How does this story begin, then? Well, it actually started with one man’s idea, commitment and perseverance, one man’s pedagogical skills, courage and… network(s). About 15 years ago, he managed to convince the necessary people at the medical faculty, that a new elective course should be offered at the medical degree programme: “Medicine as Humanities”. I wasn’t in the room when that decision was made, but I doubt they knew that this course would become one of the most loved courses ever.
Not all medical students take the course, more’s the pity, but the ones who do are unanimous in their evaluations. Year in, year out we read about what an impact the course has had on these students – as individuals and as (future) physicians. The course has gradually been complemented with more educational elements and the opportunity for students to write a degree project in Medical Humanities.
”Who da’ man?!” His name is Anders Palm, post retirement professor in comparative literature. He saw the potential of introducing the humanities – with a particular focus on the arts – into the medical degree programme. For this (and all the work), he was awarded an honorary doctorate at the Medical Faculty 2011.
Another honorary doctor and a part of Anders Palm’s vast network is Birgit Rausing.