Medical Humanities Commons^™

The Case For Early Childhood Education As Health And Economic Policy, Jessica N. Wise, Katarina Reyes, Sandra Mckay

Faculty and Staff Publications

Families across the United States are facing significant challenges due to the limited availability and affordability of high-quality early childhood care options for children under the age of 6. Child care access is especially challenging for those seeking to reenter the workforce. Rethinking child care, especially early childhood education, as health care is essential for achieving a better future and economic security for children, families, and caregivers across the U.S.

The Web Of Life - Volume 8

be Still

No abstract provided.

From The Dean

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No abstract provided.

From The Editor

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No abstract provided.

Timeless Review Of Into The Woods And The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, Anjali Shah

be Still

This essay is a review of the musical, Into the Woods, and the book, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. This personal reflection is an overview of how both works of art navigate the theme of "the web of life."

Burnout, Amanda Almeida

be Still

I loved writing since I was 12. I learned putting words on paper solidifies the human experience, whether it be through poetry, music, stories, or simply free-writing one's thoughts. Attending medical school has broadened my experience with other realities to an unexpected degree. I realize that wanting to save lives through healthcare comes at a great cost to the person pursuing a career in medicine. Writing about the intensity of medical school helped me cope and I hope that my future patients will come to understand, sometimes, the only way out is through, and coping by using the things we …

Turning The Bend: A Poem For My Mother And Those Grieving Loved Ones, Leah Simon

be Still

No abstract provided.

From Didactic To Healing Hands, Jashkumar Choudhari

be Still

As the creator of the poem "From Didactic to Healing Hands," I am delighted to share my perspective on the inspiration and intent behind this piece.

The poem serves as a heartfelt exploration of the evolution that occurs as we transition from the theoretical world of classrooms and lectures to the practical, human-centered realm of healthcare. It's a journey that demands not only the accumulation of knowledge but the nurturing of empathy, compassion, and the courage to step into the role of healing with confidence.

I wanted to convey the interconnectedness of science and the art of medicine, emphasizing that …

Our Web, Alia Abdullah

be Still

Alia would like to acknowledge Ingmar Bergman's film, Through a Glass Darkly.

Reclaimation Of Self, Sophia Hernandez

be Still

My inspiration for this piece comes from contemplation about the expression of self and the ways in which traditional institutions can limit complete creative control. The allusions to Earth's creations are used to create a comparison to the divine right to imagine spontaneously. When I create art, it is my goal to inspire others to do the same.

To Which We Return, Marianne Koleng

be Still

This work is an attempt to reconcile the vibrance of life as evidenced by the colorful collage and bismuth crystal with death, which is portrayed by a somber skull emerging from an aorta and ventricles of a human heart. Understanding the temporal nature of our existence is key to subtle references to beauty and imperfection latent in the background of this image to cue the idea of beauty in life and death to the viewer.

Going Under, Marianne Koleng

be Still

This paper is a meditation on a journey through the humanities and the pages of the works of the German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, and the eventual conclusion to a pursuit of a medical career. It identifies that while not all paths to a similar endpoint are identical, but each has its own rich merits, twists, and turns.

Transcending Fear: The Power Of Mindful Affirmations And Purposeful Action, Andrew Bouras

be Still

My work explores themes of fear, an unavoidable emotion that confronts us all throughout our respective journeys. Inspired by many, my writing reflects my personal journey up until this point. I believe that we are all going to achieve that which we are meant to achieve, and I will continue to share that vision with audiences as opportunities arise.

Understanding Your Sepsis Diagnosis (Español), Providence Mmhm

Posters with QR Codes

Please see additional files:

1. Patient Education Graphic: Understand Your Sepsis Diagnosis
2. Patient Education Flyer: SEPTICEMIA Todo lo que necesita saber / SEPSIS What You Need to Know (Spanish)

Understanding Your Sepsis Diagnosis (English), Providence Mmhm

Posters with QR Codes

Please see additional files:

1. Patient Education Graphic: Understand Your Sepsis Diagnosis
2. Patient Education Flyer: Sepsis What You Need to Know

Reviving Hysteria: The Nineteenth Century At The End Of The Twentieth, Christina Quintana

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation explores popular and medical representations of female madness in two time periods: the late nineteenth and late twentieth centuries. I argue that 1990s American culture produced an abundance of texts, images, and narratives that revitalized the iconography and medical discourses of late nineteenth-century hysteria. Analyzing popular texts, films, and cultural touchstones of the 1990s, I explore how Victorian ideas about women’s minds—such as the inherent feebleness of the female brain and nervous system; the fatalistic, life-altering effects of female puberty; the association between hysteria and deviant female sexuality; and the implicit racialization of hysteria and female madness more …

A Case And Intervention For Older Adult Sexual Mistreatment, Renee J Flores, Cristina Murdock, John Halphen, Carlos Reyes-Ortiz, Jason Burnett

Faculty and Staff Publications

Background: The sexual mistreatment of older adults is a significant public health issue; like other forms of sexual violence, it is more prevalent than officially reported. Survivors often hesitate to speak out due to feelings of embarrassment, fear, or potential cognitive impairments. Moreover, the concealment of such mistreatment, coupled with societal stigmas surrounding aging and sexuality, creates challenges in recognizing sexual mistreatment during routine or emergency room visits.

Purpose: This paper provides a framework for informing physicians, psychiatrists, and other healthcare providers on best practices screening, detection, and management of sexual mistreatment in older adults.

Methods: A literature review of …

Baby Dust: A Narrative Analysis Of Infertility Journeys On Youtube, Patricia Carrillo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Infertility is a distressing experience for those diagnosed and often exacerbated by engagement with biomedical treatments. This thesis is an exploration of infertility “journeys” posted on YouTube. Through a narrative analysis of 8 YouTube channels, several key themes were identified, specifically embodiment of the infertility label, barriers to treatment, and agency. This work uses the mindful body framework to look at how the individual body, social body, and body politic shape and reinforce these themes in the context of biomedical infertility treatment. These findings suggest infertility is a dynamic and distressing experience but by engaging in the narrative process, through …

Yoga As A Didactic Tool For Musculoskeletal Anatomy For First Year Medical Students, Jennnifer Brueckner-Collins, Scott P. Stuckey

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Medical education requires students to adjust their study habits. Active learning has been shown to enhance understanding, especially regarding anatomy. Wellness has become increasingly emphasized for medical professionals; thus, it is important for medical students to develop wellness habits to mitigate burnout. Yoga is commonly practiced with a focus on wellness and flow of movements. Yoga as an educational and wellness tool integrated into medical gross anatomy is a worthwhile pursuit. This study describes a series of anatomy-based yoga videos designed to meld wellness activities with musculoskeletal anatomy review for preclinical medical students.

Approach: Six novel yoga …

Recruiting Transgender Men In The Southeastern United States For Genital Microbiome Research: Lessons Learned, Olivia Van Gerwen, Z. Alex Sherman, Emma Sophia Kay, Jay Wall, Joy Lewis, Isaac Eastlund, Keonte J. Graves, Saralyn Richter, Angela Pontius, Kristal J. Aaron, Krishmita Siwakoti, Ben Rogers, Evelyn Toh, Jacob H. Elnaggar, Christopher M. Taylor, Nicholas J. Van Wagoner, Christina A. Muzny

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background Transgender men (TGM) are underrepresented in genital microbiome research. Our prospective study in Birmingham, AL investigated genital microbiota changes over time in TGM initiating testosterone, including the development of incident bacterial vaginosis (iBV). Here, we present lessons learned from recruitment challenges encountered during the conduct of this study. Methods Inclusion criteria were assigned female sex at birth, TGM or non-binary identity, age ≥18 years, interested in injectable testosterone but willing to wait 7 days after enrollment before starting, and engaged with a testosterone-prescribing provider. Exclusion criteria were recent antibiotic use, HIV/STI infection, current vaginal infection, pregnancy, or past 6 …