Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar and VCUarts Qatar co-hosted a medical humanities conference that convened over 80 experts to discuss the integration of humanities into medical training and practice. Keynote speakers included Professor Paul Crawford and Dr. Mohammed Ghaly, focusing on health humanities and ethical considerations in healthcare. The conference featured 73 research presentations, aiming to enhance patient care through a more human-oriented medical approach.
Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) and Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) co-hosted a significant medical humanities conference in Doha, Qatar. The event attracted over 80 distinguished speakers who focused on incorporating the humanities into medical education and clinical practices. This two-day gathering aimed to foster the development of more compassionate physicians, ultimately enhancing patient care outcomes.
The conference featured notable keynote speakers, including Professor Paul Crawford, a specialist in health humanities from the University of Nottingham, UK, and Dr. Mohammed Ghaly, a professor of Islam and biomedical ethics at Hamad Bin Khalifa University. Professor Crawford contextualized medical humanities within current clinical developments, emphasizing the beneficial influence of creative practices on health and wellbeing. Dr. Ghaly discussed the relevance of Islamic ethics in healthcare and its connection to biomedical sciences.
The event was directed by Dr. Alan Weber, professor of English at WCM-Q, alongside Dr. Byrad Yyelland, associate professor of social sciences at VCUarts Qatar. Additionally, Dr. Mohamud Verjee and Dr. Fella Benabed participated in the organizing committee. Dr. Weber remarked on the global impact of medical and health humanities, highlighting the importance of empathy as artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into medical practices.
Dr. Yyelland noted that the rapid advancements in healthcare necessitate an evolution in foundational learning aimed at fostering empathetic and open-minded physicians. This integration of arts and humanities with medicine is crucial for this transformation. The conference also provided a platform for original research, leading to over 73 papers presented on various humanistic topics, including narrative medicine and medical ethics, all of which will undergo peer review for potential publication.
The medical humanities conference hosted by Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar and VCUarts Qatar underscored the importance of integrating the humanities into medical education and practice. By promoting empathy and creative practices, the conference aims to cultivate more human-oriented physicians, ultimately improving healthcare outcomes. The enthusiastic participation and diverse research contributions reflect a growing acknowledgment of the humanities’ role in the medical field.
Original Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com
