The John M Stang Medical Student Elective

Humanistic Medicine: Constructing Your Humanism

Patch Adams and the Gesundheit Institute are offering a month-long elective: "Humanistic medicine: constructing your humanism". The elective begins Monday, Sept 29, and ends Thursday, Oct 23, and takes place at the Gesundheit Institute in Hillsboro, WV.

We invite all interested stake-holders in health care to participate: pre-med students, medical students, nursing students, activists, scholars. Elective credit can be arranged.

The four-week elective provides braided learning for the teaching of humanism in medicine, using both presentational and project-based approaches.

Spend a month in the beautiful Appalachian valley in rural West Virginia engaging in the study and practice of compassion. On-site housing, food, reading materials, internet access, and instruction and guidance by board-certified physicians of the Gesundheit! Institute are provided.

Themes

Towards a More Humane Model of Medicine History, Present and Future- To plan a new more intentionally humane future for medicine we need to know our historical and cultural contexts of health care. Students will actively learn about how medicine has evolved from its earliest roots to its present forms.

On Caring Care is the fundamental act in medicine, and is a deeply human endeavor. We exist because we care for one another.

Medicine and Art Art in all its forms is an important path to explore and understand medicine and the human condition. Poetry, prose, stage arts, films and clowning will be explored and experienced.

Doctor as Medicine Caring for people is more than prescribing medications or surgery.

Medicine, Community and Society Communities, relationships, families, societies can both give health and make people sick. We explore the role of physician in recognizing and making use of the therapeutic community.

Healthy Designing Rather than passively participate in current healthcare delivery systems, it is possible to design one's own practice, making use of one's unique talents, passions, and creativity.

Community Building and Active Participation An inherent part of the elective will be active participation in community building. Students and teachers will function as community members at the G! Institute. Active participation in work, cooking, organic gardening fun and play will be encouraged.

General Information

Facilities Gesundheit! consists of a 300-acre pristine tract of farm and mountain land in rural West Virginia, with gardens, a multi-story workshop, mountain hiking trails, creeks, a lake, and clean air and water. The dacha, with its onion domes and Russian architecture, serves as a residence and meeting place, and has won awards for its unique design. Gesundheit! offers wi-fi

Cost: $1200 covers tuition, room and board.

Registration: (1) Please fill out an application below by September 1st to hold your place. We are only accepting 15 participants and we suggest you submit your application as soon as possible to guarantee your spot.

Payment: The fee or deposit can be paid online via secure PayPal account OR with a check made out to Gesundheit! Institute. Your $500 (non-refundable) deposit will be due two weeks after your application is accepted.

For more information: contact Kate at kate at patchadams dot org