Conceptualizing Medical Humanities Programs in Low-Resource Settings in Africa

Quentin Eichbaum1, Steve Reid, Ayo Coly

  • 1Q. Eichbaum is professor of pathology, microbiology, and immunology; professor of medical education and administration; director, Vanderbilt Pathology Education Research Group; director, Vanderbilt Pathology Program in Global Health; director, College Colloquium; and clinical fellowship director, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee. S. Reid is professor of primary health care and director, Primary Health Care Directorate, University of Cape Town Medical School, Cape Town, South Africa. A. Coly is associate professor of comparative literature and associate professor of African and African American studies, Department of African and African American Studies, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire. T. Naidu is lecturer, Department of Behavioral Medicine, Nelson R. Mandela University School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. F. Omaswa is chancellor, Busitema University, Mbale, Uganda.

Summary

Medical humanities education is underrepresented in low-resource countries. This article advocates for integrating humanities into African medical curricula, addressing challenges and proposing content domains for physician development.

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