John M. Stang Medical Elective

Humanistic Medicine: Construct Your Humanism

October 2-30, 2013

REGISTER NOW! ⇒

Patch Adams and the Gesundheit Institute are offering a four-week elective: "Humanistic medicine: constructing your humanism".

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

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

Spend four weeks 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: $1800 covers tuition, room and board.

Registration consists of 3 parts.

  1. Application form: Please fill out the application form, at the bottom of this page. We are accepting a limited number of participants and we suggest you submit your application as soon as possible to guarantee your spot.
  2. Payment: You will hear back from us concerning your acceptance in the program. We may ask for a phone call or Skype visit with you. Upon your acceptance, we ask that you pay either the entire fee or deposit online via secure PayPal account HERE or with a check payable to Gesundheit! Institute. Your $500 (non-refundable) deposit, or entire fee, will be due 5 days after your application is accepted.
  3. Registration Form: Fill out your registration form HERE ⇒

For more information contact Melanie Meltzer ⇒

Travel Information

⇒ Gesundheit staff will shuttle people to and from the train station in White Sulphur Springs and the airport in Lewisburg on Sunday and Wednesday only.

Traveling by Car?

  • On I-64 at Lewisburg, WV exit onto 219 going North.
  • After about 40 minutes, turn right on Locust Creek Road (veers sharply down opposite a sign for quarter horses, 2 miles south of Hillsboro. The turn is easy to miss—if you find yourself in Hillsboro, you've driven 2 miles past the turn!).
  • Take Locust Creek Road for about 10 minutes, over a bridge; the Gesundheit sign will be on the right.
  • Follow the gravel road all the way past the workshop to the parking area near the farmhouse and Dacha.

Gesundheit is located in a rural, mountainous area, so the roads are narrow and winding. It's good to make travel plans in advance.

Application Form