Humanités médicales

Third Annual Western Michigan University Medical Humanities Conference


Call for Abstracts


September 26-27, 2013; Kalamazoo, Michigan

Proponents of medical humanities contend that the humanistic dimensions of medicine and health are a critical component of those disciplines; not only do these dimensions help us to understand the very nature of medicine and health, their apprehension allows caregivers to relate to their patients, to treat those patients with respect and dignity, and to provide more holistic and empathetic care. The Third Annual Western Michigan University Medical Humanities Conference aims to explore a range of themes within the medical humanities. A primary focus will be on emergent technologies in health care and humanities, and how these affect patient care, the patient experience, and the effectiveness of the practice of health care, though proposals in any area of medical humanities are welcome.

The conference is meant to be highly interdisciplinary, drawing participants from a wide range of backgrounds, including those from both academic and medical communities. Submissions are welcome on topics that engage some facet of the medical humanities, including their importance and conceptual scope. Furthermore, we welcome submissions that engage any of the following: Medical ethics, the history of medicine and health care, religious and/or spiritual perspectives on medicine and health, health care communication, medical anthropology, sociology of medicine and health, cross‐cultural approaches to medicine and health, health and health care in literature and/or poetry, musical therapy, and sickness and health as represented in the visual arts.

Submission Guidelines:
Submissions should include name, departmental/institutional affiliation, project title, and an abstract not to exceed 500 words. Proposals should be submitted electronically by July 15—in either .doc/.docx or .pdf format—to medical-humanities@wmich.edu. Acceptances will be announced by August 1, and further details will appear on http://www.wmich.edu/medicalhumanities/conference2013/ as they are available.


About Us:
Under the direction of Dr. Fritz Allhoff and David Charlton, the Medical Humanities Workgroup is a developing initiative on the campus of Western Michigan University, coordinating individuals from the university and broader Kalamazoo community with interests in the humanistic dimensions of medicine and health. For more information, please see www.wmich.edu/medicalhumanities, or send an email to the address above.