Earlier this month, eight uOttawa MD students spent a week with international peers reflecting on how to better position themselves to respond to the challenges of practising medicine in the 21st century.
The med students met up on uOttawa’s main campus with students from partnered universities from Shanghai and Lyon for the eighth annual Medicine and Humanities International Summer School, hosted this year by the University of Ottawa from July 8 to 12.
This unique summer school has proven a key component to the success of the Faculty of Medicine’s Medicine and Humanities International Program (MHIP), emphasizing the value of including humanities in medical training through curriculum development, knowledge sharing and student exchange.
“What is the meaning of progress? How is progress achieved? And, why might progress in medicine be impeded?”
- Questions asked of students at this year’s Medicine and Humanities International Summer School
Launched in 2016, MHIP is a multilateral partnership between four post-secondary institutions: University of Ottawa, Université de Lyon, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM) and Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SHUTCM). Students in the program experience the history of medicine, art, literature, philosophy and human sciences across multiple cultures and languages to foster critical thinking, professionalism and empathy.
This year’s summer school focused on the theme of “Progress in Medicine,” exploring the many ways in which medicine is still a work in progress. The curriculum fostered reflection surrounding nature of progress in medicine: What is the meaning of progress? How is progress achieved? And, why might progress in medicine be impeded?
Courses contrasted the concept of progress with that of progressivism, probing the question of what it means for medical care, research, education, and advocacy to be more equitable, inclusive and fair. The students were also challenged to consider ways in which they may help medicine progress over the course of their careers.
Sanaz Biglou, a second-year uOttawa MD student, says this year’s MHIP summer school provided an enriching environment for the learners by highlighting the importance of recognizing the historical context behind current medical practices.
“I was inspired to critically assess current research, ethical challenges, and emerging technologies for their potential impact on the field,” says Sanaz. “It also broadened my perspective on how medicine is practiced in different countries, emphasizing the significance of global health measures and enhancing my approach to patient care by integrating a diverse set of views and innovative solutions.”
Medical student and summer school participant Oumaïma Boutramt, in Ottawa from Lyon, France, shared her thoughts on Instagram about her experience.
“It was really cool to share our different vision of medicine in France and Europe with Canadians and with Chinese students,” she said in French.
Dr. Kim Girouard is an associate researcher and lecturer in the history of medicine at the Department of Innovation in Medical Education. The teacher, speaker and discussant at the summer school sees great value in uniting learners from international partner institutions to enhance the learning outcomes of the program.
“Bringing together people with different backgrounds and experiences allows us all, teachers and learners alike, to open unexpected avenues for thinking about the medicine in which we operate, how we want to see it evolve and how we can contribute to it,” she says.
Each year, one of the four partner institutions in the MHIP takes a turn to host the summer school for students from Ottawa, Lyon and Shanghai.
Dr. Michel Shamy, director of the Medicine and Humanities Program of which MHIP is a part, shared his thanks with colleagues, speakers and presenters for their expertise and contributions to this year’s summer school.
“It was a very successful week, and the feedback from the students has been overwhelmingly positive,” he says.
View a post about the summer school on Instagram from the International and Global Health Office.
Watch a bilingual documentary on the 2020 MHIP Summer School (theme: artificial intelligence)