Thanks to all the students and staff who agreed to share their work and thoughts. The work is a selection of creative outcomes from 2021 but sadly we could not include everything. It is worth acknowledging that students have explored medicine through the arts and humanities and produced high quality creative outcomes every year since the Medical Humanities module began in 2008. In past years we have been able to exhibit the work physically but online submission this year gave us a different opportunity.
The work also demonstrates the commitment and creativity of staff teaching on the module who guide students in their exploration of medicine using different disciplines, particularly this year when they had to find even more imaginative and innovative ways of facilitating their options online.
Finally, the work also illustrates the perspectives, experiences and qualities that students bring to the programmes and how space to explore these elements can enable them to connect them to their learning, to each other and to the humane challenges of future practice.
For more information about the Medical Humanities Student Selected Unit (SSU2), please visit: Medical Humanities Student Selected Unit (SSU 2) | Medical Education | University of Southampton
‘The medical humanities and philosophy are big influences in my life, informing about human and therefore patient experience. In recent years, it has made me value the importance of patient experience and the human side of medicine more than ever’.
Dr Shiv Chande, GP and Southampton graduate
‘At university, I undertook the Medical Humanities module related to exploring patients’ narratives. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would consider it one of my favourite modules from university. At the time, as a student, I found the module invaluable and could appreciate its relevance to medicine. Only when I became a patient myself though, having been unexpectedly diagnosed with a genetic, pre-malignant health condition, was I able to fully grasp the advantages and value of considering a patient’s narrative. I would never have imagined I would apply the principle to myself, but the module inspired me to explore and share my own patient narrative through a blog. As a doctor, every day I can see the clinical relevance of the Medical Humanities. This, with my experiences as a patient, allow me to relate to and have a much deeper understanding of my patients.’
Dr Tara Ludhra, GP Trainee and Southampton graduate
This website is dedicated to Dr Larry Day, who authentically inspired and supported the Medical Humanities. 
Website designed, curated and produced by Linda Turner and Elizabeth Keel-Diffey.