2025
- Fall Dates: September 15 – December 15, 2025
- Intensive Weekend 1: January 17 – 18, 2026
- Spring Dates: February 15 – May 15, 2026
Contact Information
Reverend Nathan Carlin, PhD
Director of the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics
[email protected]
Learn more about the history and distinctiveness of the McGovern Center