Medical humanities conference held in Taiwan

TAINAN, Taiwan -- The 2013 Medical Humanities in East Asia was held in National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), southern Taiwan, from March 15 to 16, with more than 50 students and scholars including approximately 30 medical professionals from Japan, China and Korea to discuss issues over medical humanities.

The two-day conference included four keynote speeches by Tai-Fai Fok, vice president from the Chinese University of Hong Kong; Professor Chyi-Her Lin of the NCKU College of Medicine; Günter Henze , M.D., PhD, Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Universit?tsmedizin Berlin; and Ms. Jennifer L. Wood, Affiliated visitor of Research Institute for Humanities, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
It also included round table discussion on education of medical humanities, four panels on narrative medicine, medical students’ view on Medical Humanities, medicine in history and humanities on clinical encounters. 
Speaking on ‘Humanities and Training Our Next Generation Healthcare Workers’, Professor Fok said, “Ultimately, what makes a good doctor would reflect a combination of the individual’s background and personal qualities.” Giving a brief history on medical education, he also noted that medical education has been driven toward science instead of the humanities. 
When asked about Hong Kong students’ reaction toward medical humanities education, he stated, “Our first-year students in medical school actually show a lot of interest in our general education course…When they come into university where they are exposed to philosophy, history, they think it’s eye-opening.’
“Attention to literature and the arts help to develop and nurture skills of observation, analysis, empathy, and self-reflection – skills that are essential for humane medical care,” Professor Fok said.
Dr Lin introduced medical educational system in Taiwan. On the issue of the new six-year medical curriculum, he said, “We try to integrate our curriculum from the first year to sixth with basic, clinical and social science. We provide team-based learning or case studies to foster active group interaction.”
Following an introduction of German medical education system and medical ethics, Dr Henze said, “Natural science and humanities should team up then we will be able to create the maximum benefit for patients in terms of clinical, emotional and psychological cure.”
Ms Wood discussed U.S. healthcare reforms and identified what accounts for the uniquely cultural and political opposition to universal health coverage in the U.S.Entrainement Nike