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Title: Literature and Medicine
Preceptor: Felice Aull, Ph.D., M.A.

Course Code: 19-06

Telephone #: 263-5401
E-mail Address: aullf01@popmail.med.nyu.edu

Prerequisites: None, but Fourth Year students are given preference.

Description: Learning Medicine from Fiction and Poetry

Cultural, psychosocial, and ethical issues important in medical practice and training are analyzed from a literary perspective, through selected readings of short stories, essays, novels and poetry. Topics include: disease and health, cultural perspectives, medical education and training, medical ethics, physician-patient interaction, and family dynamics. The elective is taught as a tutorial; the student works closely with the preceptor to identify a topic based on his/her own interests. Once a topic has been identified, the student undertakes a series of readings in preparation for writing a 10 page paper on the subject. A student may also include a creative writing component. Where appropriate, medical/scientific literature can be included and additional faculty may be consulted for medical/scientific expertise. Throughout the elective there is a close consultation with (at least three hours per week), and guidance from the preceptor.

Objectives of the Elective:

The goal of the elective course in Literature and Medicine is to help students to refine skills and attitudes necessary to become competent, caring physicians. The literary skills of attentive reading, interpretation, and writing help hone the skills of observation, interpretation, and communication that are necessary in medical practice. Analysis of appropriate literary works can stimulate consideration and understanding of ethical and psychosocial issues confronted in medicine, and can help to place current medical concerns into a larger historical and cultural framework.

Key Responsibilities of the student while On Elective:

The student is responsible for doing the background reading, thinking,and conferring with the faculty preceptor (Felice Aull, Ph.D.)in order to develop a topic. This generally requires some preparation and discussion in advance of the starting date of the elective.Some theoretical readings are assigned by the preceptor. The student, following consultation, selects additional readings that are subject to final approval of the preceptor. The on-line resource, The Literature, Arts, and Medicine Database, may be helpful for selecting topics and readings: (http://endeavor.med.nyu.edu/lit-med/lit-med-db/)

Method of Evaluation:

Evaluation is based on evidence that the student is doing the assigned reading, developing an outline, meeting regularly with the preceptor and that s/he submits an appropriate paper for review.

Scheduling Information:

Months Offered: To be arranged.

Report To: 9AM, MSB Room 139

Students Per Period: To be arranged.

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Title: Literature, Arts, and Medicine
Preceptor: Felice Aull, Ph.D., M.A.

Course Code #: 19-16

Telephone: 212-263-5401
E -mail: aullf01@popmail.med.nyu.edu

Prerequisites: Open to third and fourth year students.

Description: Betwixt and Between: Borderlands and Medicine
Borderlands are inherently unstable areas of restriction and incursion, danger and promise, that are subject to renegotiation. This course utilizes fiction, memoir, poetry, essays, film, and art to explore borderland states and situations encountered in medical training, in medical practice, and in the larger society. Examples of such conditions that we may consider are: student/professional, health/illness, personal/professional, belonging/alienation, detachment/engagement, physician as patient, illness as exile, marginalization as illness. The course will be offered during the month of February.  It will meet 2 to 3 times per week, for 2-2 1/2 hours per session (the extra sessions will be needed when we watch films).

Objectives:
The student will come away with an appreciation of the power of literature and the arts to stimulate consideration of ambiguities in medicine, and of the social/cultural constructions that influence the way we perceive each other and how we communicate.

Responsibilities:
The student should attend all classroom sessions and participate in discussion, do the assigned readings, and be prepared to hand in each week -- and sometimes present -- a short (3 page) paper that responds to the material being covered (not a research paper).

Evaluation:
Based on the student's attendance, reading, discussion, and written work.

Additional Information:
Months Offered:  February

Report: TBA

Enrollment: limited to 10, permission of the instructor required.

Duration: Four weeks

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