oh, and about humanism? heck, i don't know if other schools are like this, but we go out of the way to make sure physicians from UMDNJ are well versed in the patient- doctor relationship, and it's not by textbook nor lecture, it's by actual practice!
I just had my class in Art of Medicine and History and Physical. These are required classes that are designed to teach students how to deal with patients with different backgrounds and in a humanistic matter. We even have lectures on how to use inturpreters.
The key to this program is that our group is only comprised of 6 medical students, 1 M.D. and 1 patient, so we have the opportunity to interact with the patiens. We are taught how to ask questions like, "Do you have sex with men, women, or both?" in a discreet way 😛, and after the 3 hour session, we give each other critiques.
What's more is that after our school also offerrs "SFHCC" or Clinic for first years. Patients in our area come in for free checkups. The only thing is that they have to be seen by medical students (Max 5 in a group). Of course, at the end of the examiniation, an attending comes in and checks over your work. The great thing is that you get to practice your skills you learn in class right off the bat. And it's ok if you screw up.. better now than during your rotations. 3rd and 4th years are also present with you to critique you.
Do we have the humanistic part of medicine covered? Yup.. i think so 🙂
Class of '07
