Medical Humanities Commons^™

Cultural And Religious Perspectives On Suicide And Healing, Arielle Friedman

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This essay is built off of a paper I wrote in a college global health course on culture and mental illness. I have always been fascinated by cultural interpretations of illness & believe that as a future physician, it is my responsibility to educate myself and others on the complex interplay between religious ideologies & recognition/management of biological disease in order to provide appropriate patient-centered care.

Embracing The Sacred Oath Of Healing: Lessons From When Breath Becomes Air, Rudayna S. Tabbara

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This essay explores how When Breath Becomes Air embodies the Sacred Oath of Healing through Paul Kalanithi’s journey as a physician and a patient.

Layers, Kristin Hiemstra

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I titled this work “Layers,” symbolic of the many intricate layers to healing, just as we see the many literal layers of a landscape in this photograph. In the foreground, you are met with a firm, unforgiving boulder — almost analogous to how difficult the initial phase of healing can be, or the setbacks that may be experienced throughout a healing journey. Your eyes then drift on to find the abundance of evergreens, some vibrant and thriving, while others are in their last stages of life. Finally, the mountainous layers take shape before ascending into the sky. Just …

The Masculine Way, Jessica Asuquo

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This painting was conceptualized after a particularly impactful patient visit. During the visit, the patient described a traumatic event in greater detail, stating that the doctor and I were the first people he had ever spoken to about the event.

I felt both honored and disheartened by this statement. I was honored that this man trusted us with this knowledge. Still, I was immensely sad that he dealt with the trauma of this event alone for decades. I believe he released some of the grief, pain, anger, fear, and hurt when he shared his burden with us, and I will …

A Child’S Oath, Nozimakhon K. Omonullaeva

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"A Child's Oath" reflects the transformative journey of a young girl shaped by her personal experiences with healthcare inequities, both in her home country of Uzbekistan and in the United States. This piece explores the emotional impact of these experiences and how they inspired a lifelong commitment to healing and serving underserved communities. It is a testament to the resilience born from hardship and the sacred promise to bring compassion and equity to medicine.

Helping As A Student, Dayna R. Smerina

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Being a medical student can sometimes feel powerless. However, there are special ways that students can make an impact on their patient's lives.

The Glacier, Emily Rodman

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The Glacier discovers the inner workings of a medical student's mind as she devotes years of her life to eventually partake in the "sacred oath of healing." She knows that these years of medical training - filled with strife and joy alike - will eventually lead her to fulfill the career of her dreams, serving others.

The Sacred Healing Of A Little Warrior, Adrianna M. Zambrano

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As a hopeful pediatrician, I find my sacred oath of healing to be inspired by the radiant positivity and resilience of children. My goddaughter was not even three years old when she had her first major surgery, and I was so worried about her future recovery. Then, she was just a few hours post-op and already cracking a smile. Her innocence and purity extended to the point where she made sure that she wasn't the only one being taken care of; after all, her "baby" Julie needed to be taken care of, too.

The Heart Of Healing, Madison Prieto

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No abstract provided.

Nourishing The Body, Nurturing The Soul, Vidhi Raval

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No abstract provided.

Our Sacred Oath, Jeffrey Joppen, Nisha Patel

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We both tried to find a photograph that could demonstrate what our sacred oath to healing looked like. The stethoscopes symbolize this because they represent more than just a tool for auscultation, they are objects that directly connect a healthcare provider to their patient. When we place the stethoscope on our patient’s chest we listen to their heart and lung sounds and the unique vibrations and rhythms that the individual makes. This action demonstrates deep trust and responsibility for healing.

Frankenstein Colorized, Marianne Koleng

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One of my favorite novel's growing up was Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. I see Frankenstein's desire to create a "Monster" as a way to grasp at the fundamental human drive for connection, and healing through connection. In this piece, I attempt to bring that inner yearning for fundamental connection to paper.

Beyond Myself - Healing Through Pain, Marianne Koleng

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In this piece I reflect on the importance of setbacks, non-linear growth, injuries, and pain and their ability to provide self-reflection, a platform for growth, and an crucial reminder of the fragility of life. I have often been self-critical for not following a "traditional" path in life, and reflecting on my experiences allows me to show myself grace and hopefully may influence others to do so as well.

The Orchard Of Golden Apples, Ambika Kapil, Brendan Ginsberg

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This poem was written collaboratively by Ambika Kapil and Brendan Ginsberg, reflecting our shared journey through the challenges and rewards of medical school. The inspiration for this piece comes from a pivotal time in Ambika's journey, when she found herself balancing the demands of medical education with personal struggles. During this period, she often turned to the lectures and guidance of various faculty members, including Dr. Lori Dribin, whose wisdom and support provided a sense of stability and hope. The guidance of these mentors became a beacon, helping Ambika navigate through uncertainty.

As many students face an array of challenges …

The Sacrifices Of Being Away, Claudia Pedreira

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No abstract provided.

Remedios De Abuela: Sacred Traditions Of Healing, Madeline R. Sardinas

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Remedios de Abuela is a narrative-style essay reflecting on the Cuban remedies and family caregiving practices that shaped my journey into medicine. From the warmth of sopa de pollo to the soothing ritual of Vicks VapoRub, these traditions embody the sacred oath of healing.

Through personal stories, including caring for my grandfather with diabetes, this essay explores the intersection of family, culture, and the art of medicine. It is a tribute to my grandparents and a testament to the enduring power of traditions and the human connection at the heart of the healing profession.

Death Is Not The End, Marianne Koleng

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In this piece, Death is Not the End, the juxtaposition of maintaining a connection with those lost, while simultaneously adjusting to life without them is explored. The use of mixed media to convey a spectrum of emotions surrounding death along with the use of both a skeleton, to represent death, and "normal" hands and body contours to represent life, highlight the importance that proper healing play in both mourning and celebrating life.

Death Becomes Us: The Consumptive Body In Nineteenth-Century Gothic Literature, Jennifer Marie Mcmahon

All NMU Master's Theses

This thesis examines the impacts of nineteenth-century tuberculosis epidemics on gothic literature published between 1842 and 1872. In this period of time, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death in the United States and in Europe, killing an estimated one in seven people. Using theoretical lenses of psychoanalysis and material ecocriticism, this project considers borders between material bodies—specifically those between bacterial agents and humans—to be illusory and socially constructed. The first chapter focuses on the ways in which representations of tuberculosis, and its associated entanglement with the environment, appear in the work of two authors from the United States: Edgar …

Descriptive Analysis Of Student Diagnostic And Documentation Skill Development In A Low Fidelity Simulation In Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Education, Nicholas Guenzel, Hongying Dai

Innovations in Health Sciences Education Journal

This is an abstract from the Spotlight on Scholarship event in 2025.

Enhancing Care Through Occupational Therapy: Implementing Services At The Unmc Sharing Clinic, Mackenzie Post, Nancy E. Krusen, Nicole Martino

Innovations in Health Sciences Education Journal

This is an abstract from the Spotlight on Scholarship event in 2025.